Keyless Cars Being Stolen in Minutes
Criminals target keyless cars that are able to be stolen car key what to do in minutes by using online-based equipment. Find out how thieves can bypass security features of your vehicle and what you need to do to secure it.
Keep your key fob in the faraday bag or an aluminum tin to block the signal. Also, think about installing an ignition lock on your steering wheel to stop the car from being driven away.
Relay Theft
The convenience of keyless vehicles makes it easy to forget that they also make your vehicle vulnerable to cybercriminals with high-tech gadgets. Relay theft is among the latest hacking techniques that thieves employ.
With this method, two criminals collaborate to rob your vehicle. The first thief, who is positioned near your house, uses equipment to amplify the signal of a key fob. Then, he transmits this amplified signal to the second thief standing near your vehicle. The second thief will use their device to mimic the fob’s signal to unlock the car or start the engine and take off with the vehicle.
Online devices are accessible at a relatively low price. They can be fitted to any vehicle, regardless of regardless of whether it’s the most recent SUV or the earliest Honda Civic. Certain vehicles are at greater risk than others. Cars that are highly sought-after from thieves, either due to their resale worth or for the ease of dismantling components, are usually targeted by criminals. You should park your car in a well lit area and take anything valuable off the vehicle (including the owner’s manual, that may include the valet’s key).
According to the tracking company Tracker UK, the UK has seen record numbers of thefts utilizing this method. In July 2023, they made up for 98% of all stolen car keys vehicles that the company helped recover.
Experts suggest installing aftermarket security devices such as alarms and GPS trackers to lower the risk of becoming a victim. They also suggest keeping keys in a metal container, signal-blocking pouch, or Faraday box, which will prevent relay attacks.
Dealerships can also help protect their inventory by implementing robust physical security measures like perimeter fencing, surveillance cameras, and well-lit areas. They should also train their staff on how to handle lockdown and keys in order to prevent thefts. If they are selling older vehicles, they should consider a dealer-installed ignition immobilizer. This will stop thieves from stealing the vehicle after fooling the system into thinking that it’s still in the lot of the dealership.
Transponder Theft
In order to keep up with the latest developments in technology, thieves upgrade their equipment to match. One technique that criminals are using is known as a relay attack which is where two people work together to steal a car with a keyless. A thief stands outside the home of the victim, using an instrument that detects the signal from a key fob, and then relayed to a partner who waits by the vehicle. If the signal copied is detected the door opens and the car is started – all without the necessity for the actual key to be in the car. This has been captured on security cameras at home that show cars being driven off in seconds.
Even luxury cars that are older are at risk. In fact, the tracing company Tracker UK reported that keyless thefts make up 98% of all the high-tech cars it helped recover in the last year. The older luxury vehicles with less sophisticated keyless systems are the most at risk such as Mercedes C- and E-Class, BMW 3 Series, Land Rover Discovery and Jaguar XF models.
Code theft is another way to steal a car key. This could happen if you don’t pay attention to the location you place your key fob. For example, you might keep it in your pocket when you’re at home and forget to pick it up when you leave. If your fob is within reach of an in-home smart hub or security system it could be hacked to gain access to the vehicle’s control systems. A hacker with a solid understanding of electronics can then modify the car’s software to do whatever they want it do, for instance, to disable the ignition and start driving off.
It is crucial to safeguard your vehicle and be aware of these attacks. You can reduce the risk by parking in a locked garage or a gated and safe car park. If that’s not feasible you could consider installing a motion-sensored camera that can be viewed from your driveway. You can also purchase signal blocking items like bags or boxes designed to stop thieves from hijacking the signals of your key fob if they are close to a jammer.
Theft of programming
The technology of keyless cars is convenient for us, but it could make them easier to steal for thieves. The “relay attack” is a popular method to steal a vehicle using keyless entry systems. It involves thieves working in pairs and using equipment to record the signal transmitted by your fob when it is within the range of your door or ignition to unlock and start your car stolen with keys in it.
The keyless system is based on radio waves with low power that only work when the key fob is close to the ignition or door. A skilled hacker, can use specially-designed equipment to amplify the connection between the fob and the vehicle, extending the capabilities of the system. This enables a criminal to fool the vehicle into believing that the fob is in close proximity to begin or unlock it, but it is only within a few meters of the victim’s pocket or at home.
Some cars have a security feature that disables ignition when the key fob is too far away. However it only works if the vehicle is programmed so that it can recognize the fob’s signal at a certain frequency. If a hacker is able to obtain the code for the car’s system, they are able to reprogram the fob to function at whatever frequency the car is programmed to recognize and thus bypass the security feature.
Car thieves can acquire the coding for your vehicle’s keyless transmission by installing a device called”key programmer,” also known as a “key programmer”, which is available on the internet for less than $1,000 and is inserted into the On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) port, usually located beneath the steering wheel. This tool is able to download the specific data of your car to a blank keyfob, which allows the fob to be unlocked and start the car as in the manner of a genuine thing.
They are easily available online and allow criminals to target many different makes and models. The most well-known keys-free entry vehicles are those made by luxury manufacturers like BMW Audi Mercedes and Jaguar. These are the cars that are targeted the most. In fact, the insurance company Tracker has found that high-end models account for as much as 50% of the high-tech theft claims that it helps recover.
Theft of Lockout
Criminals are able to easily exploit the weaknesses of keyless entry systems. The traditional method of smashing the car’s windows and then hotwiring the vehicle is still common, but increasing numbers of thieves are turning to high-tech techniques that can steal vehicles without breaking into the home. According to tracking company Tracker’s data car thefts in the U.K. have reached an all-time high, with keyless thefts accounting for a large percentage of the total.
These new methods aren’t just less expensive than traditional car keys stolen from unlocked house thefts, they can be accomplished within a matter of minutes. For example, a team of two thieves can use an instrument to capture the signal from the key fob and send it directly to the transmitter in the hands of the other thief. The other thief can then unlock the car and leave. These devices can be bought for as little $100 and work on a variety of car models.
The thieves can now along with these advanced techniques, also capture the data sent from the key fob. They can then clone it and upload it to an empty fob. The cloned keys will be able to unlock and start vehicles, even if the original key isn’t present.
ADAC’s study revealed that a large number of popular cars such as the Ford Fiesta and Toyota Prius are susceptible to this kind of theft. A single key can be used to unlock multiple vehicles by using this method. This means that it is not necessary to target specific car models or manufacturers.
To ensure that cars are safe from these new threats, car manufacturers are now offering security measures. For instance, Kia has created a faraday bag that can be put inside the pocket of a driver’s key fob to block signals and protect it against theft. Other options include creating additional keys and storing in secure yet accessible locations or installing cameras around your driveway and home or using apps to ensure you don’t forget about your car. It is essential to check the battery levels of your key fob regularly to prevent it from going flat.