How to Stop Your Garage Door From Getting Hacked

Can someone really hack your garage opener? It might sound like the idea of a security fanatic. But unfortunately garage door hacking is a real possibility.

Why would someone want to hack your garage door opener? If you’re lucky, they just want to mess with you. But much more likely they’re out to rob you.

It’s better not to sit by idly and hope it never happens. Instead take a few precautions to ensure your garage door never gets hacked.

Ditch Your Old Opener

Lots of people think that modern WIFI-connected garage door openers are the most at risk of hacking. But in reality the older models are the easiest to hack. Most older garage door openers use a fixed code sent over radio frequencies to open a garage.

If a thief figures out what your fixed code is, they can easily open your garage door. This is usually done using a code grabber device. All they have to do is put the device near your garage door one time when you open it in order to learn your code.

Newer garage door openers have a rotating code system, so you never use the same code twice to open your door. This can thwart potential thieves trying to open your garage door with a code grabber device.

What you need to do is figure out if your garage door opener has a rotating code or not. This can be done with a quick Google search. For example, LiftMaster Security+ and Security 2.0 remotes have a rolling code, while earlier models do not.

If you find you have an old-fashioned single code opener, it’s time to upgrade to a more secure option.

Take These Precautions

There are still lots of different ways hackers can break into your garage door. The best strategy is to take precautions to prevent a potential hack and identify the culprits if you are hacked.

Here are some key tips:

  • Never leave your garage door opener unattended in your car or elsewhere.
  • Never leave your garage door open when no one’s around.
  • Always lock the door that leads from your garage to the rest of your house.
  • Consider installing a deadlock on your garage. You can use it when on vacation or out of town.
  • Install security cameras outside pointing at your garage door.
  • Install motion-sensor lights outdoors for night time detection.
  • If your garage door opener is WIFI-connected, invest in a good firewall.
  • Use a very strong password for your home WIFI.
  • Use 2-factor authentication to open your garage remotely.
  • Place your garage door opener (and other smart home devices) on a different WIFI network. This helps ensure hackers don’t access important data on your computers.

Hackers are always coming up with new ways to break into peoples’ computers and homes. Your job is to be vigilant and keep updated on new security measures you can use to prevent hacking. We can help you pick a secure garage door opener. Investing in a high security garage door opener is a great place to start.

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