Connectivity Standard Alliance Launches Aliro Standard for Smart Locks

General News
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The Connectivity Standards Alliance has launched their new standard for secure, interoperable smart locks called Aliro.

This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/01/07/connectivity-standard-alliance-launches-aliro-standard-for-smart-locks
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This could be sweet because I love Apple Home Key, and I had a heck of a time finding a smart lock that supported it while not also completely locking me into the Apple ecosystem:

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Supposedly there’s supposed to be a few announced at CES, would be interested if you end up trying one out how it compares with the Apple Home ones.

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To me, this is useless tech. Not everything needs to be “smart” and I write this as a home assistant user.

I installed a TEEHO TE001 Keyless Entry Door Lock with Keypad - Smart Deadbolt Lock for Front Door with 2 Keys - Auto Lock - Easy Installation - Oil-Rubbed Bronze, Deadbolts - Amazon Canada on my front door and it’s been working great. That lock is primarily opened via a passcode, so I don’t carry a key around anymore. You can add many passcodes for different people and even add single-use passcodes. How can tapping a phone to open a door be a better experience? Maybe if you’re running some sort of an AirBnb type business and you want to audit (for some reason) when somebody opens your front door? Maybe some for some geofencing to have your door just open when you get home?

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  1. I tap my watch to open a door, and it’s fantastic actually
  2. I use this feature when I’m wearing winter gloves here in Minnesota and/or carrying things in both hands all the time
  3. Most importantly, the tech @fria is highlighting relates to UWB connectivity, so there’s no tapping in the first place. It can precisely calculate the distance between the lock and your phone to unlock the door when you’re merely next to it. This is much more secure than geofencing.

I’d honestly be tempted to swap out my current NFC locks for UWB ones when they’re released lol

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I will admit I am a very pro-“smart”-tech guy though, as long as the smart devices are not internet connected (which does rule out the majority of smart tech to be fair). If I can do something with Z-Wave or Thread etc. then I’m all over that :laughing:

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I’m not convinced that momentarily taking off a glove or putting a bag down to free a hand is a problem that requires a tech solution to solve, but to each his own.

Both of the articles that fria linked extensively use the term “tap” for this, but I don’t want to argue the semantics of tapping vs having a phone close enough.

In the HA thread here I previously wrote about my “poor man’s geofencing”, where I just have my HA server listen to when my phone connects to my router to determine whether I’m home or not for some HA automations. It’s much more battery friendly on my phone than true geofencing and I believe is more secure if that’s your concern for automatically opening doors (which I personally wouldn’t automate).

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I’m going to stick with my lock and key as its always been. Getting reinforced doors and hard to pick locks is enough for most people for their security. Anything digital has or will have vulnerabilities at some point.

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I sometimes use it to give “temporary digital key” to my trusted neighbor so they can bring my delivered packages inside when I’m away from my house.

All other features are just for convenience to me.

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