Amazon Key In-Home Package Delivery Examined

Published Nov 21, 2017 17:50 PM

Interesting idea or invitation for criminals to rob you?

Amazon's recent announcement of Key, a service that will help manage visitors, welcoming certain ones into your house for you, has drawn significant attention, but not all positive.

This new service from Amazon ties into their recently released security camera (see our test results) and selected smart locks, creating a method to enable delivery and service people to enter your home when you are not there to let them in.

We examine Amazon Key, both in terms of the core service (enabling secure access to your house when you are away), and what it shows of Amazon's overall strategies in the home security segment.

Amazon *** ********

******'* **** ***** ********** *** ***** selling ****** ** ***:

  • ******** ******** ** ** ********* ****** your ****
  • ******** ******** **** *** ******* ** cleaners ****** ****** ***** *** *** away
  • ********* ************* *** ***** ***** ** these *******

***** **** **** ** ******** ***************, ***** ** $**/****. 

Requires *********** ****** ***** *** ******** ****** + ***** ********

** ***** ** ******* ***, ***** much******** * ******** ******** * *********** ******* ********'* ***** ***, **** * ****** ************ ******** for ~$***. *** ****** ** ** indoor-only *****, *** **** ** ********* near *** ***** **** (**** ** provide ***** ** **********, *** ** that ** *** *********** *** ** with *** ************ ********). ** *** tests, ******** *** ********* ******, ****** ** *********** ******* *** much ***** **** ******** * ***** door ****** ******** *****.

Free ************

****** ** ******** **** ************ ** the ***** *** *** ******** **** the ********:

** ************ ******* ** ******* *** the ***** ***, *** ******* ********* are ~$** *** ******'* "****** ************" option, ****** *** **** ******* ******** valuable ** ****** ******* *********** * smart **** *** *** ******* ** do *** ************ **********:

 

Limited ** ****** ********* *** ********

**-**** ********** *** ******** *** ******* to ***** ********* ******* ******. ********** are **** ** ******'* ********* ***********, which *** ********* ***** ************** ** regional ******** *********. ****** ****** **** all ******* ***** *** ********** *** vetted **** ********** ******. *** ******* people, **** ** ******** ** *** walkers, *** ******* **** ** ****** through ******'* **** ******** *********, ***** ***** ***** *** ******* to ******* ********* ** ******'* ******** for ********** ******, ****** **** *** manually ****** *** **-**** *** ***** deadbolt ******* ** *** ** ***** access ** ******* *********.

Delivery/Service ********* ****** ** *****

******* ********** **** ** ****** "**** inside *** *******", ********** *** ****** delivery ****** **** ** *** ******** of *** *****. *** ***** *** is ****** **** *** ****, ******** the ********* ** ***** *** ******** live, ** ****** ** *** ***** viewing. ******* ****** ******* *** **** access ** ******** ******, **** ** for ******** ********, ***** ***** ******* the ********* **** ****** ********** ******* of *** ******* ****** ** ***** home, ****** **** ****** ***** **** throughout *** ****** *********, ***** ** unlikely ** ** ********* *** ******* of **** ***** *** *******.

Security ********

******** **** *** ***** **** ** a *** *** *******, ** ****** killers, ** **** ****** ** ********* ****** ** ******* ****** ***** outlets. ***** ****** ****** *** ****** command *** * **** ******* ** Key ** ******* ********** ** ******, responses ** ******'* ************ ****** **** many ********* ** *** **** ***** in ****** ** **** ***** ***** secure.

* **** ** ***, ******* *** the ****** ***** ** ******** **** outside *** *****, ***** * **** ****** ******, was ******** ******* ***** ******. ***** the **** ******** ******* ****** **** make ** ***** ** ** *** a **** ***** ******, ** **** not **** ****** ******** **** ****-***** customers **** *** **** *** **** potential *** *********** ******* ** **** ****** to ***** ****. ****** ****** **** will ******* * ******** ****** ** minimize *** ******* ** *** **** deauth ****** ***** ************ ********* ** ****** with *** ***** ***/*** *******.

*******, *** *** ** ** **** of * ****** **** *** ***** remote-controllable ********, *** ***** ******* *** Amazon ***** **** ** *** *** potential *** * ***** ******* ****. The *********** **** ****** ***** ** an ********** ****** *** *******, ** any ***** ***** ****** **** **** scale *********, ***** *** ******* ******** **** someone *********** *** ****-***** **** ****** attack ****** ************ ********** **** ***.

"Happiness *********" - $*,*** ********* *****

****** ** ******** * "********* *********" *** *** ***** ******:

**********, ** ********* ********* ** ******, are ******** ** **** **** *********, as *** ******** ****** ****** *********** not **** ** ***** *** *********. However, **-**** ******** *** **** ** larger *********** *** ******, ** ***** providers **** **** ****** ** ******** spaces ******** ** ** ******* ** cameras. **** ******** **** **** ******* to ****** ******* ******** ** ***, if ***** ****** ** ******** ***** outside ******* **** ***** **** **** do *** ******* *** *** ********* Guarantee **********.

Initial ******* - ** ****

*** **** ** ********* ** ***** 3 ***** ***** ** ************ ***** initially. ****** *** *** ********* ***** for ************ ******* ** *** **.

