Cars Stolen With Keyless Entry
Many newer cars feature keyless entry systems that allow drivers to open their car and start it without the requirement for traditional metal keys. The technology is being used by thieves.
The thieves use simple tools that are accessible online to record signals sent by the fob to the car. This allows them to drive away in a matter of seconds, open the car and start it.
The Relay Attack
A criminal could simply stand near your car and employ a device that can capture the signal from the key fob. When you pull the door handle the key fob broadcasts an alarm that asks "are you the owner of this car?" The criminal's device transmits this message back to the key fob, luring it into thinking the owner is nearby, and then unlocks the car. The criminal then has the option to enter, press the start button, and drive away. The entire process can take only a few minutes and involves no forced entry.
This technique is known as a relay attack, and it can be utilized on a variety of models. The good thing is that the technology that makes this type of hack possible is affordable and easily available on the internet. That means that nearly all cars are at risk.
The most common type of vehicle targeted by criminals is a premium Range Rover. However, any car that has keyless entry is also at risk. Be aware that criminals aren't interested in the vehicle it self, but in the valuable items inside, such as cash and electronic gadgets.
The most effective way to avoid this kind of theft is to not leave any valuables in your vehicle. If you must leave them in a car be sure that they're locked away in a glove box or trunk. You can also park your car between a less appealing vehicle and your garage in order to discourage thieves. Also, you can use a steering-wheel lock to stop thieves from getting the engine started.
Trackers are a great investment if you're worried about your high-end vehicle being targeted. This won't stop criminals from stealing a car, but will increase the odds that police will recover it and return it.
This isn't an entirely new form of theft but the speed and ease at the way it can be carried out has raised concerns among car owners. It's a game of cat and mouse between security professionals and thieves and as technology continues to advance, so too will the methods used by criminals. Luckily you can take simple steps to stop car theft with keyless entry.
The Transponder Attack
If you use the key fob to start or lock your vehicle, the computer inside the vehicle receives a radio alert that tells it your keys are in close proximity. However, crooks have found ways to hack this system which allows them to start the car without having to hold the key in their hands.
To do this, criminals have been using devices to enhance the normal message that your fob sends to the car to let it know that you're trying to unlock or start it. They transmit that signal to the car's key transponder, which then sends back a cryptographic code that informs it to open the doors or start the engine. This code is identical as the one on your key fob, which means the car believes it's a valid signal coming from your key fob.
The thief will then steal this code, copy the blank key here and then steal your vehicle. It's a fairly inexpensive process, too. The devices can be purchased on the internet for less than $3000 and are small enough to be stuffed into the pocket of a. What can you do to protect yourself from these devices? A few simple ways to protect yourself are placing your keys in a Faraday cage or even leaving them in the fridge when you're at home.
Other methods include hiding all electrical items and keeping valuables hidden when you are not in your car. The most important thing to keep in mind is to ensure that you lock your car. Even if you're leaving it for a few moments.
According to research conducted by Thatcham, car thefts involving keyless entry are on the rise. It's no wonder, given the number of vehicles being stolen by savvy thieves using advanced technology, at an all-time high.
The Flat Battery Attack
Car thieves are a savvy group and have come up with clever ways to gain access and take vehicles. It's important to be aware that security experts are constantly working to keep up and make it more secure than ever to defend yourself against keyless theft.
One of the most sophisticated tricks involves a device called a signal jammer, which emits at the same frequency as your key fob. The device can be tucked in the pocket of the burglar or left in the driveway to prevent the car from being locked when the owner uses their key fob. This method could become more popular in the coming years even though there isn't any evidence that it is currently in use.
Hacking the car's software is yet another more sinister trick. This is why you should make sure that your car has the most recent software updates. The thieves could access the owner's app and then start the car from there, without the need for an ignition key. It is worth reprogramming the keys when you recently bought a used vehicle.
If you are able, you could also stop thieves from entering garages. This might not stop thieves from stealing your vehicle, but it will make their job much more difficult as they will need to find a means to access the computer in the vehicle. It's also worth thinking about etching the seven digits that make up your VIN on the windows, mirrors and headlights. This will make it much more difficult for anyone to change the vehicle's identity in the future.
It's also worth installing a security camera, like those from the likes of Ring, Amazon Blink and Google Nest. These cameras can be utilized as a smart video-doorbell, and are an excellent way to monitor your vehicle when it is parking outside. You could also think about a security light that works with the cameras in the event that you have a driveway. It will notify you when there is any movement in your driveway, and deter thieves who attempt to remove cars off the street.
The Stolen Key
Many car manufacturers have replaced the physical key with a proximity key that sends a signal and can start and open your car. Criminals have created technology that allows them to hack these systems and steal vehicles without fobs or a button on the keypad.
The latest theft technique involves the use of what's known as the CAN bus attack, also known as a controller area network attack. The CAN bus is the system that allows different parts of the car to communicate with one the other, and it's the most sophisticated security threat to keyless cars.
To attack a vehicle using a CAN-bus attack, criminals must intercept the signals from the onboard diagnostics (OBD) port. This port was developed to be used by professional diagnostic tools. However, criminals can access it by putting in a cable. This allows thieves to read the car's computer's code which it uses to unlock and begin your car.
It can take 20 to 30 seconds to duplicate a vehicle's signal using a device available online for less than 100 dollars, Shlisel says. Afterwards, the crook can simply enter your car and take it away.
In the past, criminals have attempted to hack into vehicles by stealing the radio signal used by the key fob in the car to communicate with the onboard system. These crooks use devices that are able to detect the signal, amplify it, and transmit it to another device to clone the key fob's cryptographic codes. The crook will then be able to unlock your vehicle, start it and drive off with the contents.
Security experts in the field of car security warn that the threat of theft through keyless keys increases as more models are equipped with the technology. However, even if you do not have a keyless-entered vehicle, you should be careful, especially when parking in a public area. Experts recommend parking your vehicle in a garage overnight or at an area that has good home security - like CCTV and motion detection lighting.
You should also remove valuables from your vehicle, like mobile phones or Sat Navs. You should also lock your car doors and think about engraving the last seven digits of the vehicle identification number on your windows or headlights.