Tag Archives: security

BenjiLock: Biometrics to secure the things you care about @ CES 2022



BenjiLock biometric locksWhat if you could protect your belongings with the touch of a finger? It would mean not having to carry a key at the gym or pool. It would mean not having to copy your house key every time you have guests over. BenjiLock has made all of this and more possible, with its innovative fingerprint technology that can be used to secure everything from bikes to closets.

What is BenjiLock?

BenjiLock was featured on ABC’s hit show Shark Tank, and through its partnership with Hampton Products International, the brand has expanded rapidly. With 30+ years of experience in security and hardware innovations, Hampton Products International has helped the company take its fingerprint technology to new heights. Today, they are expanding into a portfolio of products, including locks for your bikes, drawers, closets, lockers, and home.

How BenjiLock Works

BenjiLock uses fingerprint technology to protect the things you love. Simply program your lock with up to ten fingerprints, and unlock it by placing any of those fingers on the lock’s sensor. Most BenjiLock devices also allow you to lock or unlock your belongings using a standard key or combination code (numbers 0-99).

BenjiLock’s fingerprint sensor can be used in wet or dry conditions, making it ideal for use at the gym pool, beach, etc. It also includes an automatic locking mechanism that will lock after five seconds if left unlocked manually. The light on the front will change from green (locked) to red (unlocked), letting you know at a glance if your belongings are secure.

BenjiLock’s fingerprint sensor is highly accurate, but is not foolproof – it needs a clear reading of at least three ridges (or whorls) to unlock. This is another reason why most of the devices include a key. It is not recommended for use on electronic devices, such as laptops or tablets.

Different BenjiLock devices

The different devices are for different purposes and use different locking mechanisms. BenjiLock Bike and padlocks use a hardened steel shackle that attaches to the object you wish to secure. The bike lock is obviously designed to protect your bike but can be used on a scooter or motorcycle, as well. The padlock is the most versatile, as it is designed to go anywhere a traditional padlock would go: a locker, cabinet, shed, and more.

BenjiLock Door allows you to replace your old deadbolt lock without additional tools; simply remove your old deadbolt from inside of the door and install the lock using the included template in under five minutes (no drilling required). It can be used on any door, though it is designed for exterior use. It runs on 4 AA batteries and can last 6 months or longer, depending on how often it is used. It also pairs perfectly with the Brinks Push-Pull-Rotate doorknobs.

This large variety of lock types gives you the ability to determine what is most important to you and protect it with a lock you know will keep it safe.

Summary

The BenjiLock products are available from a variety of courses, including the company’s website, Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes, Ace Hardware, and Amazon.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology.

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Karamba Security is preventing hacking into the IoT @ CES 2021



Karamba Security IoT protectionSecuring the Internet of Things is a complicated task. We’ve seen small and large companies, as well as small and large devices, get hacked. Sometimes the hacks happen on the cloud side, but too often they come from the device side. Not too long ago we covered a scenario where DVRs, cameras, and more, were all being used as part of a botnet to create attacks against other networks. Karamba Security focuses on protecting those devices.

The hacker’s main objective is to gain control over the device. Once compromised, the intention of the device can be changed. The new intention could be as part of a botnet, like mentioned above, or even more sinister. Take, for example, a connected camera. The intended usage is for the camera to stream video directly to a cloud server, where you can then login and view the video. But, a hacker might have the intention of seeing your camera, either for anti-security or anti-privacy purposes. Being able to get in the middle and prevent that attack in the first place is where Karamba Security fits in.

Too many companies don’t think about security as an important aspect of the product design lifecycle. Either there are no experts within the company or no time resources dedicated to the project. That’s where security controls and systems from experts fit in. In the engineering world, we tend to want to let experts on a particular topic handle those complicated topics. Security is, by far, the most important and the most useful to let security experts handle.

Currently, Karamba Security is working with a number of clients to integrate their technology into over 12 million connected devices. To learn more about their technology, or to engage the company about integrating it into your own project, head over to the Karamba Security website.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology.

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Learning the key to a more simple life with Everykey @ CES 2021



Everykey unlock everythingEveryday life is so busy. There are so many things, every day, that we are accountable for. We’re so busy running around all over the place and trying to keep up with everything. It’s so easy to get lost in our routines. I, for one, seem to constantly be misplacing even the most basic items… my hairbrush, my wallet, my keys. And don’t even get me started on how many passwords I have, all with different criteria. This site needs a minimum of 8 characters, another one needs a mixture of special characters while yet another one wants no special characters at all. So confusing and frustrating. That’s why this interview with Chris from Everykey was so refreshing and couldn’t have come along at a better time.

I’ll admit that the mere name of this product begs certain questions right off the bat. What exactly is this and is it even safe? Excellent questions! First of all, Everykey is made using military-grade security with extra safety features right at your fingertips, so you can rest assured that it is safe. It is a Bluetooth device that replaces some of the most important items in your life, like your keys and your passwords. You will use Everykey to unlock your phone, laptop, tablet, house door, car door, and other access-controlled devices. And it will do so automatically. Whenever you are nearby, your devices will unlock and then they will lock back down again when you walk away. Everykey can also generate secure passwords for your various website accounts. This is great because it allows you to automatically log in when you visit a website.