Key *********** 

***** *** *** ******* ***********, ********* pets *** ***** *******, **** *** prevent **** ***** **** ***** ***:

****** **** *** ********* ***** *** if ***** **** ****-******* **** ** the *****:

******* *** **** *** **** ******** system ************, ***** **** ** ****** home ******** ******* ** **** *** expecting ********** ** ******* ****** ******** the **** ***** ***:

Amazon's ***** **** **** ************ ******

*** ***** *** ***** **** ****** is *** ****** ** ******* ******** **** companies **** **** *** ****, *** are *********** ******* ** ********-******** ************ cameras ** ******. ***** ******'* ***** *** is ** ************ ***** *****, *** little ****** ** *********** ****** *********, it ** ********** *** *** **** purpose ** ******* ***** *****, *** Amazon **** ****** ******* *** ****** over ****. ** ***** ********** ****** eventually ******** ** ******* ******* ** well.

*** *** *** ***** *** **** Amazon ****** **** ******** ****-**, ******** that *** *** ******* ******* *******. By ******** ** ** **** ******* with ******'* ******, ********* *** ****** to ******** ********** ***** **** ****** they ****** ** ****** ***** ************ coverage. 

********

Comments (11)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Nov 21, 2017

This is a good idea, in theory.  But when you get down to liabilities and insurance I can't imagine this working well.  I know delivery theft is a growing concern, but placing a Ring doorbell or similar can help with that without giving access to my house to delivery people.  They may be well vetted and background checked, but who knows what kind of friends they have or know that they can give information on what you have, when you're not home, etc.  Couple that with the fact that I can't have my dog walking around my house when a delivery is coming and I have to disarm my house alarm, makes this a non-starter for me.

(2)
SD
Shannon Davis
Nov 22, 2017
IPVMU Certified

One of the test sites is here locally in Kansas City, KS. When the news interviewed people and the radio talk shows had people call in about this service most were against this service unless maybe you had a screened in porch you could put this lock on so they couldn't gain access to the interior of your home. Although when they interviewed Millennials more of them were interested in this type of service. Wal-Mart is also testing this service in San Francisco for it's home delivery service as well. It is good in theory. Heck I remember as a kid my parents would leave the back door unlocked and a blank check on the freezer for the Schwan's delivery. We are in much different times these days though.

UE
Undisclosed End User #4
Nov 29, 2017

I could really only see using this if I had a garage, shed, or some other area that did not have access to the rest of the house sort of like you said. I don't like the idea of having strangers being able to enter the house at all. It just feels like it's undermining the purpose of a deadbolt in the first place.

(1)
UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #2
Nov 22, 2017

From time to time, a public company releases certain news just for timing purpose, and perhaps that's case here.    This ridiculous so called smart solution was announced back on 10/25.  The very next day,  QR came out and AMZN got a big boost.  Rest is history.

No one takes it seriously is my bid.  

 

UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #3
Nov 22, 2017

Been traveling with airbnb for almost 1 year. People gave me keys to their apartments. at some point i wondered why the trust..and then it hit me: what could i have stole?Their tv ? Their furniture?  The world is changing to the point were most of the people are not affraid to checking at airport and say they will leave country for 3 days.

 

RS
Robert Shih
Nov 27, 2017
Independent

In no uncertain, but certainly inelegant terms: "Hell no!"

WAAAAY too many possibilities for exploits of both a technical and social engineering nature.

Avatar
Campbell Chang
Nov 28, 2017

It's such an odd concept that there's even a market for this.

 

In Australia, if you aren't home, you're left with a slip that tells you that the courier has been and to go get your package from your local collection spot (a local gas station or pharmacy or something) or if its Aus Post, then pick it up from the post office.

Avatar
Jon Dillabaugh
Nov 28, 2017
Pro Focus LLC

I already have UPS deliver my packages inside my garage with a keypad for my overhead door. But, I know my UPS driver well enough to trust him. I have seen the level of people Amazon uses for Key delivery in my area and I would NOT trust them in my home.

My adult daughter saw a Key delivery driver approach our house and was really scared. The vehicle driven was a mid 90's beat up Cadillac and their non-uniformed "runner" hopped out before the car stopped and sprinted to our door with the package. Never knocked or rang the bell. Just dropped the box and sprinted back.

The should at least drive company provided vehicles, or at least put a magnetized decal on the door. Also, a standard, company issued polo shirt shouldn't be too much to ask for the employees.

(2)
(1)
UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #5
Dec 07, 2017

DoS hack left a frozen image while someone enters the house. https://www.wired.com/story/amazon-key-flaw-let-deliverymen-disable-your-camera/

UE
Undisclosed End User #6
Feb 06, 2018

''Break and Enter dropbox'', attack with Amazon Key (smartlock and smartcam combo)

Exploit appears to involve leaving a device hidden to capture wireless packets and repeat (re transmit) after package delivered to gain entry.

Avatar
Brian Karas
Feb 06, 2018
Pelican Zero

Looks very similar to the replay attack approach from the SoftwareHouse vulnerability. Should be an easy fix, but still potentially leaves customers exposed.