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License plate cameras at Home Depot and Lowe’s spark privacy fears

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License plate cameras at Home Depot and Lowe’s spark privacy fears

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You pull into a Home Depot or Lowe’s parking lot to grab mulch, paint or a new patio chair. You probably expect security cameras near the entrance. What you may not expect is a camera that captures your license plate as you drive in or out.

That is now reportedly happening at some Home Depot and Lowe’s stores in Connecticut. The cameras are automated license plate readers, also known as ALPRs. They photograph the back of a vehicle, record the plate number and log details such as time and location.

Retailers say the systems help prevent theft and protect customers and employees. Police say the cameras can help solve crimes. However, privacy advocates worry that shoppers may have little idea when their plate is being scanned or who can later search that data.

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WASHINGTON COURT SAYS FLOCK CAMERA IMAGES ARE PUBLIC RECORDS

A license plate reader camera is seen near a Lowe’s parking lot entrance in Connecticut, where vehicles can be scanned as shoppers come and go. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

What are license plate cameras?

Automated license plate readers use cameras and software to capture plate numbers from passing vehicles. Police departments often use them on roads to look for stolen cars, missing vehicles or suspects tied to active investigations.

Now, similar systems are showing up in retail parking lots. In Connecticut, Flock Safety cameras have been installed at some Home Depot and Lowe’s locations.  Flock Safety’s license plate reader technology captures vehicle information, including license plates and vehicle characteristics such as make, model and color on the property. The company said its system does not use facial recognition.

That means a quick trip to Home Depot or Lowe’s could create a searchable data point tied to your vehicle. Also, more than two dozen police departments in the state use automated plate readers.    

Why are stores using license plate readers?

Home Depot and Lowe’s say the cameras are used for security, theft prevention and public safety.

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In a statement to CyberGuy, a Home Depot spokesperson said, “We’ve had parking area security cameras in place at our stores for many years, as many retailers do. These cameras are used solely as a security measure to prevent theft and protect the safety of our customers and associates in our stores. We do not grant access to our license plate readers to federal law enforcement.” Home Depot also points customers to its usage policy posted on its website.

Home Depot’s statement addresses federal law enforcement access, but questions remain about how local or out-of-state police requests are handled.

Lowe’s privacy policy says personal information collected through ALPRs may be used to help ensure security, prevent theft and fraud, assist with parking enforcement and help keep people and property safe.

That may sound reasonable, especially with organized retail theft making headlines. Still, the bigger question is what happens after your plate gets scanned.

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A close-up view shows an automated license plate reader camera mounted at a Lowe’s store in Connecticut, where the technology can capture vehicle plate data as shoppers drive by. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Can police access store license plate data?

Yes, in some cases. Police officials say law enforcement can access data from Lowe’s and Home Depot license plate cameras in Connecticut. Some local departments have also entered into written agreements with retailers to receive automatic or continuous access to cameras at certain stores.

When Flock Safety cameras are deployed by private businesses, the data is owned and controlled by the business or organization using the system. The company says data sharing is off by default, and any decision to share data requires an active choice by the data owner. Flock also says every search is permanently logged in an immutable audit trail. That means police access isn’t simply automatic through Flock. It depends on whether the business chooses to share access, how that access is granted and which agencies are approved.

That is where the privacy debate gets tricky. Connecticut recently passed new rules for police use of automated license plate readers. The law limits how police can share plate data with out-of-state agencies, adds data retention rules and prohibits use of the systems for immigration enforcement.

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However, the law focuses on public agencies. It does not directly address private companies that use similar cameras in their parking lots. That means a police-owned camera on a road may face one set of rules, while a retailer-owned camera in a store parking lot may fall into a murkier category. Private retailers also do not have the same public disclosure requirements as police departments. 

So shoppers may not know which local or out-of-state agencies have access, how often police search the data or what happens when requests cross state lines. That’s the bigger concern. The issue isn’t only that your plate may be scanned. It is that the rules may depend on who owns the camera.   