You’ll be able to set up and customize your Everykey with their easy-to-use mobile application. The app assists you with pairing to all of your devices and managing things like the range settings. It will also allow you to receive the latest over-the-air software updates to your Everykey so you can stay up to date on new features and security standards. Best of all, you have the ability to freeze it when needed. In the event that you lose your Everykey, you can remotely freeze it via the App or by a quick call to the company, to ensure that no one else can use it if they get a hold of it.

Pricing starts at $59 when purchasing multiples and they have accessories that start at $5. To find out more, please make sure to watch the video in its entirety and also check out there website.

Interview by Daniele Mendez of The New Product Launchpad.

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BenjiLock is protecting many aspects of your daily life @ CES 2021



BenjiLock biometric locksSince its first outing at CES 2017, Robbie Cabral, founder of BenjiLock, has consistently worked to bring his vision of a more convenient and more secure world to reality. Our team has had the privilege of following his journey, from concept to Shark Tank and Hampton Products to today.

Last year, just before the world came to a halt, Robbie stopped by our studio to discuss upcoming products. While 2020 took a toll on the timeline of these new products, Robbie and the team at Hampton Products have managed to bring all of these products to market for 2021.

Our favorite new product last year was the BenjiLock Door Lock. In fact, we liked it so much, we secure our office and studio with one. We were in good company, as the product received a CES Innovation Award last year. This product merges the best of both companies, with BenjiLock’s fingerprint reading technology combined with the long history of security products made by Hampton Products. Honestly, we have really enjoyed the convenience of the fingerprint reader for entrance by our team. We added to it the Hampton Push-Pull-Rotate doorknob, so even with our hands full of equipment, we can open the door.

Coming at a close second was the new bike lock. When exercising, I always try to carry as little as possible, and that includes my keys. Being able to lock a bicycle while out without the need for a key is ideal for my experience. It seems like I cannot be the exception, but likely closer to the rule. Anyone wearing proper cycling gear will find it difficult to store a key for any lock, let alone their bike.

The BenjiLock Bike Lock is available for $79.99 and the Door Lock is available for $159.99. To find out what colors are available, to make a purchase, or to learn more about the BenjiLock product line, check out the company’s website.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology.

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TROVA has it locked up tight, for hiding things in plain sight @ CES 2021



TROVA privacy boxesPrivacy for certain things is important these days. Who wants to have a secure place to store things that screams out that there is something of value inside it? Scott from TROVA has brought a sleek secure storage box that is cleverly designed as a decorative accent piece for your home.

TROVA is a personal biometric safe used for secure storage “out in the open.” It is wirelessly connected through Bluetooth and secured with your phone’s biometrics. To open the box and access the contents inside, open the app on the connected phone and sign in using fingerprint, facial recognition, etc. Some of the models offer the ability to unlock with the multi-function button but that severely limits the security.

It’s made of aluminum alloy that is very strong. TROVA offers a few ways to physically secure the box. For simple installation, you can use the Kensington lock to connect it to your desk or table. For a stronger lock, it has internal bolts that are hidden from both the inside and the outside of the box. It is also able to send alerts based on different events. For example, if your TROVA gets too far from your phone, you can get an alert on your phone. You can also get a warning if the box is left open or it’s been moved.

The HOME offers a few added benefits. You can be notified if another user unlocks the device. There is an internal organization with a clever sliding shelf system that allows storage of several layers of items. It also offers Wi-Fi and NFC which gives more options for unlocking it.

TROVA GO and TROVA GO plus are available now for $199 and $229 respectively. The TROVA HOME is available for pre-order for $549. For more information go to their website.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Arculus looks to secure cryptocurrency assets from theft @ CES 2021



Arculus cryptocurrency cold storageIn the past few weeks, the value of several cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, has skyrocketed. This change has caused a lot of new people to get involved in investing in these currencies in an attempt to make some quick cash. However, unlike owning a few shares of Microsoft or Apple, there are inherent insecurities in owning cryptocurrencies. Most notably, having a public, or hot, wallet on an exchange holding your coins, is just asking for trouble. In fact, billions of dollars worth of cryptocurrency have been stolen in recent years. However, Arculus has a new solution to the problem.

The basis of cryptocurrency security is in making the wallet that holds those coins unavailable to hackers. This process is called cold storage, or storage that is not accessed regularly, compared to hot storage, which is accessed often. This could mean keeping it on a flash drive or a portable hard drive that is kept disconnected from a computer. However, Arculus’ new process adds a number of layers of security that the normal process is lacking.

