CertifiedSIllyGoose
Operator
By trade, I am a software developer. I work 100% from home for a very nice company that lets me, and I spend my days at the keyboard building websites. That's my 9-5.
But for my down time? Well... I also sit at my desk pecking away at the keyboard
And I go into my garage, where all of my cool tools live. Woodworking, handtools, electronics, automotive, it's my sanctuary. But it wasn't secure.
When a friend and neighbor of mine challenged me to hack into his garage, I took it up enthusiastically... preparing for days or maybe weeks of trying different methods of entry. I was excited at the possibilities I could explore, and really test myself and my technical knowledge! I geared up like General Patton ready to enter the European theater and? Utter disappointment.
I got in his garage in about 3 minutes with a flipper zero. (https://flipperzero.one/) This was an eye opener for me. I tried it on my garage door, and it took just about as long. Garage doors are NOT secure. And the new ones with WiFi? The ones that let your Amazon driver open the door? LOL yeah no. Even worse.
The keypads on your garage are no better. They aren't much more than a remote (like the one in your car) that sends a signal. Rip one off the wall and if you know the right circuits to close, you can open that door in no time.
So I've spent the last couple of years fixing that. I started by getting a whole new opener that doesn't have WiFi (harder than you think to find) and removed the built in wireless antenna so it can't receive a radio signal from anywhere or anything. No remotes, no keypads, nothing. The only thing that will trigger it are the hard wires going to through the wall, and that's what I wanted to do.
Using Arduino microcontrollers and ESP32 microcontrollers, I built my own custom entry system.
Those were my goals for this project. I started it in 2023, and [finished] it in late 2024. It has been extensively tested, and has been working flawlessly! It also bothered me that when the door was open, it cast a shadow over part of my garage, so I installed interior LED lights that operate when the door sensor is on, and the relay that operates them also disables the high bay lights above the door that are on when the door is closed.
Finally, out of fear of accidentally leaving my soldering station on, I also built in a keyed switch that turns power on to the soldering station, and simultaneously kills the door circuit. That means if my soldering irons are getting power, there's no way to close my garage door other than cutting the steel cable locking the door release pull, and disengaging it from the track and manually closing it.
However, when the key shuts the soldering station OFF, the door circuit is closed again, and the door can operate normally.
I'll be posting videos and pictures of my work shortly, here in this thread.
I am now confident that I have a VERY secure garage door, and if anyone here has the technical know-how, I'd be glad to help you do the same to your garage door!
This has been a hobby, and an ongoing labor of love me for for a long time, and now I want you all to see just how silly this goose really is.
But for my down time? Well... I also sit at my desk pecking away at the keyboard
And I go into my garage, where all of my cool tools live. Woodworking, handtools, electronics, automotive, it's my sanctuary. But it wasn't secure.When a friend and neighbor of mine challenged me to hack into his garage, I took it up enthusiastically... preparing for days or maybe weeks of trying different methods of entry. I was excited at the possibilities I could explore, and really test myself and my technical knowledge! I geared up like General Patton ready to enter the European theater and? Utter disappointment.
I got in his garage in about 3 minutes with a flipper zero. (https://flipperzero.one/) This was an eye opener for me. I tried it on my garage door, and it took just about as long. Garage doors are NOT secure. And the new ones with WiFi? The ones that let your Amazon driver open the door? LOL yeah no. Even worse.
The keypads on your garage are no better. They aren't much more than a remote (like the one in your car) that sends a signal. Rip one off the wall and if you know the right circuits to close, you can open that door in no time.
So I've spent the last couple of years fixing that. I started by getting a whole new opener that doesn't have WiFi (harder than you think to find) and removed the built in wireless antenna so it can't receive a radio signal from anywhere or anything. No remotes, no keypads, nothing. The only thing that will trigger it are the hard wires going to through the wall, and that's what I wanted to do.
Using Arduino microcontrollers and ESP32 microcontrollers, I built my own custom entry system.
- Encrypted programmable RFID swipe card entry
- Must hold up to 3 cards
- Master swipe card required to add/delete cards
- Variable length passcode keypad
- Must be lockable from the inside for vacation mode
- Must have a progressive lockout function
- Backlit display shows progress and options
- Motion sensor turns backlight on when in proximity
- Custom web interface
- Encrypted
- 2FA & Strong password
- Must be able to see the status of the system and door
- Must be able to remotely disable all forms of entry
- Must be able to utilize a schedule to disable RFID/Remote/Keypad
- Built-in alarm
- Email & text notification
- Strobe light
- 120db remote alarm
- Rolling-code remotes
- Code changes every time the button is pressed
- Close proximity only, must be within 20 feet of the door, not down the road
- Encrypted signal
- Key lock override
- full physical disable for vacation mode
- Uninterruptible Power Supply
- Opener also has a battery backup so I can maintain security and open door during a power failure
- Removes any potential for voltage spikes disabling system or triggering an opening
- Magnetic switches
- Indicates door open/closed states
- Also triggers lights on inside of door and above door
- Knock sensors
- Detects tampering outside of hours
- Triggers alarm
- Hardwired Components
- Keypad and RFID reader mounted outside
- Only power and communication wires travel through small hole in wall to main computer inside the garage
- Cannot be hotwired or hacked from the outside
Those were my goals for this project. I started it in 2023, and [finished] it in late 2024. It has been extensively tested, and has been working flawlessly! It also bothered me that when the door was open, it cast a shadow over part of my garage, so I installed interior LED lights that operate when the door sensor is on, and the relay that operates them also disables the high bay lights above the door that are on when the door is closed.
Finally, out of fear of accidentally leaving my soldering station on, I also built in a keyed switch that turns power on to the soldering station, and simultaneously kills the door circuit. That means if my soldering irons are getting power, there's no way to close my garage door other than cutting the steel cable locking the door release pull, and disengaging it from the track and manually closing it.
However, when the key shuts the soldering station OFF, the door circuit is closed again, and the door can operate normally.
I'll be posting videos and pictures of my work shortly, here in this thread.
I am now confident that I have a VERY secure garage door, and if anyone here has the technical know-how, I'd be glad to help you do the same to your garage door!
This has been a hobby, and an ongoing labor of love me for for a long time, and now I want you all to see just how silly this goose really is.
, I can breathe easier now.