5 The 5 Reasons Car Stolen Keyless Entry Can Be A Beneficial Thing

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Keyless Entry and Car Theft

Car theft is increasing and thieves have found new ways to get into vehicles. One of the most common methods is keyless entry.

The days of taking cars away by breaking windows and wiring them long gone. They can now hack into the computer systems of vehicles in minutes.

Relay Attack

Since the introduction to the Push-to Start technology, millions of people have enjoyed the convenience to be capable to start their cars without needing to reach for keys to their car. However, this convenience makes cars more vulnerable to theft. Particularly thieves have been able to utilize a technique that is called the relay attack to steal cars in a matter of seconds. This method uses an amplifier to capture and amplify the signal generated by the car's keyfob. It allows thieves to unlock the car and drive off.

Relay attacks are a variation on an older technique known as 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 either party being aware of it. In the scenario of a relay attack, the attacker employs a device to intercept the signal from the key fob in your car and transmits the signal to a second device that is nearby. The second device is able to open the door and begin the engine of your car in a matter of seconds.

To carry out an attack via relay criminals need only a cheap, readily available device that can pick up and amplify the signal from your key fob. Usually, thieves work in pairs, with one holding the relay amplifier, and the other standing close to the house of the victim. The thief wave the device in the direction of the home of the victim, luring the car into thinking the key is in close proximity.

Some experts suggest storing your key fob in a metallic container, signal-blocking pouch, or Faraday bag when not in use to stop this kind of theft. However, this is a simple solution that has been shown to be ineffective against modern relay devices. A steering wheel lock is a much superior option, since it physically stops the thief from driving the vehicle once it's been taken.

Many car manufacturers have tried to resolve this issue by introducing features, such as secure keyless entry systems which use cryptographic methods with time-sensitive codes to guard against relay attacks. However criminals have been able to create devices that defy these measures. The race is now on to find a solution for the problem of relay crime that does not interfere with the security of technology that does not require keys.

Hacking

Many new cars are equipped with keyless entry systems which let drivers open and start their car without needing a physical button or key. These systems are vulnerable to a new kind of theft. The thieves could use electronic devices that copy the signal from the key fob and transmit it to an accomplice holding an electronic transmitter near the vehicle. The thief is then able to unlock the vehicle and drive away. This method is called relay attack. It can be done in 20 to 30 seconds, according to AAA.

Often, thieves can make use of inexpensive devices that mimic wireless key fob signals to capture the signal and send it to a accomplice. Then, when the victim clicks their key fob to lock or open the vehicle, the thief could pretend to be the owner of the car by sending a response to the car's computer system that makes it think a genuine signal is being sent through the fob.

The more sophisticated thieves have developed devices that plug into the On-Board Diagnostics port (OBD), which is located usually under the steering wheel. This port allows mechanics to connect diagnostic tools. The criminal can download data from the car's computers and create an unlocked key fob that is compatible with the car's specifications. This type of hacking is possible on almost all vehicles.

Some thieves have employed TikTok challenges as a way to instruct people on how to build cheap amplifiers that increase the signal from the key fob, which lets an accomplice to open the door even when it is in the driveway. This has prompted companies like Kia and Toyota to release software updates that prevent this vulnerability.

Experts suggest keeping your car keys away from your home, and even in the trunk so that thieves have a difficult to gain access to the keys. You can also buy RFID pouches that help protect the signal from unauthorised use. Some of these pouches come with mesh linings made of metal, and can be purchased at a low cost of around $10. Similar to your phone or computer, it's important to keep the software on your vehicle up-to date.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Cards

The most recent car key fobs connect to vehicles using radio signals, allowing owners of cars to unlock and start their cars without touching keys. These new technologies increase the risk of theft. Thieves can steal the signal from a key fob when it is left on a table near the front door of the house or in a pocket and they are able to duplicate the signal using devices the size of handheld gaming consoles referred to as emulators. Once they have it, they can open the car and take it away in a matter of minutes.

Typically, crooks work in pairs. One will be outside your home, holding a relay amplifier, and the other one will hold the device that collects the signal from the key fob. The thieves will then increase the signal so that it is strong enough to disable your car's security system.

Another popular tactic is to block the communication between the key fob and the car. The thieves do this using signal jammers that emit the same radio frequency as the key fob. This jams the signal and prevents it from being detected by the car. The lock button won't work.

As thieves become more sophisticated in their tactics, auto dealers need to be alert in securing their inventory. Dealerships should put up high-security perimeter fences, with cameras and secure entrances to ensure that thieves cannot drive flatbeds with vehicles after hours. They should also train employees on proper key handling practices, including securely locking cars and keeping them in a secure location when not being used.

Luckily technology is working to combat these new thieves and to prevent car thefts. For instance, some car manufacturers are developing key fobs with active RFID chips that incorporate frequency-hopping technology to make it harder for thieves to amplify the signal from the key. Faraday cages are another way to stop signals from a keyfob's to the car. Other defenses include etching last seven numbers of your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) onto the headlights, windows, and mirrors to prevent sale or reuse of your vehicle.

Theft of VIN

While keyless entry is convenient, it also creates new opportunities for criminals to steal cars. Your car will open the doors and start the engine if it recognises the signal sent by your wireless key fob or remote. If the signal is not recognised, your vehicle will still lock, but it won't start. It is necessary to hold the key to activate the starter.

Even if your car is parked, it is crucial to keep the remote and key fob hidden. Criminals can steal your signal with a tiny transmitter. Then, he can unlock your door and drive away without ever having to touch the ignition or key.

Criminals may even change the VIN and title of a stolen vehicle to conceal their involvement. This practice, also known as VIN-switching, is on increasing. Typically, crooks buy a damaged car at auction or from police departments, and then modify the VIN. They then use the legitimate VIN of a different brand and model to obtain an updated title and registration and then sell it to uninitiated buyers.

The VIN is a popular way to stop theft. There are several companies that provide kits for this, and in some areas, the police department or AAA offers this service for free. It may seem counterintuitive here to think that etching could discourage thieves. In the end it makes it more difficult for dealers to buy your car. However, a professional thief is aware that etching can be a significant stumbling block and will probably deter them from stealing your vehicle.

The NICB offers a free VINCheck online service to determine if your car has ever been reported as stolen or salvaged, but has not yet recovered. The service requires an authentic VIN to conduct a search and is available through their website. In addition, a large range of products to deter crime are available for your vehicle, including audible and visible devices that serve as a deterrent to criminals. These include steering wheel locks and alarms, as well as window scratching.