15 Amazing Facts About Cars Being Stolen With Keyless Entry That You Didn't Know
15 Amazing Facts About Cars Being Stolen With Keyless Entry That You Didn't Know
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Cars Being Stolen With Keyless Entry
If car owners place their keys on the table or next to their door, they may unknowingly allow thieves to hijack their signal. This relay attack is a high-tech method criminals use to steal keyless vehicles.
Keyless ignition vehicles emit an extremely low-power radio signal, looking for a matching fob that can respond. If the signal is captured and recreated, it could be used to unlock the car and begin it up.
Relay Attack
Imagine your car at your driveway, with your key fob at home. You're confident that your vehicle is secure, but unseen by you sophisticated thieves are planning a heist. Instead of slamming windows and jiggling locks, thieves are leveraging technology to hack into cars via digital chinks in their armor. Known as relay theft, it's a more common way to steal cars with keyless entry.
Cars with keyless entry are designed to operate via an electronic signal that is transmitted from the remote control (RF) transmitter to the owner's key fob. To ensure that keyless entry is not accessed by unauthorized individuals the RF transmitters on the key fob and the car are programmed to turn on when they are within a specified distance of each other. The thief can bypass this restriction by employing a method known as the'relay-attack'.
Two people are required to complete this: one person stands near the car and uses a device to capture an electronic version of the signal coming from the key fob. The other person, who is at the home of the owner is using a second device to transmit the signal from the key fob to the car. This trick tricks the car into thinking that the key fob is close enough to be able to unlock it and start the engine.
In the past, this type of heist required expensive equipment to carry out. Now, you can buy relay transmitters for inexpensive online market and carry out a heist in minutes. This is why car thieves are enthralled by it.
While certain cars are less susceptible to this type of theft than others, all modern vehicles that have keyless entry are at risk. Researchers have tested 237 popular cars and found that all of them could be taken by this method.
Tesla vehicles are believed to be less prone to this kind of theft. However Tesla hasn't yet implemented UWB technologies that would allow it to perform distance checks and stop relay attacks. The company has stated that they will implement this in the near future, but until then they are vulnerable. That is why it's important to take a proactive approach to your security in your car and install an anti-theft tool which protects your keys as well as your car from these types of attacks.
CAN Injection Attack
Modern cars can guard themselves against thieves by exchanging encrypted messages with the key to prove its authenticity. The system is thought to be secure, however thieves have found ways to get around it. They just impersonate the smart key and send other messages to the vehicle letting it unlock the doors, disable its engine immobilizer, and then leave the car. To do this they gain access to the smart key's internal communications network.
Nowadays, the majority of automobiles are equipped with between 20 and 200 electronic control units (or ECUs) which control different aspects of the car's operation. They communicate with one another using a network known as CAN bus. These ECUs are put into a low power sleep mode to lower their power consumption. This mode is activated when ECUs receive a "wake up" frame. These frames are typically sent by the ECU that manages the smart key or door. However they aren't always authenticated or encrypted, which means that they could be snatched by criminals who have a low-cost and basic device.
To do this, they look for a spot that allows them to connect directly to the CAN bus connector wires. They usually are hidden in the headlights, or in other areas of the front of the vehicle. To get them, you must remove the bumper and cut holes in the headlamp assemblies. The thieves then employ a device dubbed a CAN injection attacker to send fake messages that trick the car's security systems to unlock it and disable its engine immobilizer.
These devices can be bought through the Dark Web and work with most major car manufacturers 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 the issue in their current models, but the fact is that these thieves will continue to take everything they can lay their hands on. The best we can do is to attempt to stop this from happening by installing mechanical security measures like Discloks on our cars and ensuring that they are located in areas with adequate lighting that are easily visible to pedestrians.
The Signal is blocked
In a variant different to the relay attack, thieves may make use of a device to block the signal that is sent by an electronic key fob if the vehicle is locked. The device could be hidden in the pocket or hidden where a burglar is hiding on the parking lot, or even near the driveway being targeted. Once the owners press the button to lock their fobs and walk away they don't consider whether or not the car is really locked. Instead, thieves are able to take off with the car because the signal that normally locks the car is blocked by the crook's device.
They also have devices that amplify signals from the key fob to unlock vehicles. The crooks can do this even if the key is in a pocket of a driver, or hanging on a hook inside the home. Once the car is locked, they can use an ordinary computer hacker to program an unlocked key fob to gain control over the vehicle.
To safeguard against this kind of attack, car makers have developed a variety of anti-theft gadgets. However, thieves will always come up with ways to thwart these measures.
For example, they've started using devices that transmit on the same frequency as remote key fobs in order to intercept their signals. The thieves can then copy the unlock code of the key fob and then start the car with this fake signal.
This method is particularly popular in the US in which many vehicles are equipped with wireless technology. Owners can unlock and start their vehicle using a mobile application on their smartphone. This technique is likely to increase in popularity as more car manufacturers attempt to connect their cars to their owners phones.
It is essential that drivers follow the best practices when parking their vehicles. They shouldn't leave their key fobs in the ignition, should always ensure that their car is securely locked when they're not there and should utilize the steering wheel or a gearstick lock, if it is possible. They should also think about installing a tracking device to their car in case it's stolen.
Flat Battery
This kind of attack occurs more often than most people realize. The thieves make use of cheap devices that extend the signal from your key fob to enable it to unlock and start your car even when it's off. They then simply drive the car around the corner or onto a trailer to take off with it. Installing an interruption switch to the starter circuit will protect your vehicle from this. Simpler versions include an ON/OFF button that interrupts the circuit. It costs about $15 and more info is easy enough to install by yourself.
Car thieves are constantly seeking new ways to rob vehicles. Police, car manufacturers and insurance companies are constantly trying to stay abreast of the latest tactics and provide better anti-theft systems for modern vehicles. However, that doesn't stop thieves who are able be quick to adapt and find ways to circumvent the most up-to-date anti-theft systems.
For example, many criminals use devices that operate on the same frequency as the fob in order to block the signal. The device is tucked away in the pocket or close by the vehicle and prevents the fob from sending the lock command to the vehicle. This can be done within just a few seconds. The device is affordable and is available on the internet.
Another tactic is to hack into the car's computer system. This is more difficult but nevertheless possible. All cars have an diagnostic port and hackers have designed devices that plug into them and let them access the car's software. From there, they are able to program an unfinished key fob and get it to work. It is possible to do this on older cars too, but it's more difficult without taking out the ignition.
This method could be more popular if more vehicles are connected with drivers' mobile phones. Once a criminal has the username and password for an app for vehicles, they can then open the car or get it started with the app on their phone. You can safeguard yourself by not leaving valuables in your car and parking in garages.