The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Not as a blanket claim about current systems. The headline “Burglars Can Easily Disable SimpliSafe Alarms” came from a February 18, 2016 report about a radio replay attack on the system discussed at that time. The attacker needed to be nearby to capture a keypad transmission; the report said it could not be done over the Internet. A separate 2020 advisory described a different keypad-pairing issue requiring physical access to the Base Station. Neither report establishes that today’s SimpliSafe systems are vulnerable.
What did the 2016 SimpliSafe report describe?
SecurityWeek’s February 18, 2016 article reported that IOActive researcher Dr. Andrew Zonenberg found the system he examined did not protect a keypad disarm transmission against replay. In the described attack, someone within radio range recorded the transmission sent when a user disarmed the system and replayed it later. SecurityWeek explicitly said the attack could not be carried out over the Internet. Read SecurityWeek’s 2016 report.
The article also described a roughly $250 equipment demonstration and discussed limitations on firmware updates for the hardware generation involved. Those are details from the dated report, not evidence of how current SimpliSafe equipment behaves. The report establishes a historical finding, not a present-day test of every model or firmware version.
Could someone disable an alarm without the PIN?
There are two distinct historical reports relevant to this question, and their attack requirements differ:
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#1 Best Overall
- Simple to set up. Seriously secure - Get ready to protect right out of the box. Just plug in the Base Station, download the SimpliSafe App, place your sensors, and start protecting your home. No wiring or drilling required. Or contact SimpliSafe directly if you need help installing your system.
- 1 FREE month of professional monitoring for fast police response when you need it most. With optional monitoring services, our agents keep watch even when you can't, ready to instantly alert emergency responders. Starting at less than $1/day with no long-term contracts or hidden fees. (SimpliSafe products and professional monitoring services are only offered for sale and supported in the US)
- Complete control of your system with the SimpliSafe App - Arm, disarm and protect anytime, anywhere.
- Protection for entry points - Entry Sensors protect windows, doors, and cabinets and alert you when someone tries to enter. Customizable and can send Secret Alerts so you are quietly alerted if someone accesses private areas, without sounding an alarm.
- Blanket a whole room - Motion sensors detect motion within 35 feet, have a 90 degree field of view and get along great with pets under 60lbs. Perfect for full room coverage when placed in a corner.
| Issue | What the report described | Prerequisite and scope |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 replay report | Recording and later replaying an unencrypted keypad-to-Base-Station disarm transmission | Radio proximity to capture the transmission; SecurityWeek said it was not an Internet attack. The report concerned the system examined at that time. |
| 2020 keypad-pairing advisory | Pairing a rogue keypad to the Base Station and using it to disarm without the victim’s PIN | Physical access to the Base Station. Tenable said the full attack could not be completed within the default 30-second entry delay. |
Tenable’s advisory concerns SimpliSafe SS3 and documents vulnerable versions tested by its researchers: keypad 1.2.16 and Base Station 1.3.2. Its solution section says to ensure the Base Station has firmware 1.4.x or higher; the advisory’s timeline records updates to keypad 1.4.20 and Base Station 1.4.58. This is a fix recommendation for the pairing issue described in that advisory, not proof that the same update fixed the 2016 replay finding. See Tenable’s advisory.
What is known about current SimpliSafe connectivity?
SimpliSafe’s support page, updated June 26, 2026, says Gen 3 basic security does not require Wi-Fi. The vendor says Wi-Fi supports firmware updates, camera and video functions, and some integrations. It describes a cellular connection to the monitoring center as available with a professional monitoring plan, while built-in network backup depends on a qualifying plan. These are vendor descriptions of features, not independent findings about resistance to attack. See SimpliSafe’s connectivity support page.
Rank #2
- 1 FREE month of professional monitoring for fast police response when you need it most. With optional monitoring services, our agents keep watch even when you can't, ready to instantly alert emergency responders. Starting at less than $1/day with no long-term contracts or hidden fees. (SimpliSafe products and professional monitoring services are only offered for sale and supported in the US)
- Complete control of your system with the SimpliSafe App - Arm, disarm and protect anytime, anywhere.
- See what's happening inside - The SimpliCam Wired Indoor Security Camera lets you see what’s happening at home anytime from your phone, and it comes with a built-in stainless steel shutter for complete control over your privacy.
- Protection for entry points - Entry Sensors protect windows, doors, and cabinets and alert you when someone tries to enter. Customizable and can send Secret Alerts so you are quietly alerted if someone accesses private areas, without sounding an alarm.
- Blanket a whole room - Motion sensors detect motion within 35 feet, have a 90 degree field of view and get along great with pets under 60lbs. Perfect for full room coverage when placed in a corner.
