Facebook/Ring
- Amazon's Ring has recently been plagued with criticism over its security and privacy standards.
- While Ring is the biggest name in the industry, it was not the first or the only company to create smart doorbells and locks.
- We gathered a list of the 11 biggest names in smart locks and doorbells. The companies range from venture backed startups to corporate spinoffs, and several have been acquired by tech companies.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
Every smart home needs a smart doorbell and a smart lock, but some of these products can open up your home to hackers, advertisers, and even your local police (with permission.)
Critics, like Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey, have focused on Ring's partnership program with over 600 local police departments. Police are able to request Ring footage from any household near a crime scene. The Ring user would have to consent to their video being shared, but once shared, the police are able to keep the footage indefinitely.
Amazon has since updated some of its security protocols, requiring users to opt-out of more-secure two-factor authentication instead of digging through menus to opt-in and allowing users to opt-out of receiving requests for footage from police all together.
Still, smart doorbell and lock systems continue to be popular with consumers looking for security and peace of mind.
We mapped out the 11 biggest names in smart locks and doorbells. The companies range from venture backed startups to corporate spinoffs, and several have been acquired by tech companies.