A solar-powered automated license plate reader camera stands above a Home Depot parking lot in Connecticut, capturing vehicle plate data as cars move through the area. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

How to protect your privacy around license plate cameras

You cannot fully stop a camera from seeing your license plate when you drive in public. However, you can take a few practical steps.

Look for posted notices

Check for signs near parking lot entrances or store exits. Some retailers may disclose the use of license plate readers on signs, store websites or privacy policies.

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Read the store’s privacy policy

Search the retailer’s privacy policy for phrases such as “automated license plate reader,” “ALPR,” “vehicle information,” or “license plate.” That can help you understand what data the company says it collects and why.

Ask how your plate data is used

Contact customer service if you want clearer answers. Ask how long the company keeps license plate data, which agencies can access it and how requests from law enforcement are reviewed. Flock Safety data is automatically deleted after 30 days by default. Shoppers can still ask whether a retailer uses the default setting or a different retention policy.

Watch what lawmakers do next

Pay attention to local and state rules. More states are looking closely at license plate reader data, but private use may still fall behind police regulation.

Why this debate is only getting bigger

Retailers want tools that help stop theft. Police want information that can help with investigations. Those goals are not hard to understand.

The problem is transparency. People should know when their movements are being logged, how long that data lasts and who can search it later.

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License plate readers are spreading because they are useful. However, useful technology still needs clear rules. Without them, a simple shopping trip can become another piece of location data sitting in a database most people never knew existed.

What this means for you

This does not mean you need to avoid Home Depot or Lowe’s. It does mean some retail parking lots may collect more information than you realize. Your license plate is already visible in public. But automated scanning changes the equation. A person spotting your plate in a parking lot is one thing. A searchable database that logs when and where your vehicle appeared is very different. The concern comes down to control and transparency.

The rules can vary depending on who owns the camera, who manages the data and who gets access. A local police camera may face public reporting rules. A private retailer’s system can still leave shoppers with questions about which agencies received access and how those decisions were made.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

License plate cameras at stores create a privacy tradeoff that none of us signed up for. On one hand, stores want to stop theft and keep parking lots safer. That makes sense. On the other hand, you may not expect your license plate to be logged just because you ran in for mulch, batteries or a new drill bit. That is why transparency is so important. If private companies are collecting this kind of data and police can access it, you deserve to know how long it is kept, who can search it and what rules are in place. Security can be useful, but it should not come with a guessing game about where your information goes next.

Would you still shop at a store if you knew your license plate was being scanned and potentially shared with police? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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The Cube is Jim Henson’s little-known proto-Black Mirror masterpiece

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The Cube is Jim Henson’s little-known proto-Black Mirror masterpiece

I’m sure we’re all familiar with Dark Crystal, so we know that Jim Henson can be weird and tackle slightly more mature subject matter. But there is little in his oeuvre that is quite as mind-bending as the Muppetless The Cube. This 1969 teleplay was produced for an NBC anthology series called Experiment in Television, which featured, appropriately enough, various experimental films, plays, and documentaries. One episode even featured Marshall McLuhan explaining his oft-cited theory that “the medium is the message.”

Even among all these oddities, however, Jim Henson’s The Cube stands out. It’s a 53-minute bottle film — taking place almost entirely in a single room. A man awakes in a white cube, unsure of where he is or how he got there. There are no windows, no door. Just walls of white panels.

It doesn’t take long for someone to open a section of the wall and bring in a stool for our nameless man in the cube. But when he closes the “door” behind him, our protagonist can’t open it back up. And thus begins the parade of people, dozens of them, taking turns going in and out of various invisible doors in the titular cube.

The interactions start off strangely enough — why is there strawberry jam on the stool? Who is this woman who claims to be the protagonist’s wife even though he doesn’t recognize her? But they quickly escalate, calling into question the nature of reality, our protagonist’s sanity, and raising questions about what the cube is exactly. Jim Henson himself even makes an uncredited cameo as the voice of a gorilla in a tutu.

