I am normally quite tolerant--even appreciative--of Airbnb quirks. The imperfections are often what make an Airbnb charming and worth staying in. If I wanted an insipid hotel I would stay in one.
So it is extremely rare that I write a review, much less a negative one. However, this Airbnb is not safe. As a public service message to other guests, I feel it necessary to give this Airbnb two stars. (Not one star, keep reading.)
I'm a cybersecurity expert. For twenty years. It's what I do for a living. And this host does something that for me is completely unacceptable. He has installed remote unlock via internet to all the doors of his Airbnb units.
This means the host, the guest, and anyone who hacks the host's or guests's accounts, can break into the units without anyone knowing.
For context the host appears to own all the units in the apartment building and has turned most/all of them into Airbnb flats.
Now, I trust Airbnb hosts. I have to. Of course the host always has a key. Probably a cleaning person also. This is normal, and I have no problem with that.
However, when you connect physical security to the internet, your security is now as weak as the weakest of the two (physical vs. internet security), and the weakest is usually internet security.
I trust Goncalo. Do I trust him not to click on a phishing link? How good is the security on his phone? His laptop? Now a criminal has access to Goncalo's account. To all of the unlock links he sends to guests. A simple matter of clicking the links and breaking into all the units, to rob, engage in violent crime, or worse.
What makes this funny is that my unit had the most dramatic physical deadbolts, but once I went out for the day, there was no way to engage them. I had to choose between leaving my valuables in the unit--knowing any hacker able to gain access to to Goncalo's Airbnb or home automation account would be able to waltz in and steal everything--or taking everything with me, and risk being pickpocketed.
I'm sorry but this is just not acceptable. This host needs to remove all remote unlock capabilities from these Airbnb units and Airbnb should ban hosts who refuse to do so.
The reason I am giving two stars instead of one star is that I do not think this host is acting out of malice. He is not being intentionally creepy--e.g. installing spy cameras in the bathroom--but only being accidentally creepy. He is doing an unsafe, insecure, and unacceptable thing by accident.
For this reason I give two stars instead of one star.