Reports We Love!

In our last blog we talked about electronic locks that connect to your smart phone, but expressed some people had concerns about phones being hacked. Since then, we read a report that we loved comparing Electronic, Electronic Connected, and Standard Locks. So, if you aren't sure about taking the next step in tech when it comes to your homes safety check this article out.

Here is the review section of the article:
Electronic connected. The Schlage Camelot Touchscreen Deadbolt smart lock, $200, easily withstood our simulated kick-in test, which is why it made our recommended list, though a cordless drill disabled it in less than 2 minutes. The keyless Yale YRD240 smart lock, $275, was difficult to drill because it lacks a key cylinder, but it was easy prey to kick-in. Once we replaced its cheap strike plate with a better one (about $10 at home centers and hardware stores), the Yale aced our kick-in test, as did others in this group. But we think a lock should be secure as sold.

Electronic. These locks can’t be controlled via an app. All work using a keypad or a key, and one opens by fingerprint, passcode, or key. But none could beat a drill, and one, the Schlage BE365 V CAM 619, $130, was the easiest to pick of all of the electronic locks. But that model was also among the toughest against kick-in, which raised it to the top of its category.

Standard. The rekeyable Kwikset 980, $30, Baldwin Prestige 380, $40, and Falcon D241, $55, did best in our tests of standard locks. All come with a sturdy strike plate and resisted all of our assaults except for drilling.

Best from our tests. But your best bet for the most protection is the key-equipped Medeco Maxum 11*603, $190. The high-security lock aced our best efforts to crack it. Of course, even the least expensive dead bolt is an improvement over the traditional key-in-knob variety.

Locksmith Terminology Defined:

Strike Plate - a metal plate affixed to a door jamb with a hole or holes for the bolt of the door. When the door is closed, the bolt extends into the hole in the strike plate and holds the door closed.

HIGH SECURITY LOCK KEY

 High Security Lock - a cylinder which offers a greater degree of resistance to any or all of the following: picking, bumping, impressioning, key duplication, drilling or other forms of forcible entry.

Smart Phone to Smart Home

Home security monitoring is entreating a new era. The residential lock market is growing with technology and a new set of locks and access control systems are being introduced to the consumer.

Today everyone has a cell phone, and they aren't just phones for making calls ... they are smart phones. These phones are smart because they are used for everything from talking, mapping travel, shopping, car remotes, and face to face messaging. Now you can include key to that list.

At the center of it all is the traditional lock which grants us entry through a metal key. In our homes we have even upgraded to the push button or 'fob' to key into our homes and offices. Using your phones blue tooth, wifi, or an application as a handsfree way to enter, and the idea of the smart home is entering the mainstream.

Next time you have your handful with groceries wouldn't it be nice to just walk up ... have your lock recognize you and open? If you can't get home and a pet sitter needs to get in to let your pet out? No problem ... just send them a digital key with a time frame for them to use.

Smart home access control systems come in all forms and in different price ranges. Some require you upgrade your entire home and some you can actually put over your current deadbolt.

Wire.com took the time to compare 5 different smart locks on the market.

1) August Smart Lock
2) Lockitron - Keyless Entry with your Phone
3) Nexia Home Intelligence 
4) Goji Smart Lock
5) Kwikset Kevo

You can read the full article on on these locks here http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2013/06/smart-locks/.

With all phone applications there have been worries that your system can be hacked if your phone is lost or stolen. Some smart phone companies are taking precautions to keep your privacy safe. They also recommend you have a passcode lock on your phone.

Locksmiths Giving Back

A few months ago our Baldino's Lock and Key shop in Leesburg merged with Leesburg Locksmith. This was a great opportunity for us and it helped the community!

During the merge we were able to donate almost $15,000 worth of inventory to Habitat for Humanity. We are hoping our donation helps keep the families in their new homes locked up safely!

Habitat for Humanity is a non profit that thinks everyone should have a safe, affordable place to live. They have helped build or repair over 6000,000 houses and Baldino's Lock and Key was happy to be a part of helping the organization.

Baldino's Lock and Key is still located at 338 E Market Street in Leesburg. With the merger we just now have a bigger family to welcome you to our shop!


 If you would like to get involved you can check out their website here! http://www.habitat.org/getinv

Yelp?! ... Help!!

The idea of easily going online and finding out the best and worst about a place you might be doing business with seems great. However, along with everything else online this processes has proven to disappoint consumers and businesses alike.

While trying to get a grip on all of the false locksmith business listings, Baldino's Lock and Key noticed it was not correctly listed on Yelp. When we started to investigate we noticed multiple listings of addresses we were not located at along with ... what we thought ... were very "iffy" reviews.

When our marketing associate logged into her Yelp account and wrote Baldino's correct address/website on the listings with incorrect information Yelp suspended her account. When she explained she didn't write a review just added the right address so users wouldn't drive out of their way, Yelp then wrote that our business was "no longer in business". This was their solution instead of taking down the incorrect listing and adding the correct one. This only hurt Baldino's more when people thought we were no longer open.

