CES 2015

Chances are you have a touchscreen phone that uses some form of swipe or button press combo to unlock the phone for use. As you know, the oils on your fingers can leave smudges behind, and over time can leave a tell-tale treasure map of greasy DNA to tell people which buttons are used to unlock your phone.

Since the touchscreens on smart door locks are used far less frequently – and primarily for entering the home’s unlock code – this can be a real problem, and can leave smart lock owners vulnerable to something far more than someone checking out your emails and selfies. Fortunately Kwikset has added a new technology to foil any would-be fingerprint grabbers with a simple and foolproof method called SecureScreen.

When enabled, SecureScreen requires homeowners to punch in a random two-digit code generated by the lock before they type in the unlock code. This two-digit code changes each time the lock is unlocked, and requires the user to press the two highlighted numbers shown on the touchpanel in any order. This simple process adds about two seconds to opening your door, but forces you to touch the screen in different places making it impossible for a would-be thief to look for a smudge pattern.

At CES Kwikset demonstrated this technology in the company’s new SmartCode 916 lock, a Z-Wave enabled device for integration with a variety of home automation systems, and features the smallest interior mechanism of any Z-Wave enabled lock available. Like all of Kwikset’s SmartCode locks, the 916 offers remote locking/unlocking via an app from any web-enabled device, and features the company’s patented SmartKey re-key technology enabling homeowner’s to easily re-key the lock in seconds.

Kwikset also responded to dealer feedback and reworked the touchscreen so that it is totally blacked out even when exposed to direct sunlight. A new high-bright white display is also easily legible in any lighting environment. The SmartCode 916 is available now in brass, nickel and bronze finished for $249.