5 Cars Being Stolen With Keyless Entry Tips You Must Know About For 2024
Cars Being Stolen With Keyless EntryIf car owners leave their keys on the table or next to their door, they may unknowingly allow thieves to hijack their signal. This relay attack is one of the high-tech methods criminals are employing to steal new keyless cars.
Keyless ignition vehicles emit a low-power radio signal to locate the fob that matches. If the signal is captured and recreated, it can be used to unlock the car and then start it up.
Relay Attack
Imagine your car safely at your driveway, with your key fob in your home. You're confident that your vehicle is secure, but unseen by you sophisticated thieves are planning an attack. The thieves employ technology to snoop on vehicles through digital chinks. This method of stealing cars that have keyless access is known as relay theft.
Cars with keyless entry are designed to operate via a signal that is transmitted by the car's remote control (RF) transmitter to the owner's key fob. To ensure that keyless entry is not accessed by unauthorised persons the RF transmitters that are on the key fob as well as the car are programmed only to be activated when they are within a certain distance of each other. However, thieves can bypass this restriction by employing a method known as the'relay-attack'.
To accomplish this, two people work in tandem One stands near the car and uses an instrument that records digitally the key fob's signal. The other person who is at home with the owner is using a second device to transmit the signal from the key fob to the car. This trickery fools the car into believing the key fob has reached the distance needed to unlock and start the vehicle.
This type of attack used to require expensive equipment. Now, you can pick up relay transmitters on the low cost online and conduct the heist in just a few minutes. This is the reason it's popular with car thieves.
All modern vehicles with keyless access are at risk. Certain cars are more susceptible to this kind of attack than others. In fact researchers have examined 237 popular cars and found that they could be all stolen using this method.
Tesla cars are said to be less vulnerable to this type of theft, however, the company has not yet implemented UWB features that would effectively check distances on the car's signal and prevent relay attacks. The company has stated that they will do this in the future but until then, they are vulnerable. This is why it's crucial to be proactive about 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 vehicles can defend themselves from theft by exchanging encrypted messages with the key to prove its authenticity. This method is generally thought to be secure, however thieves have found a way around it. They simply impersonate the smart key, and send other messages to the car letting it unlock the doors, turn off its engine immobilizer, then let them drive away. To accomplish this, they have access to the smart keys' internal communications network.
The majority of cars today are fitted with between 20 and 200 electronic control units, also known as ECUs, that manage various aspects of the vehicle's operation. They communicate through an electronic network known as CAN bus. These ECUs enter a low power sleep mode to decrease their power consumption. This mode is activated when ECUs receive an "wake up" frame. These frames are usually sent through the door or a smart key receiver ECU. These messages aren't always encrypted or authenticated. This means that criminals can intercept them with an inexpensive and simple device.
To accomplish this, they must look for a location that allows them to connect directly to the CAN bus connector wires. They are usually hidden inside the headlights or elsewhere in front of the car and can be accessed by pulling the bumper off and cutting holes in the headlamp assembly to expose the wires. The thieves employ an instrument known as an CAN injection attack. It is used to send fake messages which can trick the security systems of the car to unlock and disable the engine immobilizer.
These devices can be purchased on the Dark Web and work with all major car makers which include BMW and Cadillac, Chrysler, Fiat and Ford, Honda, Hyundai and Jeep, Lexus and Nissan, Renault and Toyota, Volkswagen and Maserati. The researchers who discovered this CAN Injection attack are recommending that all car makers fix it in their existing models, but the reality is that thieves will continue to grab whatever they can get their hands on. We can stop this by installing mechanical security measures like Discloks in every car we own and parking them in well-lit, visible areas.
Blocking the Signal
In a different variation of the relay attack, thieves may make use of a device to block the signal sent from the key fob when the car is locked. The device could be found in the pocket or in the hiding the location of a thief in a parking lot, or in the driveway being targeted. The owners don't know whether their car is locked after pressing the lock button. Instead, thieves could escape with the vehicle since the signal that normally locks the car has been blocked by the crook's device.
The crooks also make use of devices to amplify the key fob's signals in order to unlock vehicles. The crooks can accomplish this even if the key is in a driver's pocket, or hanging from a hook inside the home. Once the car has been locked, hackers can use the standard diagnostic port to program the fob with a blank.
Automobile manufacturers have developed a variety of anti-theft solutions to safeguard against these types of attacks. But, as always, thieves find ways to defeat these measures.
They've started using devices that transmit at the same frequency as remote keyfobs in order to intercept signals. The crooks then copy the key fob's unlock code and then start the car with this fake signal.
This method is particularly popular in the US and Europe where a large number of cars are sold with wireless technology that lets owners unlock and start their vehicle by using a mobile application on their phone. This technique is likely to become more popular as more manufacturers try to connect their cars to their owners smartphones.
It is crucial that drivers follow the right procedures to park their vehicles. They shouldn't leave their keys in the ignition, should always make sure the vehicle is locked completely when they're not there and should utilize the steering wheel or a gearstick lock if possible. It is also recommended to think about fitting a tracking device to their vehicle in case it's stolen.
Flat Battery
This type of attack is more prevalent than people think. Thieves employ cheap devices to extend the signal from your key fob to unlock and start the car, even if it's switched off. They then simply drive the car around a corner or to a trailer and leave with it. Installing an interruption switch to the starter circuit can protect your vehicle from this. Simpler versions include an ON/OFF button that interrupts the circuit. It's about $15 and is simple to install by yourself.
Car thieves are always trying new ways to gain access to vehicles and steal them. The police as well as the car makers and insurance companies are constantly trying to keep up with their strategies and develop better anti-theft systems for the latest cars. But that doesn't stop the thieves who are able to be quick to adapt and find ways to get around the latest anti-theft measures.
For instance, many thieves use a device that works on the same radio frequency as the fob to jam the signal. They put the device in their pocket or in a location close to their vehicle, and it prevents the fob's lock commands from reaching the vehicle, leaving the vehicle unlocked. This can be done in seconds. The device is cheap and available online.
Another option is to hack into the car's computer system. This is more difficult but nevertheless feasible. All cars have an diagnostic port and hackers have developed devices that connect to them and let them access the software of the car. They can then program an unfinished fob to work. It is possible to do this with older cars also, but it's more difficult without removing the ignition.
This technique could be more popular if more vehicles are connected with drivers' phones. Once a burglar has gained the username and password to a vehicle app, they can then unlock or start the car with the app on their phone. It is possible to protect yourself from these types of attacks by not leaving valuables in your car read more and putting it in a secure garage or parking lot.