As people come and go, delivering supplies to the man, harassing him, or even attempting to seduce him, the room changes around him inexplicably. Beds, couches, fully stocked liquor cabinets, and other furniture mysteriously appear. A full band slips in and sings a song with the line “you’ll never get out ‘til you’re dead,” before it’s revealed to be a recording as the record skips repeatedly on the word “dead.”

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The Cube offers many questions but no answers. Is the man living in a simulation? Is he on TV? Are the people around him actors? Is any of it real at all? Does matter exist?

Even in a post-Twilight Zone world, The Cube feels uniquely bizarre, more akin to the modern dystopian anthology series Black Mirror than anything else. While it’s not true lost media, it remains relatively obscure. It only aired twice, there’s a sold-out DVD listing on Amazon, and it only occasionally makes an appearance on streaming services in any official capacity.

Your best bets right now are a pair of YouTube uploads, both embedded above. One is a much higher-quality transfer of a black-and-white kinescope film with remastered audio. Unfortunately, it also cuts out most of the song due to copyright. The other upload is full color and retains the song, but is a generally lower quality rip with muddier image and audio. Regardless of which one you choose, it’s a wild and thoroughly enjoyable ride that shows just how twisted the mind of Jim Henson could be.

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FBI warns Microsoft users about passwordless scam

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FBI warns Microsoft users about passwordless scam

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The security step many of us trust most may not protect us the way we think. The FBI is warning about an emerging phishing-as-a-service platform called Kali365. It targets Microsoft 365 accounts, including Outlook, Teams and OneDrive.

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That alone sounds bad. The scarier part is how it works. This scam can get into your account without stealing your password. Even with multifactor authentication turned on, one wrong device-code approval could give a criminal access.

Here’s how the scam works, why it can slip past MFA and what you can do to protect your Microsoft account.

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NEW FBI WARNING REVEALS PHISHING ATTACKS HITTING PRIVATE CHATS

A fake device-code request can trick Microsoft 365 users into approving access without ever sharing a password. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

How Kali365 tricks Microsoft users

Kali365 is a phishing-as-a-service platform. In other words, crooks can subscribe to it and use ready-made tools to attack Microsoft 365 accounts. The FBI says Kali365 was first seen in April 2026 and has mainly spread through Telegram. The platform gives attackers access to AI-generated phishing messages, automated campaign templates, tracking dashboards and tools that capture OAuth tokens. That last part is the key.

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OAuth tokens are digital access keys. They can let an app stay connected to your Microsoft account without asking for your password every time. They are useful when the right app uses them. They are dangerous when a scammer steals them.

Why this scam can beat MFA

Most phishing scams try to steal your password. Kali365 takes a different route. The attack abuses Microsoft’s device code login process. You may have seen something similar when signing into a streaming app on a smart TV. A screen shows a short code. Then you enter that code on another device to approve the sign-in.

That process is legitimate. The scam begins when a criminal starts the sign-in from their own device and tricks you into approving it. You may see a phishing email that looks like it came from a trusted cloud service or document-sharing tool. The message includes a code and tells you to visit a real Microsoft verification page.

That real Microsoft page is what makes this so sneaky. The web address can look right. Your password manager may not object. The page may feel safe. But once the code gets entered, you may unknowingly authorize the attacker’s device. From there, the attacker can capture access and refresh tokens. That can open the door to Outlook, Teams and OneDrive without your password or another MFA prompt.

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Scammers can use a legitimate Microsoft sign-in page to make the phishing attempt feel much more convincing. (Neil Godwin/Future via Getty Images)

Why this should worry small businesses too

A scam like this can hit anyone with Microsoft 365 access. Still, small businesses should pay close attention. Think about what sits inside a typical work account. Email threads. Invoices. Shared files. Employee chats. Vendor contacts. Customer details. Calendar invites. One compromised account can give a criminal a very believable voice.

A scammer who gets into Outlook can study how you write. They can send messages from your real account. They can ask coworkers to pay fake invoices, share files or reset passwords. That to me is scary because the scam may not look like a scam anymore. It may come from someone you know.

