Why Car Stolen Keyless Entry Is Relevant 2024
Wiki Article
Keyless Entry and Car Theft
The number of car burglaries is rising and thieves are finding new ways to break into vehicles. One of the most popular methods is keyless entry.
The days of stealing cars through breaking windows and wiring them long gone. They are now able to hack the computer systems of vehicles in minutes.
Relay Attack
Since the introduction to the Push-to Start technology, millions have been able to be capable to start their cars without having to search for keys to their car. However, this convenience also makes vehicles more susceptible to theft. Particularly the past, thieves have been able to utilize a technique that is called the relay attack to steal cars in seconds. This method makes use of an amplifier to capture and amplify the signal transmitted by the car's keyfob. It allows thieves to unlock the vehicle and then drive away.
The relay attack is a variation of an older technique known as Man-in-the Middle attacks. This type of attack is utilized in cybersecurity to disrupt and alter the communications between two entities without either party realizing it. In a relay attack the attacker uses an electronic device to record and transmit the signal from the key fob in your car to a second device located nearby. This second device is able to open the door and start the engine, thereby taking your car in a matter of seconds.
Criminals can carry out a relay attack by using a cheap and readily accessible device to detect the signal from an electronic key fob. Most often, thieves operate in pairs. One person holds the relay amplifier while the other is outside in front of the victim’s house. The thief swizzles the device in the direction of the home of the victim, and then tricks the car into thinking the key is in close proximity.
Some experts suggest storing your key fob in a metal container, signal-blocking pouch, or Faraday bag when not in use to prevent this kind of theft. This is a basic but ineffective solution against modern relay devices. A steering wheel lock is a superior option, since it physically blocks the person who stole the vehicle from steering the vehicle after it's been stolen.
Many vehicle manufacturers have tried to tackle this issue by introducing features like secure keyless entry systems, which use encryption techniques and time-sensitive codes in order to protect against relay attacks. Criminals have devised devices that can thwart these measures. As a result, the race is on to find a solution to relay crime without comprising the convenient nature of keyless technology.
Hacking
Many new cars come with keyless entry systems that allow users to open and start their vehicle without having to use any physical button or key. However, these systems can be susceptible to a new type of theft. Thieves could use electronic devices to copy the signal from the key fob, and then transmit it to a transmitter held by a accomplice who is standing near to the car. The thief then has the ability to unlock the car and drive away. This is referred to as relay attack and can be done in between 20 and 30 seconds according to AAA.
Thieves can often use inexpensive devices to imitate wireless key fob signal to record it and send it to a partner. Then, when a victim clicks their key fob to lock or start the vehicle, the thief could pretend to be the legitimate owner by transmitting a response to the car's computer system that makes it believe that a legitimate signal is coming from the fob.
The more sophisticated thieves have designed devices that plug into the On-Board Diagnostics port (OBD), which is usually located under the steering wheel. This port allows mechanics to connect diagnostic tools. The criminal then downloads data from the computer of the car and creates a blank key fob matching the specifications of the car. Most vehicles are susceptible to this type of hacking.
Some thieves have employed TikTok challenges to instruct people on how to build cheap amplifiers that increase the signal of a key fob, allowing an accomplice to unlock the car even when it is in the driveway. This technique has led manufacturers like Kia to release software updates that mitigate the vulnerability.
Experts recommend keeping your keys to your car in a trunk or a space that is far from home to ensure that thieves can't easily access the keys. You can also buy RFID pouches that help protect the signal from unauthorised use. Some of these pouches have metal mesh linings and can be purchased at a price that is around $10. Similar to your phone and computer it is essential to keep the software in your car up-to-date.
Radio Frequency Identification Cards
The latest car key fobs use radio signals to communicate with the vehicle and allow owners to unlock their cars and start them without having to touch the key. However, these new technologies also increase the chance of theft. Thieves can capture the signal from a key fob, if it is placed on a table near the front door of the home or in a pocket, and they are able to duplicate the signal with simple devices that are the size of handheld gaming consoles referred to as emulators. They can then open the car in a matter of minutes and drive away.
The crooks typically work in pairs. The crooks typically work in pairs. One will be in front of your home equipped with a relay amplifier and the other will be equipped with a device that captures the signal of a keyfob. The thieves will then amplify the signal to make it strong enough to be able to bypass security systems in your vehicle.
Another method of securing key fobs is by blocking the communication between the key fob and the vehicle. Thieves accomplish this by using signal jammers that emit the same radio frequencies as the key fob. The signal is blocked and prevents it from being detected by the car. The lock button will not work.
As thieves become more sophisticated in their techniques, auto dealers need to be vigilant in protecting their inventory. Dealerships need to install high-security perimeter fences, with cameras and secure entrances, so that thieves are unable to drive flatbeds and vehicles after hours. They should also instruct employees on the proper handling of keys and lock vehicles securely and keeping them in a secure location when they are not being used.
Luckily, technology is working to fight these new thieves and prevent car thefts. Certain car makers are creating key fobs with active RFID chips and frequency-hopping technology, which makes it more difficult for thieves to amplify the signal from the keys. In addition, Faraday cages can be used to block the transmission of signals from a key fob a car. Other defences include etching the last seven numbers of your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) onto the windows, headlights and mirrors to stop re-sale or re-use of your vehicle.
Theft of VIN
While keyless access is great for convenience, it also creates new opportunities for thieves to steal cars. Your car will open the doors and start its engine when it detects the signal transmitted by your wireless remote or key fob. If the signal isn't recognized, your car will lock, but it won't start. You must hold the key in order to start the starter.
This is why it's essential to keep your key fob and remote away from view, even when your car is parked. Criminals can steal your signal by using a tiny transmitter. Then, he's able to open your door and leave without ever touching the actual key or ignition.
Criminals can even swap out the VIN and the title of a stolen vehicle to conceal their involvement. This practice is referred to as VIN switching and is on increasing. Typically, criminals purchase damaged vehicles through auctions or police departments, and then alter the VIN. They then use the legal VIN of a different make and model to obtain the new title and registration and then sell it to uninitiated buyers.
A popular method of deterring theft is to have your VIN etched into the windshield website of your car. Many companies provide kits for this, and in certain places the police department or AAA provides this service free of charge. It may be counterintuitive to believe that etching can deter thieves. After all, it makes it more difficult for dealers to purchase your vehicle. However, a professional thief knows that etching will be a significant stumbling block and will probably deter them from stealing your vehicle.
The NICB offers a no-cost VINCheck online tool to determine if your car has been reported stolen or salvaged, but was not yet recovered. The service requires an authentic VIN to conduct a search and is accessible on their website. Additionally, a vast variety of crime-deterring products are available for your car as well as visible and audible devices that serve as a deterrent to criminals. Some of them include steering wheel locks, alarms and window etching.