How safe is it to keep a garage opener on my home network? i.e. since “alarm.com” / myq app / other services are able to access it at will this means they know my IP address and how to get to a device within my home network.
Any time you add another communication method to a device you add another attack vector, but in general garage hacking is almost always a bit simpler than what you are maybe imagining in this case. Most “hacking” of garage doors is addressed by rolling rf codes. As far as remote access, your system is as secure as your account credentials. General internet security applies, be sure not to share credentials, be wary of phishing, etc.
Liftmaster servers process all commands. Connecting your MyQ devices through Alarm.com creates a Liftmaster account automatically and links your ADC account to it for status updates.
How does “alarm.com” know my home IP (it changes from time to time due to ISP restarts, etc.)? Does GC3 periodically update alarm.com with my home IP address?
Network devices requiring remote control simply utilize DDNS updates to the control servers. Since they do not require port forwarding they would likely be using some form of NAT traversal. I would presume the exact details would not be provided by Liftmaster.
Is MyQ a protocol created by liftmaster? Is it closed source? Has it ever been hacked?
MyQ is a brand. The devices have a variety of radio capabilities depending on the model. Universal hubs communicate with most major brands via low frequency RF, and most use Wifi.
It may be good to contact Liftmaster with any concerns and for the best details on all the frequencies they use. I would recommend email as phone support agents may not be best prepared to answer this type of question.
When I close this garage door via remote controls / wired buttons, etc. it just closes. Whenever I close it via the “alarm.com” app (or the website), the door beeps and blinks 10 times before it starts closing, and it continues to beep and blink until the door is closed. It seems that “alarm.com” does not just send a “close” command, it sends a special “alert and close” or something. Can I make it just close the door quietly? One of the reasons I bought “Chamberlain” was due to how quite it is, so loud beeping and blinking kind of defeats the purpose.
No you cannot. The flashing and beeping announcement is a required safety feature for remote garage control.
UL 325 was revised in 2009 allowing unattended operation features. UL requirements for a residential garage door operator to be enabled for remote operation from a smart phone, tablet or other portable devices state that several key provisions be met:
The feature must be utilized only on an operator equipped with a secondary entrapment protection system such as a photoelectric sensor.
The feature must be activated only when the operator is installed on a sectional door.
The operator must be equipped with an audible and visual warning system indicating a pending motion for 5 seconds before the door starts moving.
Also, Per UL 325, the LiftMaster MyQ solution must be fail-safe. Any feature using the Unattended Operation (i.e., Timer to Close or Remote Closing) must, by UL requirements, end in fail safe mode. This means that the garage door operator will try TWICE to close the door using unattended operation. If something stops the door’s motion or reverses the door’s direction (i.e, door is blocked, photo eyes are blocked, etc.), the door will revert to the OPEN position.