SimpliSafe also describes Base Station Wi-Fi and cellular connections, battery backup of up to 24 hours during a power failure, and a keypad duress mode. Those capabilities can affect signaling or how a household responds, but they do not guarantee protection from radio interference or compromise. SimpliSafe’s product information.
What should SimpliSafe owners do?
- Identify the equipment and firmware. Check the system generation and the Base Station and keypad firmware through SimpliSafe’s current support channel. For the specific pairing issue Tenable described, its advisory names Base Station firmware 1.4.x or higher; do not treat that as a universal current-firmware instruction or as a fix for the separate 2016 report.
- Confirm how the system communicates. Review the monitoring plan and verify whether cellular connection or network backup is included and available where you live. SimpliSafe says these features depend on plan terms and coverage.
- Run the documented test procedure. Check that sensors and alarm signaling work as intended, and confirm the monitoring center receives test events if you subscribe to monitoring. This does not establish whether a historical exploit applies to your hardware.
- Evaluate security needs beyond the alarm itself. When comparing systems, ask about update support, independent vulnerability disclosures, tamper reporting, backup signaling, and installation or monitoring options. Sensors, sirens, cameras, and professional monitoring have different roles; none guarantees that a crime will be prevented or that police will respond.
Do SimpliSafe sensors address the reported radio issues?
No. SimpliSafe says its Base Station communicates with certain sensors and controls over proprietary radio communications rather than standards such as Z-Wave or Zigbee, and that these devices are not compatible with other systems. An Entry Sensor or another compatible RF component can provide coverage or replace a sensor; it does not change or fix a radio-protocol vulnerability. See SimpliSafe’s compatibility information.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Simple to set up. Seriously secure. Get ready to protect right out of the box. Just plug in the Base Station, place your wireless camera and sensors where you want, and start protecting your home. No wiring or drilling required.
- Complete control of your system with the SimpliSafe App - Arm, disarm and protect anytime, anywhere
- Stop crime in real time - With the Smart Alarm Wireless Indoor Camera and 24/7 live guard protection exclusively from SimpliSafe, monitoring agents can actively see and speak to intruders during an alarm through the two-way audio feature
- Blanket a whole room - Motion sensors detect motion within 35 feet, have a 90 degree field of view and get along great with pets under 60lbs. Perfect for full room coverage when placed in a corner.
- Smash-safe Keypad - Easily arm and disarm your system with a wireless Keypad that you can place anywhere. And backlit buttons light up when you need to see it and go dark when you don't.
Rank #4
- Simple to set up. Seriously secure - Get ready to protect right out of the box.
- 1 FREE month of professional monitoring for fast police response when you need it most. With optional monitoring services, our agents keep watch even when you can't, ready to instantly alert emergency responders. All with no long-term contracts or hidden fees. (SimpliSafe products and professional monitoring services are only offered for sale and supported in the US)
- Complete control of your system with the SimpliSafe App - Arm, disarm and protect anytime, anywhere.
- Keep watch outside 24/7 - Outdoor Camera Series 2 has an ultra-wide wide, 140 degree field of view, 1080p HD resolution and color night vision with spotlight so you can see clearly day and night. Wireless and wired installation options available with the included rechargeable battery and outdoor power cable.
- Designed to prevent crime before it happens. With optional SimpliSafe Active Guard Outdoor Protection, the Outdoor Camera uses advanced AI technology to identify potential threats to your home. Then, alerts our team of security agents who use the camera to see the intruder, speak to them directly, sound the built-in siren, and even request police dispatch if needed. Available with select monitoring plans and requires the Outdoor Camera to be wired using the included power cable.
Rank #3
- 1 FREE month of professional monitoring for fast police response when you need it most. With optional monitoring services, our agents keep watch even when you can't, ready to instantly alert emergency responders. Starting at less than $1/day with no long-term contracts or hidden fees. (SimpliSafe products and professional monitoring services are only offered for sale and supported in the US)
- Complete control of your system with the SimpliSafe App - Arm, disarm and protect anytime, anywhere.
- See what's happening inside - The SimpliCam Wired Indoor Security Camera lets you see what’s happening at home anytime from your phone, tablet or computer, and it comes with a built-in stainless steel shutter for complete control over your privacy.
- Blanket a whole room - Motion sensors detect motion within 35 feet, have a 90 degree field of view and get along great with pets under 60lbs. Perfect for full room coverage when placed in a corner.
- Instantly sound the alarm with a Panic Button - Triggers the alarm and dispatches police fast - with silent panic option to signal for help discreetly. (Requires a subscription to 24/7 Professional Monitoring)
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