This Is The Ugly Truth About Keyless Cars Being Stolen

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Keyless Cars Being Stolen in Minutes

Criminals target keyless cars that can be stolen within minutes with the help of equipment that is sold online. Learn how thieves can evade security features of your vehicle and what you need to do to protect it.

Keep your key fob in a faraday pouch or aluminum tins to block its signal. Also, think about installing a steering wheel lock to prevent the car being driven away.

Relay Theft

The ease of using keyless vehicles makes it easy to forget that they could also make your car vulnerable to hackers with the latest technology. Relay theft is among the most recent hacking techniques thieves employ.

Two criminals can steal your car by using this method. The first thief who is standing close to your home, uses equipment to boost the signal from the fob of a key. He then transmits the amplified signal to the second thief in close proximity to your car. The second thief uses their device to mimic your fob signal to unlock the car or to start the engine. This allows them to leave with the vehicle.

On the internet, these devices are available for a reasonable price. And they can be used on any car from the latest SUVs to the oldest Honda Civics. Certain vehicles are at greater risk than others. Criminals target vehicles that are highly sought-after by thieves because of their high resale value, or the ease with which they can be dismantled. You should park your car in a well-lit area and remove anything valuable from the vehicle (including the owner's guide which could contain keys for valet service).

In the UK, thefts using this method are at an all-time high according to tracking company Tracker UK. In July 2023 they accounted 98 percent of the cars stolen that Tracker UK recovered.

To minimize the risk of being a victimized, experts recommend installing car security systems that are available from the aftermarket like alarms and GPS trackers. They also suggest storing keys in a container made of metal, signal-blocking pouches or Faraday box, which can prevent relay attacks.

Dealerships can also safeguard their inventory by implementing physical security measures, such as perimeter fencing, surveillance cameras and well-lit areas. In addition, they should instruct employees on proper key handling techniques and lockdown procedures to avoid thefts. If they are selling older vehicles, they should think about a dealer-installed ignition immobilizer. This will stop thieves from taking off with the car, after tricking the system into believing that it is still parked on the dealership lot.

Theft of Transponders

To keep up with the latest technology the thieves update their equipment to keep up. One method criminals are using is known as a relay attack, which is when two individuals work together to steal a vehicle that is keyless. A thief waits outside the home of the victim with a device which picks up a signal from the key fob. The signal is transmitted to a person waiting near the car. If the signal copied is detected the door opens and the car starts - all without the need for the actual key to be in the car. This has been recorded on security cameras in homes that show cars being driven away in a matter of seconds.

Even luxury cars that are older are at risk. In fact, the tracing firm Tracker UK reported that keyless thefts represent 98% of all high-tech vehicles it helped recover in the last year. And older luxury cars 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 with a keyless. This could happen if you don't be aware of where you put your key fob. For instance, you could keep it in your pocket when you're at home but forget to pick it up when you leave. If your device is within reach of an in-home smart security or hub, it can be hacked to gain access to the vehicle's control systems. Hackers with a thorough understanding of electronics could reprogram the car to do whatever they want it accomplish, like turning off the ignition and then drive off.

These kinds of attacks pose a threat to anyone who owns keys-less cars However, it's crucial to be aware of them and take steps to secure your vehicle. You can lessen the chance of theft by storing your vehicle in a secure or gated garage. If that's not an option, consider installing a motion-sensored camera with a view of your driveway. You can also purchase signal-blocking accessories, such as boxes and bags, which are designed to stop thieves from hijacking your key fob's signals when they're here in close proximity to an electronic jammer.

Theft of programming

The technology used in keyless cars makes them more convenient for us, but it can also make them more easy for thieves to take. The "relay attack" is a popular method to steal a vehicle using keyless entry systems. The thieves operate in pairs, using equipment to intercept your fob's signals when it is near the ignition or door to unlock your car.

The keyless system relies upon low-power radio waves that only work if the fob is located close to the ignition or door. However, a skilled hacker can make use of specially designed equipment to amplify the communication between the vehicle and the fob, significantly expanding the range of the system. This allows criminals to fool the vehicle into thinking that the fob is near enough to unlock or start it even though it might be metres away inside the victim's home, or in their pockets.

Certain vehicles have an additional security feature that blocks the ignition when the fob is too far away, however this only works if the vehicle has been programmed to recognize the fob's signals at a certain frequency. Hackers who have the code for the car system could modify the key fob's programming so that it works according to the frequency the car has been programmed to recognize. This is a way to bypass the security feature.

Criminals can get the coding for your car's keyless transmission simply by inserting a device known as"key programmer," also known as a "key programmer", which is available on the internet for less than $1,000, into the On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) port, usually located beneath the steering wheel. The tool will download the car's particular data to an unlocked key fob, which allows it to unlock and start your car exactly as a genuine key fob would.

These tools are readily available online, and permit criminals to target many different types and makes. The most popular keys-free entry vehicles are those made by luxury manufacturers such as BMW Audi Mercedes and Jaguar. These are the vehicles that are most often targeted. Tracker an insurance company discovered that luxury models were responsible for up to half of all high-tech thefts that it assisted in recovering.

Theft of Lockout

Criminals are able to easily take advantage of the weaknesses of keyless entry systems. While the old method of smashing windows into cars and hotwiring vehicles is still common, more and the thieves are using advanced methods that allow them to rob cars without taking homes. According to the data of tracking company Tracker that car thefts in the U.K. have reached an all-time high, with keyless thefts accounting for a large portion of the total.

Many of these innovative techniques are not only cheaper than traditional car theft, but they can be done within a matter of minutes. For instance, a pair of two thieves can use an instrument to capture the signal from the key fob, and then send directly to the transmitter in the hands of the other thief. This enables the other person to unlock the vehicle and drive it away. The devices can be purchased for just $100 and can be used on a variety of automobile models.

The thieves are now able to, in addition to these advanced methods, encrypt the data that is sent from a key fob. They can then copy the data and upload it to an unlocked fob. Key fobs that have been cloned will be able to unlock and start vehicles even if they're not the original keys.

ADAC's study revealed that hundreds of popular car models, such as the Ford Fiesta, Toyota Prius and Volkswagen Golf are vulnerable to this type of theft. A single key can be used to unlock multiple vehicles by using this method. This means it is not necessary to target specific vehicle models or manufacturers.

To protect cars from these new threats, car makers are now offering security measures. Kia, for example has created an faraday pouch that can be put in the keyfob of the driver's pocket to block signals and prevent it from being stolen. Other options include creating spare keys and storing them in secure yet accessible locations, installing surveillance cameras around the home and driveway and using apps to ensure that you don't leave your car unattended. It is essential to monitor the battery level of your key fob regularly to ensure it doesn't go flat.