Recently Yelp has been getting a lot of heat from consumers and business owners for fake reviews. The New York Attorney General even did a sting operation called "Operation Clean Turf". The sting lasted a year and caught 19 different companies writing fake reviews. Most of them were search engine optimization companies that were hired by small businesses (http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2013/09/26/yelps-fake-review-problem/)

In the Yelp Terms of Service it's stated that all users not violate guidelines by compensating someone or being compensated to write a review. Writing fake reviews is easy when you are writing them as an anonymous user.  One way to fix the problem of ALL fake reviews, listings, and businesses advertisements is for these search engine companies and review websites to actually take the time and verify who is a legitimate user. Click here for Yelp Terms of Service.

The point is...users beware. Don't trust reviews and ratings with out digging a bit deeper. You can following some of these tips from Andrea Chang, and writer for the LA Times - 

1. Don't rely solely on the overall star rating 
2. Change the way reviews are sorted 
3. Search for what you care about 
4. Look at an individual reviewer's stats 
5. Check out the filtered reviews
6.  Write your own reviews

http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-yelp-authenticity-20130822,0,3002192.story#ixzz2lmiHKkFW

Safety Technology

School safety is always at the top of everyone's mind but recent events have only amplified concerns. If you work in the education industry, or have a child that is enrolled in school, we know you are aware of how essential it is to choose the right security package for that school. Door locks and hardware are the first step to ensuring the safety of students, and faculty.

There are many different options when it comes to choosing locks. One of the biggest is mechanical vs. electronic. ASSA ABLOY and Baldino's can help you find a set that will benefit each school and meet any industry security requirements.

Baldino's can go over each step and set you up with the perfect solution of ASSA ABLOY lock.

Step #1 – Clearly identify/ define expectations

Step #2 – Evaluate current policies and practices

Step #3 – Assess existing opening to ensure current security is fully functional

Step #4 – Prepare a plan to address security concerns

photo credit: ASSA ABLOY 

To find out more about school safety you can visit http://www.assaabloydss.com/local/dss/Solutions1/Education-Solutions/K-121/ for a full brochure!

National Preparedness Month

September was National Preparedness Month and Baldino's Lock and Key participated by attending the Preparedness and Security Expo on September 5th, at McNamara Headquarter Complex. The expo included booths and vendors from over 30 organizations. 

Our managers Sean Kent and Jeff Waldo set up our booth with security brochures and an Arrow Revolution Touch Screen Display. They said there was such a great turn out and they were so busy talking to attendees they could only snap this one picture!

We wanted to thank everyone who put on this expo. In the wake of the tragic events that occurred at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C this month, it is imperative that as civilians we are prepared for any emergency. The website http://www.ready.gov is a great resource for families to get information on how they can be prepared and practice emergency preparedness. 

- BE INFORMED

- MAKE A PLAN

- BUILD A KIT

- GET INVOLVED

How to Choose a Lock

With so many different high-security products in the market, it can be difficult to choose the right lock system for your home or business. But your safety relies on it—so you have to be careful with your decision. How do you go about choosing the right lock from such a big selection? There are certain key factors to look at that can help you determine how to choose a lock—and we’ve outlined them for you!

Type of Door

The first thing you should consider is what type of door you have. If you have a solid door, you should choose a lock that can fit in it the way it is. If you have a flimsy door that could easily be kicked in, you may need to think about installing a new door or having alterations done. After all, a high-quality lock can only help so much when you don’t have a sturdy door (or window) to go with it.

Lock Grades

Once you’ve made a decision regarding your door, you can begin to compare different locks. Be sure to choose a lock with a Grade 1 classification. Why? Lock grades signify strength and durability—and according to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), which are upheld by the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association Inc. (BHMA), a Grade 1 classification is used to identify the strongest and most durable products.

Key Control

Once you’ve narrowed down your selection based on lock grades, check for key control. What does that mean? Key control gives the homeowner (or business owner if you’re getting office locks) control over how many copies can be used to open your locks; only the key manufacturer itself or certain designated locksmiths can make duplicates. This means that your keys can’t be copied just anywhere, reducing your chance of burglary through replicated keys. Though key control can be expensive, it’s worth the extra cost to keep your building secure.

Lock Brands

Next you’ll want to look at lock brands. Make sure you purchase a lock from a well-known manufacturer with a reputation for producing highly secure products. Some brands to consider include Schlage, Kwikset, and Sargent. At the same time, avoid discount locks that come with low costs but tend to be less secure than their more expensive counterparts.

Of course, the locksmiths we can provide you with more specific recommendations and advice on how to choose a lock. While we typically suggest deadbolt locks for their advanced security capabilities, we can also provide you with ideas regarding other types of lock systems—and we can install them in conjunction with alarm systems or other electronic security solutions that will work together to protect your home.

Visit one of our 18 lock shops to see our product selection or contact us for help choosing and installing a lock in Maryland, Washington, D.C., or Virginia.