How Do Keyless Cars Get Stolen?

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Footage from front-door home security cameras shows burglars using devices that capture signals sent by key fobs left on tables or in pockets or purses and relaying those to the car to unlock and start it.

Relay Theft

Modern keyless cars are designed to ease our lives by locking, unlocking and even start the vehicle without the need to insert the physical key. Unfortunately, criminals are now using this technology against us in a new technique called 'relay theft'.

Two thieves collaborate to achieve this. The first thief is near your house and utilizes a device to increase the signal from your key fob. This signal is then sent to the second thief, who is near the car. The stolen signal tricks the system of the car into thinking that the real key fob was near, allowing thieves to unlock and get inside the vehicle. The criminal can then utilize their devices to start the engine and leave the vehicle.

It's nice to know that a lot of car manufacturers are taking preventative measures to combat this latest crime. Mercedes, for example, has developed a motion-sensor key fob that goes into sleep mode 40 seconds after activation to protect against relay attacks. Other car keys stolen no spare manufacturers have also implemented ways to protect the vehicles of their owners from relay attacks. For instance, Kia offers its own faraday pouch, which helps stop the car's signal. Other manufacturers have features that allow car owners to turn off keyless entry, or install an electronic tracking system to protect their vehicle from being stolen.

Internet thieves and professional criminal gangs are able to use relay attack tools. Most often, they focus on desirable models of cars and van. Unfortunately, a lot of car security systems fail to detect the crime since there was no physical breach.

As the number of car thefts increases and we must be aware that this type of crime is becoming more frequent. Combining several strategies can help reduce the risk of your car being stolen. You can take steps such as placing your keys in a metal container, using the Faraday pouch to block the signal, deactivating your keyless entry system and installing an alarm system to track your vehicle.

Signal Jamming

If you are the victim of a car theft it is important to know how the crime takes place. It's not as easy as slamming a window and then hotwiring it, because criminals are now able to rob keyless cars using technology that is able to bypass security systems in the vehicle.

The new method of stealing cars is referred to as relay theft. The thieves use electronic devices that detect the signal from the car owner's key fob and then transmit it to a device near the vehicle, tricking the car into thinking that its owner was there by opening the door and then starting up the engine. It can be done in as little as 60 seconds according to security experts.

Relay thefts are so common that some companies have upgraded their systems to stop them. This is why it's important to stay current with the most recent security systems for your vehicle and to use them properly.

One method to prevent this type of crime is to protect your keys with what is known as Faraday pouches, or boxes. These pouches or boxes are lined with a metal mesh that blocks the transmission of electromagnetic waves, making it harder for thieves to steal your car. These boxes and pouches are available at a variety of hardware stores, as well as online at a reasonable cost. Experts recommend testing them before you purchase to ensure that they really perform.

If you don't have one You can also lock your vehicle manually, and always make sure it's locked before you walk away. You should also look around your immediate surroundings to see if anyone else is hanging around. If a burglar believes they've been spotted, they will likely go on their way.

It's also recommended to park your vehicle in a secure garage, or at a street that's not immediately close to your home. This will stop thieves from taking and amplifying the signal from electronic devices within your home to gain access to your vehicle. Parking too close to a vehicle can also cause the same issue.

Reprogramming

Modern vehicles often have keyless ignition systems and utilize wireless fobs to open and start the vehicle. While this technology makes it easier for drivers to unlock and start their vehicles, it also creates opportunities for thieves. In actual fact, the theft of a car stolen without key that's not locked is now more common than ever before.

Instead of smashing through a window to gain entry and gain entry, thieves can now employ simple tools and technologies to replicate the signal from your key fob. They accomplish this by amplifying the signal which is then able to override the computer in your car to unlock and start it. This method is known as a relay attack, and is the easiest way to steal a keyless car.

Relay attacks can be carried out in a variety of ways however, they all require two individuals working together. One will stand by the target vehicle with a device that can receive the signal from the key fob and amplify it. The other will be close to the house and transmit an amplified signal to a key fob, which will then signal the vehicle to start unlocking and begin. The thieves can then drive off in the vehicle.

Researchers have been able, by increasing the range of the key fob's signals to block relay attacks. It's essential to store your fob's key in a Faraday Case or another blocking device for signals when you're not using.

Another method of stealing the car's keys is to hack into the diagnostics port. These ports are located in the footwells of front-facing automobiles. They enable mechanics to connect diagnostic tools to the vehicle's computers. Hackers have designed devices that connect to this port to boot up the software of the car stolen after losing keys, and then program a blank remote control. This method requires a bit more sophistication and knowledge of electronics, but tech-savvy thieves are already employing it to steal cars.

Whether they're using devices to jam or software reprogrammer, thieves can now easily unlock and steal newer car models that aren't protected by the traditional security measures. If you're the owner of a dealership it is essential to give your employees training on how to avoid these techniques.

Using Transponder Devices

The key fob transmits an alert to the car to tell it to unlock and start, but thieves can use a simple handheld device to amplify the signal, allowing them to gain entry and then drive away. This is known as signal relaying, and is one of the most common methods that modern vehicles are stolen. Crooks can usually do it in just 60 minutes. Most of the time, thieves operate in pairs. One person will be seated with the transmitter that picks up the transmission from the key, and the other is walking around the exterior walls of the house using the relay amplifier, searching for a faint signal sent by the fob of your car. If they find it, the crooks can then copy the signal and transmit the signal to their transmitter, so it can be copied by your vehicle.

Jamming the signals sent by the key fob to the vehicle is a second method. This is also quite common, and it can be extremely difficult to stop. This is why it's important to keep your key fobs out of sight when you're not using them.

Some thieves even employ sophisticated hacking tools to get into the system that locks and then starts the engine. These devices are sold on Amazon and eBay starting at $100. Some are able to be used as far as 50 feet away from the key fob. These devices connect to your vehicle's onboard diagnostic port, and then boot up software that reprograms a blank key to unlock and start the car.

You must do everything you can as a dealer in order to stop this kind of theft from occurring on your lot. Install secure fences to shut off all entrances after hours and train employees on best practices for keeping and returning key fobs at end of the day.

Experts believe that a novel method will be more popular as more cars are designed to communicate with their drivers through apps on their phone. This kind of theft is already becoming more common, and it could be more serious in the future. If thieves gain access to your phone, they could make use of it to alter your keys. This would bypass the immobilizer that stops your car from starting if there is the wrong electronic key present.