How the attack unfolds

The FBI describes the scheme in a clear sequence. First, the victim gets a phishing email that pretends to come from a trusted productivity or file-sharing service. Next, the email provides a device code and tells the victim to enter it on a legitimate Microsoft verification page.

Then, the victim enters the code and unknowingly approves the attacker’s device. After that, the attacker captures OAuth access and refresh tokens. Finally, the attacker can access Microsoft 365 services such as Outlook, Teams and OneDrive without needing the victim’s password.

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Red flags to watch for

The biggest warning sign is an unexpected request to enter a Microsoft device code. Be suspicious if an email tells you to enter a code for a file, voicemail, invoice or shared document you did not request.

Also, watch for urgency. Scammers love messages that push you to act fast. They may claim a document will expire, a voicemail is waiting, or an account needs verification.

Another clue is context. If you were not trying to sign in to a device, do not enter a device code. That one habit can stop this scam before it starts.

If a Microsoft code appears in an unexpected email, text or Teams message, stop and go directly to your account. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

What Microsoft says about the Kali365 phishing warning

In response to CyberGuy, Microsoft said customers should follow the FBI’s recommendations as well as Microsoft’s published best practices to protect against Kali365 and similar scams.

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The company also said it works to disrupt cybercriminal ecosystems tied to phishing-as-a-service and account takeover activity. Microsoft pointed to recent Digital Crimes Unit actions involving Fake ONNX, RaccoonO365 and Tycoon 2FA as examples of those broader efforts.

How to protect your Microsoft 365 account from Kali365

A few smart habits can help you spot fake device-code requests, reduce your exposure and follow the FBI’s guidance for limiting this type of attack.

1) Never enter a device code you did not request

Only enter a Microsoft device code when you personally started the sign-in. If the code arrives through an email, Teams message or random document link, stop.

2) Go directly to Microsoft

Do not use links inside surprise messages. Open your browser and go directly to Microsoft or your company’s Microsoft 365 portal.

3) Check your account activity

Review recent sign-ins, connected devices and active sessions. If you see a location, device or app you do not recognize, take action right away.

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4) Revoke suspicious sessions

If you think you entered a code by mistake, sign out of all sessions and revoke suspicious app access. Then change your password and contact your IT team.

5) Keep MFA turned on

Do not turn off multifactor authentication because of this scam. MFA still blocks many account attacks. This threat shows why you also need to be careful with approval prompts and device codes.

6) Use strong security software

Using strong antivirus software can help detect phishing pages, malicious links and suspicious downloads before they cause damage. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com

7) Use a data removal service

Scammers often build convincing phishing messages with personal details found online. A data removal service can help reduce the amount of your information available on people-search sites and data broker databases. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com

8) Train your team on device-code scams

Employees may know not to type passwords into strange pages. Many have never been warned about device codes. Make this specific scam part of your security training.

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9) Restrict device code flow if your business does not need it

The FBI says restricting device code flow can help prevent or limit this style of attack. IT teams should create a conditional access policy to block device code flow for all users, with limited exceptions for required business processes.

10) Audit device code usage first

Before blocking device code flow, the FBI recommends auditing current usage to identify legitimate business needs. That can help prevent disruptions for employees or systems that rely on this sign-in method.

11) Block authentication transfer policies

The FBI also recommends blocking authentication transfer policies. This can help prevent users from transferring authentication from computers to mobile devices.

12) Protect emergency access accounts

If your organization cannot fully restrict device code flow, the FBI recommends excluding emergency access accounts to prevent lockouts. That step should be handled carefully by your IT or security team.

13) Report the attack

If you were targeted or compromised, report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov. Include phishing emails, email headers, suspicious login times, IP addresses, locations, unauthorized devices and active sessions.

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What to do if you have already entered a code

Move quickly.

