What's The Fuss About Car Stolen Keyless Entry?

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Keyless Entry and Car Theft

The number of car thefts is growing and thieves are discovering new ways to break into vehicles. Keyless entry is among the most common methods.

There is no longer a time when thieves smashed windows and hotwired cars to steal. They can now hack into the computer systems of vehicles in a matter of 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 look for keys to their car. Unfortunately, this same convenience can make vehicles more vulnerable. In particular the past, thieves have been able utilize a technique that is called the relay attack to steal cars in seconds. This method uses an amplifier to amplify and capture the signal generated by the car's keyfob. It allows thieves to unlock the vehicle and then drive away.

Relay attacks are a variant of an older technique known as Man-in the-Middle Attacks. This type of attack is employed in cybersecurity to intercept and alter the exchange of information between two parties without either party realizing it. In a relay attack, the attacker employs an electronic device that can capture and transmit the signal from the fob of the key in your car to another device located nearby. The second device is able to open the door and begin the engine, effectively taking your car in a matter of seconds.

To carry out a relay attack the criminals require an affordable, easily accessible device that can pick up and amplify the signal from your key fob. Most often, thieves operate in pairs. One person will hold the relay amplifier, while the other is outside in front of the house of the victim. The thief will then wave the device in front of the home of the victim, which tricks the car into thinking the key is in range and allows it to open and start.

Some experts suggest storing your key fob in a metal container, signal-blocking pouch or Faraday bag whenever not in use to avoid this kind of theft. This is a basic but unreliable solution to modern relay devices. A steering wheel lock is a much better option, as it physically prevents the thief from driving the vehicle after it was taken.

Many car manufacturers have tried to solve this problem by introducing features, such as secure keyless entry systems which employ cryptographic techniques with time-sensitive codes in order to guard against relay attacks. Criminals have created 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 convenience of keyless technology.

Hacking

Many new cars come with keyless entry systems that permit users to open and start their vehicle without using the use of a key or button. These systems are vulnerable to a new type of theft. Thieves can use electronic devices to copy the signal from the key fob and send it to a transmitter carried by an accomplice who is near to the car. The thief then unlocks the vehicle and drives away. This is known as relay attack and can be done in 20 to 30 seconds, according to AAA.

Thieves often employ cheap devices to mimic wireless key fob signal to capture it and send it to an accomplice. Then, when the victim presses their key fob to lock or start the car, the criminal can pretend to be the legitimate owner by sending a signal to the car's system that makes it believe that a legitimate signal is being transmitted by the fob.

More sophisticated thieves have created devices that can be plugged into a car's On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) port, which is usually situated under the steering wheel. This port allows mechanics to connect a diagnostic tool. The criminal then downloads data from the computer of the car and creates an empty key fob that is compatible with the specifications of the car. Nearly all cars are vulnerable to this kind of hacking.

Some thieves have even made use of TikTok challenges to instruct people on how to build inexpensive amplifiers that enhance the signal from a key fob and allow an accomplice to unlock the vehicle from a distance, while it's in the driveway. This technique has prompted manufacturers like Kia and Toyota to perform software updates that stop this vulnerability.

Experts suggest keeping your car keys further away from your home, even in the trunk, so thieves have a tough time accessing the keys. You can also purchase RFID pouches to block the signal and prevent unauthorised use. Some of these pouches have metal mesh linings and can be purchased on the low end for around $10. It is also essential to keep your car's software current and up to the latest version, just as you would on your smartphone and computer.

Radio Frequency Identification Cards

The latest car key fobs make use of radio signals to communicate with the vehicle, allowing owners to unlock their vehicles and even start them without having to touch a key. However, these advanced technologies also increase the chance of theft. Thieves can capture the signal from a key fob if it is left on a table near the front door of the house or in a pocket, and they are able to duplicate the signal using simple devices that are the size of handheld gaming consoles called emulators. They can then unlock the car in just a few minutes and drive away.

Typically, crooks operate in pairs. The crooks typically work in pairs. One of them will be outside of your house with a relay amplifier, and the other will have the device that receives a signal from the keyfob. The thieves will then amplify the signal to make it strong enough to be able to bypass security systems in your vehicle.

Another technique that is popular is jamming the communication between the keyfob and vehicle. Thieves accomplish this by using signal jammers that emit the same radio frequency as the key fob. This blocks the signal and stops it from being picked up by the car. The lock button is not working.

Dealers in the auto industry must be on guard to guard their inventory from theft as thieves become more sophisticated. Dealerships must install high-security perimeter fencing that includes cameras and a secure entryway so that thieves can't drive on flatbeds with vehicles after hours. They should also educate their employees on proper handling of keys, including locking cars securely and keeping keys safely when not in use.

Technology is helping stop car thefts and fight these new thieves. Some car manufacturers are developing keyfobs with active RFID chips and frequency-hopping technology, which makes it more difficult for thieves to amplify the signal of the keys. Additionally, Faraday cages can be used to block the transmission of signals from a key fob to the car. Other defences include engraving the last seven digits from your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), on the windows, headlights, and mirrors in order to prevent the resale or reuse of your vehicle.

VIN Theft

While keyless entry is great for convenience however, 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 car stolen keyless entry or key fob. If the signal isn't recognised, your vehicle will lock, but it will not start. This is because you need to hold the key in your hands to press an appropriate button on the fob in order to start the starter.

Even when your vehicle is parked, it is important to keep the remote and key fob hidden. Criminals could use a tiny transmitter device to pick up your signal and hijack it. Then, he's able to open your door and drive away without ever touching the key or ignition.

In certain instances criminals may be capable of swapping the vehicle's VIN and title to hide their involvement in the theft of the car. This practice is referred to as VIN switching and is on increasing. The thieves will usually buy a damaged vehicle through auctions or the police department, and then change the VIN. They then make use of a legitimate VIN from another model and the purchase of a brand new registration and title, and then sell the car to unwitting buyers.

A popular method of deterring theft is to have your VIN inscribed into the windshield of your car. Many companies provide kits for this, and in some areas, the police department or AAA offers this service for free. It seems counterintuitive that etching would deter thieves since it makes your car difficult to sell to chop shops and other dealers. Professional thieves will stay away from your vehicle because they know that etching can be a major obstacle to their pursuit.

The NICB offers a no-cost VINCheck online tool to determine if your car has ever been reported as stolen or salvaged but not yet recovered. The service requires an active VIN to conduct a search and is available through their website. There are also a range of security devices that deter criminals from your car. They include audible and visual devices that are able to deter criminals. Some of these include steering wheel locks, alarms and window etching.