15 Startling Facts About Cars Being Stolen With Keyless Entry That You Never Knew

Cars Being Stolen With Keyless Entry

Car owners who leave keys on tables or in front of their front door could be giving thieves the ability to take over the signal. This relay attack is a high-tech technique used by criminals to steal keys from new vehicles.

All keyless ignition vehicles emit a low power radio signal that is used to locate the fob that matches. If the signal is captured and recreated it can be used to unlock the car and start it up.

Relay Attack

Picture your car parked securely in your driveway, with the key fob sitting safely inside your home. You're confident that your car is safe, but unnoticed by you, sophisticated thieves are plotting an heist. These thieves use technology to hack into vehicles via digital chinks. This method of stealing cars with keyless access is known as relay theft.

The keyless entry system found in cars is controlled by a signal sent by the car's RF transmitter to the key fob. To stop keyless entry by intruders, the RF transmitters on the key fob and the car are programmed to activate when they are within a specified distance of each other. However, thieves are able to bypass this limitation with an attack known as the'relay attack'.

Two people are required to complete this: one stands near the car and uses a device to capture an electronic version of the the key fob. The other, standing by the home of the owner is using a different device to transmit the key fob signal back down to the car. This trickery fools the car into thinking the key fob is close enough to be able to unlock it and start the engine.

In the past, this kind of attack required expensive equipment to carry out. But now, you can buy a relay transmitter on the inexpensive online market and carry out the heist in just a few minutes. This is the reason why car thieves love it.

While certain vehicles are less susceptible to this kind of theft than others, all modern vehicles that have keyless entry are at risk. Researchers have tested 237 popular cars and found that every one of them can be stolen by this method.

Tesla vehicles are believed to be less prone to this kind of theft, however Tesla hasn't yet implemented UWB features that would effectively conduct distance checks on the car's signal to protect against relay attacks. The company has said that they will do this in the near future, however until then they are vulnerable. That's why it's essential to adopt a proactive approach to your security in your car and install an anti-theft kit which protects your keys as well as your vehicle from these kinds of attacks.

CAN Injection Attack

Modern cars are designed to guard themselves from thieves by exchanging cryptographic data with the key to prove that it's authentic. The system is generally believed to be secure, however criminals have found a way to circumvent it. They fake the identity of a smart key, send messages to the vehicle, and then drive away. To do that, they get access to the smart key's internal communications network.

Today, most cars are fitted with between 20 to 200 electronic control units (or ECUs) that control various aspects of the car's operation. They communicate using an electronic network known as CAN bus. To reduce power consumption, these ECUs are put into the sleep mode at low power. This mode is activated when they receive a 'wake up' frame. These frames are usually sent by the ECU that controls the smart key or door. However the messages aren't usually encrypted or authenticated and, therefore, could be snatched by criminals with a cheap and basic device.

They look for a place where they can connect directly to the wires for CAN connection. They usually hide in the headlights or in other areas of the front of the vehicle. To access them, you need to remove the bumper and cut holes in the headlamp assemblies. The thieves use the device referred to as a CAN injection attack to send out fake messages that trick the car's safety systems into unlocking and disengaging the engine immobilizer.

These devices are for purchase on the Dark Web, and work for most of the major car manufacturers, including BMW, Cadillac, Chrysler, Fiat, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar, Jeep, Lexus, Nissan, Renault, Toyota, Volkswagen, Maserati, and more. Researchers who discovered the CAN Injection attack recommend that all car makers address this in their existing models. However, these criminals will continue to take whatever they can. We can prevent this by installing mechanical safety measures like Discloks in all of our cars and parking them in well-lit and visible areas.

Jamming the Signal

In a variant of the relay attack that makes use of a device that is able to block the signal sent by a key fob while the car is locked. The device could be in the pocket of a burglar in a parking area or in a hidden spot near the driveway that is being targeted. Once the owners hit the lock button on their fobs, and then walk away and leave, they don't have to think about whether or not their car is actually locks. The device of the crook interferes with the signal to lock the car. Therefore, thieves could drive away with the vehicle.

The crooks also use devices to amplify the key fob's signals to unlock vehicles. The crooks can do this even when the key is in a driver's pocket or hanging on an outside hook in the home. After the car is unlocked, hackers can make use of the standard diagnostic port to program the fob with a blank.

Car manufacturers have come up with a variety of anti-theft solutions to protect against these types of attacks. However, thieves are always looking for ways to defeat these measures.

For example, they've started using devices that transmit on the same frequency as remote key fobs in order to intercept their signals. The crooks can then copy the unlock code of the key fob and then start the car with this fake signal.

This get more info method is especially popular in the US in which many vehicles are equipped with wireless technology. Owners can unlock and start their vehicle by using a mobile app on their phone. This technology is likely to become more popular as more companies attempt to connect their vehicles with their owners smartphones.

In addition to installing anti-theft technologies in vehicles, it's important for drivers to follow the best practices when parking their cars. They shouldn't leave their key fobs in the ignition, should always ensure that the car is securely locked when they're not there and should utilize a steering wheel or gearstick lock, if it is possible. It is also recommended to think about installing a tracking device on their vehicle in the event that it is stolen.

Flat Battery

This kind of attack happens more often than people realize. Thieves make use of cheap devices to extend the signal from your key fob to unlock and start the car, even if it's switched off. Then they drive the car to the trailer or around a corner, and take it away. It is possible to shield your vehicle from this by installing an interrupter switch for the starter circuit. Simpler versions come with an ON/OFF button that shuts off the circuit. It costs about $15 and is easy enough to install by yourself.

Car thieves are always trying new ways to gain access to vehicles and steal them. The police, car makers and insurance companies are always trying to catch up with their strategies and provide better anti-theft systems for the latest cars. However, this isn't stopping thieves who be quick to adapt and find ways to bypass the latest anti-theft technology.

For instance, many criminals use a device that works on the same radio frequency as the fob to jam the signal. The device is put in the pocket or near the vehicle, and stops the fob from transmitting the lock command to the car. This can be done in seconds. The device is inexpensive and is available on the internet.

Another option is to hack into the car's computer system. This is more difficult, but still possible. Every car has a diagnostic port, and hackers have developed devices that connect to them and let them access the software in the car. They can then program the fob with blank code to function. It is also possible to do this on older cars, although it is more difficult without removal of the ignition lock.

This technique could become more popular if more vehicles are connected to drivers' mobile phones. Once a thief gets the username and password to an app for vehicles and then they can open the car or get it started using the app on their phone. You can protect yourself by not putting valuables inside your car, and parking in a garage.