Greg's Corner

Amazon Key already hacked

Previously, we’ve discussed Amazon’s Key program which in theory would allow deliveries to be dropped off inside your home while you were away. A number of consumers and Amazon Prime members said they would not subscribe to the service due to security concerns such as having strangers in your home even though Amazon Key comes with a security camera.

Those security fears may have been validated as Wired is reporting that a security research firm has successfully hacked the Key system. In a move that appears almost out of a movie, researchers were able to disable the Key camera in such away that in the camera’s view the door is closed while a rogue delivery person could be searching through your home.

Amazon says that they will be issuing a software update to prevent these kinds of hacks from happening but that’s not to say that another exploit could be found in the future. With the Key already being exploited and the amount of trust you have to put into strangers being in your home, is the Amazon Key really worth it? We would have to say not at this point in time.

With the prohibitive cost of purchase and installation, and now with security vulnerabilities, the Amazon Key may become Amazon’s New Coke.