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Bypassing automatic garage door opener in six seconds

Bob Morris, on Aug 17, 2010, 9:55 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMz1tXBVT1s

Garage doors with automatic openers have always seemed like a lot of security theater to me.

Nope, it’s not done with a scanner finding the unlock code for the opener, the method is way old school.

Category: News | 3 comments - (Comments are closed)

  • woody

    Interesting, but it relies on a few things:

    That the person knows the garage door is automatic.
    That there’s a gap above the door curve (if installed right, there’s not).
    That they use that model of opener (mine is very different, with a release latch in a very different place and orientation).
    That the owner hasn’t disabled the release latch (which is an option on most openers).
    That there’s not a semi-exposed AC line running just above the door frame…. :)

    Another way to do it is to “look” for the inside release button from the outside with a large magnet (like a portable tape eraser). Just buzz it around each side, where you would expect it to be (or look through a window at night for it’s glow), and it will trigger the switch.

    Realistically, most garages have a door or windows, which are just as easy to jimmy or open. As Jefferson said: “Locks exist to keep an honest man honest.” If a robber wants into your garage, they’ll get in, with or without an opener. Same with your house, unless you’re living in an old converted bank or something. If you really want to protect something, a lock is not your answer. A guard (2 or 4 legged) is a much stronger deterrent than a lock any day.

    • http://polizeros.com Bob Morris

      Also, many garage doors don’t have windows.

      Here in Utah, one way big deterrent against breaking into homes is the knowledge that everyone has guns, often lots of them, and knows how to use them. That works even better than a big barky dog.

      • http://asymptoticlife.com DJ

        Yep. One night last week while I was out of town, my wife reports that a car came down our road at 2:30am. The dogs, of course, went ballistic. There’s nothing *on* our road except our house, so it was a matter for concern. She says she sat on the porch with the 12-gauge on her lap until whoever it was had turned around and headed back out.

        And yes, she knows how to use it.