Car Stolen Keyless Entry Tips That Can Change Your Life

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Keyless Entry and Car Theft

The number of car thefts is rising, and thieves are finding new ways to break into vehicles. Keyless entry is one of the most commonly used methods.

The days of taking cars away by breaking windows and hotwiring them are gone. They can now hack into the computers of a vehicle in a matter of minutes.

Relay Attack

Since the introduction of technology called Push-to-Start, millions of drivers have benefited from being able to start their car without reaching for keys. Unfortunately, the same convenience makes vehicles more vulnerable to theft. In particular the past, thieves have been able use a new technique called the relay attack to steal cars in seconds. This method uses an amplifier to capture and amplify the signal sent by the key fob of your car. It allows thieves to unlock the car and then drive away.

Relay attacks are a variation of an older technique called Man-in the-Middle Attacks. This kind of attack could be employed in cybersecurity to intercept communication between two entities and alter it without either party being aware of. In a relay attack, the attacker employs an electronic device to capture and transmit the signal from the fob of the key in your car to a second device in the vicinity. This second device can unlock the door and start your car's engine in minutes.

Criminals can perform an attack making use of a low-cost and readily available device to capture the signal from a key fob. Usually, thieves work in pairs, with one person holding the relay amplifier and the other standing near the victim's house. The thief waves the device towards the victim's home, tricking the car into believing that the key is close by.

Some experts suggest keeping your key fob in a metal container, signal-blocking pouch, or Faraday bag whenever not in use to avoid this kind of theft. However it is a straightforward solution that has been shown to not work against modern relay devices. A steering wheel lock is a much better option, as it physically blocks the person who stole the vehicle from driving the vehicle once it was taken.

Many vehicle manufacturers have tried to address this problem by introducing features such as secure keyless entry systems that rely on cryptographic methods and time-sensitive codes to protect against relay attacks. Criminals have developed devices that can defeat these measures. The race is on to find a solution for the problem of relay crime that does not compromise the convenience of keyless technology.

Hacking

Many new cars are fitted with keyless entry systems which let drivers open and start their vehicle without the need for an actual key or button. However, these systems can be susceptible to a different kind of theft. The thieves could use electronic devices that copy the signal from the key fob, and transmit it to a accomplice holding an electronic transmitter near the vehicle. The thief is then able to unlock the car and then drive away. This is referred to as relay attack and can be completed in 20 to 30 seconds according to AAA.

In most cases, thieves employ inexpensive devices that imitate wireless key fob signals to collect the signal and send it to an accomplice. Then, when a victim clicks their key fob to lock or open the car, the criminal can pretend to be the owner of the car by sending a signal to the car's system that makes it believe that a genuine signal is coming from the fob.

The more sophisticated thieves have created devices that plug into the On-Board Diagnostics port (OBD), which is typically located under the steering wheel. This port allows mechanics to connect diagnostic tools. The criminal can download data from the car's computer and create an empty key fob that meets the car's specifications. This kind of hacking is possible on nearly all vehicles.

Some criminals have even used TikTok challenges to instruct people on how to build cheap amplifiers that boost the signal from an electronic key fob. They also allow an accomplice to unlock the vehicle from a distance, even though it's parked in the driveway. This has prompted companies like Kia and Toyota to update their software which block this vulnerability.

Experts suggest keeping your car keys farther away from your home, and even in the trunk so that a thief has a harder getting access to them. You can also purchase RFID pouches to protect the signal from unauthorized use. They can be purchased for as little as $10. Some are equipped with metal mesh linings. It is also essential to keep your car's software up-to current, just like you would on your phone and computer.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Cards

The most recent car key fobs use radio signals to communicate with the vehicle, allowing owners to unlock their cars and start them without having to touch a key. Unfortunately, these new technologies are also increasing the possibility of theft. The signal from a keyfob can be captured if the website fob is placed on a desk near the front door or in the wallet. They can then clone it using simple devices known as emulators, which are the size of handheld consoles. They can then unlock the car in just a few minutes and drive away.

Typically, the crooks work in pairs. One will be outside your house holding a relay amplifier and the other will hold the device that captures the signal from the key fob. The thieves can then amplify the signal to make it strong enough to evade security systems in your car.

Another technique that is popular is jamming the communication between the keyfob and the vehicle. The thieves use signal jammers that emit the same radio frequency as the key fob. This confuses the signal, which prevents it from reaching the car, which stops the lock button from working.

Auto dealers must be vigilant to safeguard their inventory as thieves become more sophisticated. Dealerships should install high-security perimeter fences with cameras and secure entrances so that thieves cannot drive flatbeds with vehicles after hours. They should also educate employees on proper methods of handling keys and lock vehicles securely and storing them in a safe location when not being used.

Fortunately technology is working to combat these new thieves and to prevent car thefts. For instance, certain automobile manufacturers are creating key fobs with active RFID chips that incorporate frequency-hopping technology to make it more difficult for thieves to amplify the signal emanating from the key. Furthermore, Faraday cages can be used to prevent the transmission of signals from a key fob to cars. Other options include etching the last seven digits of your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) onto the windows, headlights and mirrors to prevent reuse or re-sale of your vehicle.

VIN Theft

Keyless entry is practical, but it opens up new opportunities for thieves to take cars. Your car will unlock the doors and start its engine when it recognizes the signal sent by your wireless key fob or remote. If the signal isn't recognised by your car, it will be locked, but it will not start. You need to hold the key in order to start the starter.

Even when your car is parked, it's crucial to keep the remote and key fob from being seen. Criminals can use a small transmitter to intercept your signal and steal it. He can then unlock your door without removing the ignition or the key.

In some cases criminals are capable of swapping a vehicle's VIN and title to conceal their involvement in the theft of the vehicle. This technique, referred to as VIN-switching, is on increasing. Typically, crooks buy damaged vehicles at auction or from police departments, and then change the VIN. They then take a valid VIN from an alternative model and make to obtain a brand new title and registration, and then sell the vehicle to unwitting buyers.

A popular method of deterring theft is to have your VIN written into the glass of your car. Numerous companies offer kits for this, and in certain places the police department or AAA offers this service at no cost. It is a bit counterintuitive to think that etching would discourage thieves, since it makes your car difficult to sell to chop shops and other dealers. However, a professional criminal is aware that etching is an important obstacle and will likely avoid the theft of your vehicle.

The NICB also provides a free online VINCheck service to check whether your vehicle has been reported as salvaged or stolen vehicle and is not yet recovered. The service requires an authentic VIN to conduct a search and is available through their website. Additionally, a vast assortment of security products available for your car, including audible and visible devices that serve as a deterrent for criminals. These include alarms and locks for the steering wheel, as well as window etching.