  • Sign out of Microsoft 365 on all devices.
  • Change your password.
  • Check your recovery email and phone number.
  • Review forwarding rules in Outlook.
  • Look for strange inbox rules that hide, delete or redirect emails.
  • Then review OneDrive files, Teams messages and recent account activity.
  • If this is a work account, tell your IT team immediately. Do not wait to see what happens. Stolen tokens can give attackers continued access until they are revoked.

Kurt’s key takeaways

This is the kind of scam that can fool smart people because it uses a real Microsoft sign-in page to pull off something criminal. That is what makes Kali365 so dangerous. It can turn a trusted security step into a trap, especially when the code did not come from a signed-in user. The big takeaway here is to slow down before entering any Microsoft device code. If a code shows up through an unexpected email, text or Teams message, stop and go directly to the account instead. Do not approve a sign-in unless it was started on purpose. A few extra seconds of caution can help keep criminals out of Outlook, Teams, OneDrive and everything connected to them.

Have you ever received a Microsoft code or login prompt you did not request, and did it look convincing enough to make you pause? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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TMD’s keyless bike lock is a $280 solution to a $60 problem

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TMD’s keyless bike lock is a 0 solution to a  problem

I’ve seen lots of so-called “smart” bike locks over the years, but none so far could justify the added cost. A newcomer that got its start securing ATMs for banks is trying to change that. There’s nothing wholly unique about the TMD Chain Lock, but the combination of materials, performance, and insurance-friendly ART-2 certification makes it worth considering.

TMD’s first bicycle lock combines a Bluetooth proximity sensor and motion alarm with a slender core of hardened steel chain wrapped in a soft and lightweight sleeve of high performance Dyneema and Kevlar fibers. That makes this lock tough, yet flexible enough to conveniently wrap around your seat post when cycling. TMD also designed the keyless lock to be shareable with friends and family, and capable of withstanding shock, rain, dust, and extreme temperatures. That makes it highly suited to city bikes parked outside and ridden all year long.

I like the TMD Chain Lock I’ve been testing, but spending €249 (about $283) on something that typically costs far less is a big ask.

$280

The Good

  • Strong yet flexible lock won’t scratch bike
  • Digital key can be shared with friends and family
  • Convenient if you lock your bike several times a day
  • ART-2 certified for insurance
  • Loud enough alarm

The Bad

  • Very expensive
  • Lacks USB-C charging
  • Annoying operating sounds

The chasm separating ATM security from bike security isn’t as wide as it might seem. TMD developed a centralized, keyless system for banks to authorize access to its ATMs for service, replacing the physical master keys that created a massive security risk whenever they were lost or stolen. It’s this same keyless knowhow that TMD now brings to the Bluetooth bike lock.

There are many advantages to turning phones into digital keys, especially in bike-centric societies like the Netherlands, which TMD calls home. For example, I could ride to the train station and have an authorized friend pick the bike up later. And the keyless convenience quickly adds up for those of us that use our bikes to commute to work, pick up the kids from daycare and football, run errands, and shop for groceries. In my home city of Amsterdam, it’s not unusual to grab my keys more than a dozen times a day to lock and unlock my bike.

I tested the TMD Bike Lock in the 110cm (about 3.5 feet) length with an iPhone 15 Pro running the latest version of iOS. Generally — I’d say 19 out of every 20 attempts — the TMD Chain Lock immediately recognized my approach, allowing me to seamlessly unlock it with a push on the lock’s only button. When I did have to wait, it took no more than a second for the button to flash blue, indicating the lock had detected my nearby phone in a pocket or bag. Pretty good, but that convenience comes with some tradeoffs.

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The bike sat unlocked across the street since it was still within Bluetooth range of my phone at this cafe.

My bike, parked outside this window, would automatically unlock whenever I cooked.

Charging the lock off my laptop. It’ll also charge off a phone’s USB-C port.

Don’t lose this proprietary charging cable!

For example, my bike remained within range of my phone when parked outside a cafe, so anyone could have walked up and unlocked it. I had the same issue when cooking in my kitchen with the bike parked just outside the window, as I normally do. In both cases, I either had to move the bike or turn off my phone’s Bluetooth radio. And since my phone is now my bike key, if it’s stolen, my much more expensive e-bike is vulnerable as well.