In particular, this process has three-factor authentication. You must have something you know, which is your PIN, something you are, which is your biometric lock on your phone, and something you have, which is the Arculus card. This means that, without you, the value of your wallet is zero. In addition, the currency is maintained in an air-gapped state, meaning that it is not connected to the internet – preventing external hackers from stealing from you.

The company has built this technology on the back of its security expertise. They produce metal credit cards for several companies, as well as governmental access badges. With that background, they have produced what could be the most secure way to store and transfer your cryptocurrency assets. The Arculus card should be available soon. To learn more and sign up to be notified of the launch, head to the company’s website.

Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology.

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Nooie brings beauty and security together in your home @ CES 2021



Nooie Cam DoorbellThe technology field is full of fascinating products that, while doing a great job to help the user in his chosen field, are not very attractive to look at. This is where Nooie is so different. The Nooie line has beautiful cameras and a smart-looking doorbell.

Nooie was created in 2018 in San Francisco by co-founder and designer Sasha who introduced us to Nooie. The Nooie Cam Doorbell is designed for beauty and smart function. One of the advantages of the Nooie Cam Doorbell is the ease of installation and use. The wiring has been eliminated and replaced with a powerful battery with a 10,000 mAh capacity. The base station, on the other hand, plugs into a standard outlet and must stay within 20 feet of the bell. One of the things that set this doorbell apart is that it is a 2K camera instead of HD. This will give greater clarity when viewing remotely or reviewing footage.

Another product of this company is the 360-degree camera with night vision. It has horizontal and vertical rotation with advanced algorithms that can track motion wherever the action is. The night vision has two 940nm infrared LEDs that will ensure a perfectly crisp and clear picture up to 32 feet, even if it is pitch black. There is also a 2-way audio system allowing you to listen and talk to your family and even your pets anywhere in the house. It has a built-in anti-noise feature and a mic and speaker. You can share streaming and recordings with others if desired. There is a capability of also using it with Alexa, making it like having a personal assistant in your own home.

These designer security products are available now on Amazon. The Cam Doorbell retails for $149.99. The Cam 360 is retailing for $49.99. To learn more about these and other Nooie products, check out the company’s website.

Interview by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central.

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Bitdefender BOX Protects the Smart Home at CES



With the arrival of the Internet of Things, installing antivirus software on a PC isn’t going address malware lurking on a smart home control unit. A different approach is needed and Bitdefender’s BOX might be the solution. Dan talks to Todd about what Box offers over traditional security products.

The Bitdefender Box is a small hardware device which is connected into a free port on the main router – it’s similar in size to the control units for SmartThings or Hue. Once configured via Bitdefender’s Central Account or the companion smartphone app, it monitors the network traffic for suspicious activity. Box provides several layers of security over and above standard antivirus with everything from URL filtering to anomaly detection.

Bitdefender Box is available now for US$129 in the first year, with an annual subscription of $99. The next gen Box is expected in the summer, priced at $199. Box is currently only available in the USA.

Todd Cochrane is the host of the twice-weekly Geek News Central Podcast at GeekNewsCentral.com.

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Keezel Personal WiFi with VPN Security



KeezelVPNs are great for keeping snooping countries, Orwellian agencies and thieving criminals at bay, but they’re not always straightforward to setup and when you have a laptop, mobile phone and tablet it’s a pain to maintain the VPN on each of them. Keezel has a solution in the shape of a personal wifi hotspot which has VPN software baked into the firmware. Daniel finds out more from Aike Müller, Co-Founder and CEO.

The way the Keezel works is that when out-and-about in coffee shops and other public wifi areas, you connect all your personal devices to the Keezel wirelessly. The Keezel connects to the public wifi network, establishes a VPN connection to a secure server and then all your communications travel securely across the network. Neat.

The standard price is US$99 for the Keezel and then $5 per month for the VPN service. The Keezel is currently on Indigogo’s InDemand having been originally 540% funded back in August 2015. There are some special perks available with devices are expected to ship in March 2016.

Daniel J. Lewis is the host of the award-winning podcast about podcasting, The Audacity to Podcast. Daniel helps others launch and improve their own podcasts for sharing their passions and finding success.

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UniKey Powers ERA Touchkey into UK



Unikey logo

With a string of successful smart lock products such as the Kwikset Kevo, UniKey are expanding out of the US and into other worldwide markets, but it’s not simply a case of taking a US product and selling it abroad as each country has its own size and security requirements . Don discusses the problem with Dirk from UniKey and looks at the first smartlock product from UniKey for the UK’s residential market.

The ERA Touchkey has been developed in partnership with ERA, a long established British manufacturer, to bring a smart nightlatch to the UK. The lock is really simply to use….touch the lock, the lock talks to your smartphone (which can stay in your pocket or bag), checks your credentials and opens the door if authorised. It’s clever enough to tell if the smartphone is on the inside or outside of the door, to stop the door being unlocked to intruders because your phone is nearby inside the house.

The ERA Touchkey will be available in the first half of 2016, but no details on price.

Don Baine is the Gadget Professor and gives lectures at TheGadgetProfessor.com.

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