Re: X10 Home Automation and Physical Security

[Charles Sullivan <cwsulliv@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Wed, 25 Jan 2006 16:40:33 -0600, Kevin Gottsman wrote:

> I am new to the automation arena and have a computer security background
> so I am thinking with my "paranoid" hat on now.
>
> Our house has a couple of external outlets for convience while doing yard
> work and other activities. Looking to install some X10 devices and maybe a
> security system in the future.
>
> Could someone with physical access potentially impact the X10 devices on
> the inside of the house? I am generally thinking lights and appliances but
> also the security system if the control panel is able to talk X10. I
> realize that they would need some kind of controller and/or laptop while
> standing in front of our house.
>
> Any thoughts?
>
> Kevin

Anyone with a plug-in controller can control any of the ordinary
X10 modules in your home if the exterior outlet is not filtered.
Or do the same thing with a RF remote if you have an X10 transceiver
plugged in anywhere in the house.

Security systems from X10 are somewhat more difficult to compromise,
but not much - the security ID required in the RF code to disarm
the system is only 1 byte long.  However the off-the-shelf X10
security remotes assign their ID at random, so some work would be
needed on the part of a would-be housebreaker to acquire a
transmitter to send any specific ID, or to cycle through all IDs.