TMD says its Chain Lock is “immune to conventional drilling and picking,” but all bike locks can be defeated by a determined thief. The Chain Lock has earned an ART-2 certification issued by an independent Dutch organization that tests and certifies bike locks on a scale from one to five. Most Dutch insurance companies require ART-2 at a minimum to validate policies on expensive e-bikes and cargo bikes. It’s akin to something like a Sold Secure Silver or Gold rating in the UK, a 2 Roues in France, and VdS approval in Germany. (The US and Canada do not have a single, centralized, independent testing body that dictates insurance requirements for bicycles.) Should your bike be stolen, you can produce a digital log file for the insurance company from within the TMD app as official proof that your bike was locked.

To deter theft, the lock also features an integrated motion alarm that can be armed and disarmed in the app or with a double press of the lock’s button. At 100dB it’s less shrill than I expected, but it does the job when it senses the lock being jostled. It shuts off automatically after about 10 seconds of inactivity.

TMD tells me that a future software update will let you disable these sounds.

The lock is rather noisy in day-to-day usage. Unlocking it is accompanied by a loud tone that hits 75dB when measured at a distance of one meter. I hate that it draws attention to me and my expensive e-bike. Just flash green and unlock — that’s more than enough. TMD tells me that a future software update will let you disable these sounds.

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TMD claims the lock’s battery will last up to nine months on a single charge. However, my test unit has already dropped 16 percent after a week of testing, suggesting a lifespan closer to six or seven weeks. But that’s likely because I store my bikes inside my house when not in use, so the lock’s Bluetooth radio is constantly being lit up by my phone’s proximity.

To prevent water and dust ingress and leave more room for the battery and speaker, TMD says it opted for a shallow magnetic pin connector – not USB-C – to charge the Chain Lock. That’s a shame because plenty of phones have USB-C ports and offer even better IP68/69 protection against rain and debris. That means you’ll need to have the lock’s proprietary cable on you should you ignore the low-battery warnings and let it die. It can be quickly recovered, however: I saw a completely dead (and locked) Chain Lock spring back to life after just two or three minutes of charging off the USB-C port of an iPhone.

You can still unlock the TMD Chain Lock should your phone die. You just have to tap in your four digit “emergency code” on the lock’s button. Choosing a code like 1324 would require 1 push, then 3 pushes, then 2, and 4. The ring around the button changes colors to visually prompt you for each new number. The TMD app also lets you share the lock with friends and family, who can also come to your rescue with their own phones.

1/6

100cm is my preferred length.

For added peace of mind, it’s always a good idea to double-lock your bike, so most urban cyclists combine a chain lock with a ring lock that’s permanently mounted to the frame and prevents the rear wheel from spinning. TMD has already announced an “anti angle grinder” U-Lock and GPS-equipped Ring Lock coming later this year. Having my phone unlock both of my bike’s locks simultaneously would really up the convenience factor and better justify TMD’s pricing.

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Right now, paying €249 when equivalent analog bike locks costs a quarter of that would be foolish for most people. The ART-2 certified ABUS 8900, for example, in the same flexible 110cm length, costs around €60 (about $68). If you can afford the TMD Chain Lock and really hate keys, or need a keyless lock that can be shared digitally with others, then have at it. Otherwise, it won’t justify its exorbitant price.

  • Security rating: ART-2 certified
  • Operation: Keyless Bluetooth
  • Deterrence: Motion activated 100dB alarm
  • TMD Locks App: Manages sharing, location tracking and more (iOS and Android compatible)
  • Sizes: 70cm (1.3kg), 110cm (1.7kg) and 160cm (2.1kg)
  • Colorways: Navy, Beige and Black
  • Power: 9 month battery life. Charge to 100% in 2 Hours
  • Durability: IP57 water and dust resistant
  • Warranty: 2 years
  • Pricing: from €229

All photography by Thomas Ricker / The Verge

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