15 Car Stolen Keyless Entry Benefits Everyone Should Know
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Keyless Entry and Car Theft
Car theft is on the rise, and thieves have found new ways to get into vehicles. Keyless entry is one of the most popular methods.
The days of taking cars away by breaking windows and hotwiring them are long gone. They can now hack the computers of a vehicle in minutes.
Relay Attack
Since the introduction to the Push-to Start technology, millions of people have been able to be capable to start their cars without needing to look for the car keys. However, this convenience makes vehicles more vulnerable to theft. The relay attack is a brand new technique that thieves use to steal cars in a matter of minutes. This method uses an amplifier to record and amplify the signal transmitted by the car's keyfob. It allows thieves to unlock the car and then drive away.
Relay attacks are a variant of an older technique called Man-in the-Middle Attacks. This type of attack is used in cybersecurity to alter and intercept the exchange of information between two parties without the other party noticing it. In the scenario of a relay attack, the attacker employs a device to intercept the signal from your car's key fob, then transmits that signal to a different device that is close by. This second device is able to open the door and start the engine, thereby taking your car in a matter of seconds.
Criminals can carry out a relay attack by making use of a low-cost and readily available device to capture the signal from an electronic key fob. Usually, thieves operate in pairs, with one holding the relay amplifier, and the other standing near the home of the victim. The thief waves the device in the direction of the home of the victim, and then tricks the car into thinking that the key is close by.
To prevent this type theft, some experts suggest that you keep your key fob when it is not being used in a metal container or pouch. This is a basic but ineffective method against modern relay devices. A steering wheel lock is a better option, as it physically stops the thief from steering the vehicle after it has been taken.
Many car makers have attempted to address this issue by introducing features like secure keyless entry systems, that use cryptographic methods and time-sensitive codes to defend against relay attacks. Criminals have created devices that are able to defeat these measures. The race is on to find a solution to relay crime that does not compromise the convenience of keyless technology.
Hacking
Many new cars come with keyless entry systems that allow users to open and start their vehicle without using any physical button or key. However, these systems could be susceptible to a different type of theft. Thieves can utilize electronic devices to copy the signal from the key fob, and then transmit it to a transmitter carried by an accomplice standing close to the car. The thief is then able to unlock the car and drive off. According to AAA the method is referred to as relay attack. It can be completed in 20 to 30 second.
Thieves can often use inexpensive devices to mimic the wireless signal from the key fob to capture it and send it to an accomplice. When the victim presses their key fob to unlock or start the vehicle, the thief could 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 developed devices that plug into a car's On Board Diagnostics (OBD) port, which is usually situated under the steering wheel. This port allows mechanics to connect to a diagnostic tool. The criminal can download data from the car's computers and create an unlocked key fob that is compatible with the specifications of the car. This kind of hacking can be done on nearly all vehicles.
Some thieves have used TikTok challenges to teach people to make cheap amplifiers that increase the signal of the key fob, making it possible for an accomplice unlock the car when it is parked in the driveway. This method has led to manufacturers like Kia and Toyota to update their software which stop this vulnerability.
Experts suggest keeping your car keys farther away from your home, even in the trunk, so a thief has a harder time accessing the keys. You can also purchase RFID pouches to protect the signal from unauthorized use. Some of these pouches feature metal mesh linings, and can be purchased on the low end for about $10. Similar to your phone and computer it is essential to keep the software in your vehicle up-to date.
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Cards
The most recent car key fobs connect to vehicles using radio signals, allowing the owners of the automobiles to unlock and start their cars without touching the key. However, these new technologies are also increasing the possibility of theft. Thieves can capture the signal from a key fob if it is placed on a car stolen lost spare key table near the front door of the house or in a pocket and they can copy the signal using devices that are the size of handheld gaming consoles, also known as emulators. From there, they are able to open the car and drive it away in minutes.
Typically, crooks work in pairs. The crooks usually work in pairs. One of them will be in front of your home with a relay amplifier, and the other will have the device that captures a signal from a keyfob. The thieves will then increase the signal until it is strong enough to disable the security systems in your car.
Another method is to simply jam the communication between the key fob and the car. Thieves do this by using signal jammers that emit the same radio frequency as a key fob. The signal is blocked and prevents it from being picked up by the car. The lock button is not working.
As thieves become more sophisticated in their tactics and techniques, dealers must be alert in securing their inventory. Dealerships should put up high-security perimeter fences with cameras and secure entrances, so that thieves are unable to drive flatbeds with vehicles after hours. They should also educate employees on proper methods of handling keys and lock vehicles securely and keeping them in a secure location when they are not being used.
Technology can help stop car thefts and combat these new thieves. For instance, some automobile manufacturers are creating key fobs with active RFID chips that incorporate frequency-hopping technology to make it harder for thieves to amplify the signal coming from the key. Faraday cages are a different way to block signals from a keyfob's to the vehicle. Other defenses include etching last seven numbers of your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) onto the headlights, windows and mirrors to stop reuse or re-sale of your vehicle.
Theft of VIN
Keyless entry is useful, but it also opens up 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 key fob or remote. If the signal isn't recognized, your car will lock, but it won't start. This is due to the fact that you have to hold the key in your hands to press a button on the fob in order to activate the starter.
This is why it's important to keep your key fob and remote out of sight even when your car is parked. Criminals can steal your signal by using a tiny transmitter. Then, he can open your door without touching the ignition or the key.
Criminals may even change the VIN and title of a stolen car to conceal their involvement. This practice is known as VIN switching and is currently on increasing. Typically, crooks buy a damaged car through auctions or police departments, and then modify the VIN. They then use the legal VIN of a different model and model to get an updated registration and title, and then sell it to unsuspecting buyers.
A popular theft deterrent is to have your VIN written into your vehicle's glass. Many companies provide kits for this, and in a few places the police department or AAA provides this service at no cost. It's a bit odd that etching can discourage thieves, since it makes your car difficult to sell to chop shops and other dealers. However, a professional criminal knows that etching will be a significant stumbling block and will probably stop them from the theft of your vehicle.
The NICB also offers a no-cost online VINCheck service to check whether your vehicle has been reported as salvaged or stolen vehicle and is not yet recovered. The service is only available on their website and requires a valid VIN. There are also a variety of crime-deterring devices for your car. These include audible as well as visual devices that deter criminals. Some of them include the locking of your steering wheel, alarms and window etching.