5 Must-Know Car Stolen Keyless Entry Techniques To Know For 2024
Wiki Article
Keyless Entry and Car Theft
The number of car thefts is increasing, and thieves are finding new ways to get into vehicles. Keyless entry is among the most popular methods.
The days of thieves broke windows and hotwired cars to steal. They can now hack the computers of a vehicle in minutes.
Relay Attack
Since the introduction to the Push-to Start technology, millions have been able to be capable to start their vehicles without having to search for a car key. However, this same convenience can make vehicles more vulnerable to theft. The relay attack is a novel technique that thieves can use to steal cars in just a few minutes. This method makes use of a device to amplify and capture the signal by the key fob of your car, permitting thieves to unlock the car and drive away.
The relay attack is actually a variation of an older technique known as Man-in-the Middle attacks. This kind of attack is employed in cybersecurity to disrupt and alter the communications between two entities without either party being aware of it. In the case of a relay attack the attacker employs a device to intercept the signal from your car's key fob and transmits that signal to a different device that is nearby. The second device can be used to open the door and start the engine, effectively stealing your vehicle in seconds.
Criminals can carry out a relay attack using a simple and easily available device to pick up the signal from the key fob. Typically, thieves work in pairs, with one person holding the relay amplifier, and the other standing near the victim's house. The thief wave the device towards the home of the victim, and then tricks the car into thinking that the key is nearby.
To stop this type of theft, some experts recommend that you store your key fob when not in use in a metal container or pouch. This is a straightforward but ineffective solution against modern relay devices. A steering wheel lock is a superior option, since it physically stops the thief from steering the vehicle after it's been taken.
Many vehicle manufacturers have attempted to address this issue by introducing features like secure keyless entry systems that use encryption techniques and time-sensitive codes to guard against relay attacks. Criminals have devised devices that are able to defeat these measures. This is why the race is on to find a solution to criminals who use relays without compromising the convenient nature of keyless technology.
Hacking
A lot of new cars come with keyless entry systems that permit users to open and start their vehicle without using a physical button or key. However, these systems can be susceptible to a new kind of theft. Thieves may employ electronic devices to copy the signal from the key fob and send it to a transmitter held by an accomplice standing close to the vehicle. The criminal then unlocks the vehicle and takes off. According to AAA, this method is referred to as a relay attack. It can be completed within 20-30 seconds.
Thieves often employ cheap devices that mimic the wireless key fob signal to capture it and transmit it to an accomplice. The thief can then pretend to be the owner of the car when the victim presses the key fob to begin or shut the car. They accomplish this by sending a message that appears to the car's computer as an authentic signal.
More sophisticated thieves have developed devices that plug into a car's On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) port, which is usually located beneath the steering wheel. It allows mechanics to connect to a diagnostic tool. The criminal can download information from the car's computer and create an empty key fob that matches the specifications of the car. Most vehicles are susceptible to this type of hacking.
Some thieves have even made use of TikTok challenges to teach people how to create inexpensive amplifiers that increase the signal of a key fob and allow an accomplice to unlock the car from a distance, even though it's parked in the driveway. This has led to manufacturers like Kia to release software updates that mitigate the vulnerability.
Experts suggest keeping your car keys away from your home, and even in the trunk, so thieves have a difficult getting access to them. You can also purchase RFID pouches to shield the signal and deter unauthorized use. These pouches can be purchased for just $10. Some are equipped with metal mesh linings. It's also important to keep your car's software up to current, just like you would on your smartphone and computer.
Radio Frequency Identification Cards
The most recent car key fobs use radio signals to communicate with the vehicle, allowing owners to unlock their vehicles and even start them without having to touch the key. These new technologies increase the likelihood of theft. Thieves can steal the signal from a key fob when it is placed on a table near the front door of the home or in a pocket and they can clone the signal with simple devices that are the size of handheld gaming consoles called emulators. From there, they are able to open the car and drive it away in just a few minutes.
Typically, crooks operate in pairs. The crooks usually work in pairs. One will stand outside of your house with a relay amplifier, and the other one will be carrying a device that captures the signal from the keyfob. The thieves can then amplify the signal to make it strong enough to bypass the security systems in your car.
Another method is to block communication between the key fob and the car. The thieves employ signal jammers that emit the same radio frequency as a key fob. This blocks the signal and blocks it from being detected by the car. The lock button won't work.
As thieves become more sophisticated in their techniques, auto dealers need to be on guard to protect their inventory. Dealerships should install high-security perimeter fencing with cameras and a secure entrance to ensure that thieves aren't able to drive on flatbeds with vehicles after hours. They should also educate employees on proper methods of handling keys and lock vehicles website securely and placing them in a secure place when they are not in use.
Fortunately, technology can help stop car thefts and tackling these new thieves. Certain car makers are creating key fobs that have active RFID chips and frequency-hopping technology that makes it more difficult for thieves to amplify the signal of the keys. Faraday cages are another way to block signals from a keyfob's signal to the vehicle. Other defenses include engraving the last seven digits of your vehicle Identification Number (VIN), on the windows, headlights, and mirrors in order to stop the resale or reuse of your vehicle.
Theft of VIN
Keyless entry is useful, but it also opens up new possibilities for thieves to steal cars. Your car will open the doors and start its engine when it recognises the signal sent by your wireless remote or key fob. If the signal is not recognised, your vehicle will still lock, but it will not start. It is necessary to hold the key in order to start the starter.
This is the reason it's crucial to keep your key fob and remote out of sight even when your vehicle is stationed. A criminal can hijack your signal using a small transmitter. He will then be able to unlock your door without removing the ignition or key.
In certain instances criminals are able to swap out a vehicle's VIN and title to hide their involvement in the stolen vehicle. This practice is known as VIN switching and is on the rise. Typically, crooks will buy a damaged vehicle at auction or from police departments, and then modify the VIN. They then use the legal VIN of a different make and model to get an updated title and registration and then sell it to unsuspecting buyers.
A popular theft deterrent is to have your VIN inscribed into the glass of your car. There are a number of companies that provide kits to do this, and in some locations the police department or AAA provides this service for free. It's a bit odd that etching can deter thieves, as it makes your car more difficult to sell to chop shops and other dealers. A professional thief will avoid your car because they are aware that etching is a significant obstacle to their pursuit.
The NICB provides a free VINCheck online service that will determine if your vehicle was ever reported as stolen or salvaged, but has not yet recovered. The service is available only on their website and requires an authentic VIN. In addition, a wide variety of crime-deterring products are available for your vehicle as well as visible and audible devices that act as a deterrent to criminals. Some of them include the locking of your steering wheel, alarms and window etching.