Keyless Cars Being Stolen in MinutesUtilizing equipment for sale on the internet, criminals are focusing their efforts on keyless vehicles, which could be stolen in minutes. Find out how thieves can bypass security features of your vehicle and what you should do to protect it.
Keep your key fob inside a faraday bag, or an aluminium tin in order to block the signal. Consider installing an electronic lock for steering to prevent your car from being stolen.
Relay Theft
It's easy to forget about the dangers of keyless cars. They can expose your car to cybercriminals with high-tech devices. Relay theft is among the latest hacking techniques that thieves use.
By using this method, two criminals work in tandem to rob your vehicle. One thief is standing by your home and is equipped with a device that amplifies the signal for the fob of a key, and then transmit that amplified signal across a distance to the other thief who is standing near your vehicle. The second thief then uses their device to imitate the fob's signal to open the car or to start the engine. This allows them to drive off with the vehicle.
Online they are available for a reasonable price. They can be put on any vehicle, whether it is the latest SUV or the oldest Honda Civic. However, certain cars are more at risk than others. Cars that are highly sought-after from thieves, either due to their resale value or for the ease of dismantling parts, are usually targeted by criminals. You should park your car key stolen what do i do in a well-lit area and take anything valuable off the vehicle (including the owner's guide, which may 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 made up for 98% of the stolen vehicles that the company assisted to recover.
To decrease the chance of being a victim experts recommend installing car security systems that are available from the aftermarket like alarms and GPS trackers. They also suggest keeping keys in a container made of metal, signal-blocking pouch, or Faraday box, which can protect against relay attacks.
Dealerships can also help protect their inventory by installing physical security measures, such as perimeter fencing, surveillance cameras and well-lit areas. In addition, they must instruct staff on proper procedures for handling my keys were stolen and lockdown procedures to avoid thefts. And if they sell older vehicles, they should consider installing an ignition immobilizer from the dealer. This will stop thieves from driving off with the vehicle after tricking the system into believing that it is still parked on the lot of the dealership.
Theft of Transponders
As car keys stolen but not car manufacturers update their keyless technology to make vehicles more secure, thieves are upgrading their own 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 car with a keyless. A thief waits outside the home of the victim using a device that detects a signal from the key fob. This signal is then transmitted to a person waiting close to the car. If the copied signal is recognised, the door unlocks and the car begins to move and the car starts - without the necessity for the actual key to be present. Security cameras in homes has revealed this happening with stolen vehicles being towed away in a matter of seconds.
Even luxury cars that are older are at risk. Tracker UK, a tracking company in the UK stated that 98% of the high-tech vehicles it retrieved in the last year were stolen through keyless systems. The older luxury vehicles with lower-end keyless systems are at the highest risk such as Mercedes C- and Keyless Cars Being Stolen E-Class, BMW 3 Series, Land Rover Discovery and Jaguar XF models.
Another way of stealing keys is code theft that can occur when you're not paying attention to where you place your key fob. You might forget to remove it from your pocket before leaving the home. If your device is in the range of the smart hub or home security system, you can hack it to gain access to the vehicle's control systems. Hackers with solid understanding of electronics can alter the code of the vehicle to do whatever they want, like disabling ignition and driving away.
These attacks are a threat to anyone who has an automobile that is keyless However, it's crucial to be aware of them and take steps to protect your car. You can limit the risk by parking in a secured garage or gated and safe car park. If that's not possible you could consider installing a motion-sensored camera that has a view of your driveway. You can also purchase signal blocking accessories like boxes and bags, which are designed to prevent thieves from taking over your key fob's signals when they're in close proximity to a jammer.
Theft of Programming
The technology that is used in keyless vehicles makes them more comfortable for us, but it can also make them easier for thieves to take. The "relay attack" is a typical method to steal a vehicle using keyless entry systems. The thieves operate in pairs, using devices to intercept your fob's signals when it is near the ignition or door to open your vehicle.
The keyless system is based on radio signals that are low-power and only work when the key fob is close to the door or ignition. However, a skilled hacker can use specially designed equipment to amplify the communication between the vehicle and the fob, greatly extending the effective range of the system. This allows a criminal to trick the vehicle into believing that the fob is close enough to unlock or start it even though it might be metres away inside the victim's home or in their pocket.
Certain vehicles have an option to disable ignition if the fob is too far away. However this feature only works if your vehicle has been programmed to ensure that it can recognize the fob's signal at a specific frequency. Hackers who have the code for the car system are able to modify the key fob's programming so that it functions at the frequency the car has been programmed to recognize. This bypasses the security feature.
Car thieves can acquire the coding of your car's keyless transmission simply by inserting a device referred to as a "key programmer", which is available on the internet for less than $1,000 to the On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) port, usually located beneath the steering wheel. The program can then download the car's specific information onto a blank key fob, permitting it to unlock and start your car just like the genuine one would.
They are easily available online and allow criminals to target many different makes and models. However, the most sought-after cars that have keyless entry are the ones from premium brands like BMW, Audi, Mercedes and Jaguar and they are the vehicles most often targeted by thieves. In fact, the insurance company Tracker has discovered that the luxury models account for as much as 50% of the high-tech theft claims that it assists in recovering.
Theft of a Lockout
Criminals are able to take advantage of the weaknesses of keyless entry systems. While the traditional method of smashing car windows and hotwiring vehicles is still popular, more the thieves are using advanced methods that allow them to steal cars without entering homes. According to data collected by the tracking company Tracker the theft of cars has increased to an all-time record in the U.K., with keyless car thefts making up a significant portion of the total.
These new methods are not only cheaper than traditional car thefts, they can be done in just a few minutes. A team of two thieves, for example could use a device that intercepts the signal from the keyfob, and sends it directly to the transmitter in the hands of the other criminal. This allows the other person to unlock the vehicle and drive away. The tools employed by these criminals can be purchased for as little as $100, and they work well with a variety of models and makes.
In addition to these advanced methods, thieves are now able to capture the data from keys that they can clone and upload to an unlocked key fob. Key fobs that have been cloned can be used to unlock and start vehicles, even if they're not the original keys.
ADAC's research revealed that a variety of popular vehicles including the Ford Fiesta and Toyota Prius are susceptible to this kind of theft. A single key can be used to unlock multiple cars by using this method. This means it is not necessary to target specific vehicle models or manufacturers.
Manufacturers of cars now offer preventative measures to help keep cars safe against these new threats. For instance, Kia has created a faraday bag that can be put in the pocket of a key fob to block signals and safeguard it from theft. Other options include creating extra keys and storing in secure yet accessible locations or installing cameras around your home and driveway, or using apps to ensure you don't forget your car. It is essential to check the battery level of your key fob frequently to ensure that it isn't going flat.