Keyless Entry and Car Theft

The number of car thefts is growing, and thieves are finding new ways to break into vehicles. Keyless entry is among the most commonly used methods.

Gone are the days when thieves broke windows and wired cars to steal. Today, they can hack a vehicle's computer systems within minutes.

Relay Attack

Since the introduction of Push-to-Start technology millions of motorists have benefited from being able to start their car without reaching for a key. However, this same convenience also makes vehicles more susceptible to theft. The relay attack is a brand new method that thieves can employ to steal cars in just a few seconds. This method uses an amplifier to amplify and capture the signal sent by the car's keyfob. It allows thieves to unlock your car and drive off.

Relay attacks are a variation on an older technique known as Man-in the-Middle Attacks. This kind of attack can be used in cybersecurity to intercept communications between two entities and alter it without not knowing. In a relay attack, the attacker uses an electronic device to capture and transmit the signal from the fob of the key in your car to a second device in the vicinity. The second device is able to open the door and begin the engine, effectively taking your vehicle away in a matter of minutes.

Criminals can carry out a relay attack using a simple and easily accessible device to detect the signal from the key fob. Most often, thieves operate in pairs. One person will hold the amplifier for relay while the other is outside in front of the house of the victim. The thief simply wave the device in the front of the house of the victim, which tricks the car into thinking that the key is in range and allows it to open and start.

To stop this type of theft, some experts recommend that you store your stolen key fob fob whenever not in use in a metallic container or pouch. This is a straightforward but ineffective method against modern relay devices. A better alternative is to purchase an ignition lock for the steering wheel, which physically blocks the thief's ability to steer the vehicle once it is stolen car key replacement.

Many vehicle manufacturers have attempted to address this issue by introducing features like secure keyless entry systems, which use cryptographic methods and time-sensitive codes to protect against relay attacks. Criminals have devised devices that are able to defeat these measures. The race is on to find a solution for relay crime that does not compromise the convenience of technology that is keyless.

Hacking

A lot of new cars come with keyless entry systems that permit users to open and start their vehicle without using any physical button or key. However, these systems can be vulnerable to a new type of theft. Thieves may utilize electronic devices to copy the signal from the key fob and transmit it to a transmitter carried by an accomplice standing close to the car. The criminal then unlocks the vehicle and takes off. This is referred to as relay attack and can be completed in between 20 and 30 seconds according to AAA.

Thieves typically use cheap devices to mimic wireless key fob signal to capture it and send it to an accomplice. The thief then appears to be the owner of the car when the victim presses the key fob button to start or close the vehicle. They do this by sending a signal that appears to the car system as authentic signal.

The more sophisticated thieves have designed devices that plug into the On-Board Diagnostics port (OBD) which is located usually beneath the steering wheel. This port allows mechanics to connect diagnostic tools. The thief can then download information from the car's computer and create an unlocked key fob that meets the specifications of the car. This type of hacking is possible on nearly all vehicles.

Some thieves have even used TikTok challenges to teach people how to create cheap amplifiers that boost the signal from the key fob, and permit an accomplice to unlock the car from a distance, even though it's parked in the driveway. This technique has prompted manufacturers such as Kia and Toyota to update their software which prevent this vulnerability.

Experts suggest keeping your car stolen with keys in it progressive keys farther away from your home, and even in the trunk, so thieves have a tough to gain access to them. You can also consider investing in RFID pouches to shield the signal and deter unauthorised use. These pouches can be bought for less than $10. Some have metal mesh linings. Just like your phone and computer it is essential to keep the software in your vehicle up-to date.

Radio Frequency Identification Cards

The latest car key fobs make use of radio signals to communicate with the vehicle and allow owners to unlock their cars and start them without needing to touch a key. These new technologies increase the chance of theft. Thieves can steal the signal from a key fob, if it is left on a table close to the front door of the home or in a pocket and they are able to duplicate the signal with simple devices that are the size of handheld gaming consoles called emulators. Once they have it, they can open the car and drive it away in just a few minutes.

Typically, the crooks work in pairs. One will stand outside your home, holding a relay amplifier and the other one will hold the device that records the signal from a key fob. The thieves will then amplify the signal until it becomes strong enough to bypass the security systems inside your car.

Another popular tactic involves simply blocking the communication between the key fob and the vehicle. Thieves use 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 won't work.

Dealers of automobiles must be vigilant to guard their inventory from theft as thieves become more sophisticated. Dealerships should install high-security perimeter fencing with cameras and a secure entrance so that thieves can't drive in flatbeds with vehicles after hours. They should also educate employees on the proper handling of keys and lock vehicles securely and keeping them in a secure location when they are not in use.

Technology is helping to stop car thefts and tackling these new thieves. For instance, some automobile manufacturers are creating key fobs that use active RFID chips with frequency-hopping technology to make it more difficult for thieves to amplify the signal from the key. Faraday cages are another way to block signals from a keyfob's signal to the vehicle. Other defences include engraving the last seven digits of your vehicle Identification Number (VIN), on the windows, headlights, and mirrors in order to prevent the resale or reuse of your vehicle.

VIN Theft

Keyless entry is useful, but it also opens up new opportunities for thieves to take cars. If your car recognizes the signal that is sent by your wireless key or remote fob, it will unlock the door and begin the engine. If the signal isn't recognized, your car will still lock, but it will not start. You must hold the key in order to start the starter.

This is why it's essential to keep your remote and key fob away from view even when your vehicle is in a parking spot. A criminal can use a small transmitter to intercept your signal and steal it. He can then open your door without touching the ignition or key.

In certain instances criminals are capable of swapping out a vehicle's VIN and title to conceal their involvement in the theft of the vehicle. This practice is referred to as VIN switching and is on the rise. The thieves will usually buy a damaged vehicle at an auction or from the police department and then alter the VIN. They then use the legal VIN of a different make and model what to Do if your car keys get stolen obtain a new registration and title, and then sell it to unsuspecting buyers.

The VIN is a popular way to stop theft. There are several companies that provide kits to do this, and in certain areas, the police department or AAA provides this service for free. It may be strange to believe that etching can deter thieves. In the end it makes it difficult for dealers to purchase your car. However, a professional criminal is aware that etching can be an important obstacle and will probably deter them from stealing your vehicle.

The NICB also provides a free VINCheck service online to determine whether your vehicle has been reported as salvaged or deactivate stolen car key fob and is not yet recovered. The service is available only on their website and requires an authentic VIN. In addition, a large range of products to deter crime are available for your vehicle as well as visible and audible devices that act as a deterrent to criminals. These include steering wheel locks and alarms and window engraving.