Kwikset Halo Touch WiFi Smart Lock

Kwikset Halo Touch WiFi Smart Lock

Kwikset
Wi-Fi

Review date: Nov. 8, 2021

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Mozilla says

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People voted: Somewhat creepy

This smart lock comes with a touchscreen touchpad, works over WiFi to let you remotely lock and unlock your door, manage access codes to let that housecleaner in when you’re not home, and lets you see when your door was locked and unlocked in the app. It also doesn’t have a privacy policy, so buyer beware.

What could happen if something goes wrong?

Oh Kwikset, you don’t inspire confidence that you care about the privacy of your users. When we set out to find the privacy policy for this smart lock, we ended up in a frustrating scavenger hunt. The privacy policy on the Kwikset website clearly states it only covers “websites, social media pages, and emails.” Ok, let’s see what link the listing on the Google App store links to? It links to a Terms of Service doc that mentions a privacy policy and notice that takes you to the website www.goconcourse.com. Cool. Then you click on the privacy link on that webpage and it takes you back to the original Terms of Service doc. Super frustrating. Turns out, you have to dig deep into page 40 of their clunky Terms of Service document to find where they have a privacy policy that says it covers their products. Uhg! This is not how it should be done. A huge user-friendly privacy policy FAIL on Kwikset’s part.

When we were able to finally read their well hidden privacy policy, we learned they seem to do OK with how they collect and share their users’ personal information. They seem to not sell your personal information. And they say they don’t share your information with third-parties unless it is anonymized or aggregated. This is good, although it’s a good time to remind you that it’s been found to be pretty easy to de-anonymize some types of data and track down an individual’s patterns, especially with location data.

What’s the worst that could happen with Kwikset’s smart locks? Well, we fear you might try to find their privacy policy, go on an hours long search around the internet, end up extremely frustrated and decide to buy another smart lock. That’s what we would probably do. Do better Kwikset!

Tips to protect yourself

  • Check out tips to ensure your smart lock safety
  • Maintain a strong door
  • Choose a secure access code
  • Set up two-factor authentication
  • mobile

Can it snoop on me? information

Camera

Device: No

App: Yes

Microphone

Device: No

App: Yes

Tracks location

Device: No

App: Yes

What can be used to sign up?

What data does the company collect?

How does the company use this data?

Personal information is not sold. It is Kwikset policy not to share your data or information with third-parties. Anonymized or aggregated data may be shared with third-parties.

How can you control your data?

You have the right to withdraw the consent and/or request the removal of personal data. You can also request at any moment the access, rectify, cancel or oppose with respect to the personal data and information stored in our database. Kwikset and Weiser generally store your personal information on their servers until you delete or edit it, or for as long as you remain a Kwikset/Weiser customer.

What is the company’s known track record of protecting users’ data?

Average

Evidence of Kwikset locks' vulnerability to hacks was in the news in 2016. Since then the company made an effort to improve its security.

Can this product be used offline?

Yes

User-friendly privacy information?

No

Privacy policy is hidden in the Terms and Conditions document, page 40.

Links to privacy information

Does this product meet our Minimum Security Standards? information

Yes

Encryption

Yes

Strong password

N/A

Security updates

Yes

Manages vulnerabilities

Yes

Privacy policy

Yes

Does the product use AI? information

Yes

Is this AI untrustworthy?

Can’t Determine

What kind of decisions does the AI make about you or for you?

Voice control via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

Is the company transparent about how the AI works?

Yes

Does the user have control over the AI features?

Yes

*Privacy Not Included

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