Why Is There All This Fuss About Car Stolen Keyless Entry?

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Keyless Entry and Car Theft

Car theft is increasing and thieves have found new ways to enter vehicles. One of the most well-known methods is keyless entry.

There is no longer a time when thieves smashed windows and hotwired cars to steal them. Now they can hack into a vehicle's computer systems within minutes.

Relay Attack

Since the introduction to the Push-to Start technology, millions of people have enjoyed the convenience to be in a position to start their vehicles without having to search for keys to their car. Unfortunately, the same convenience makes vehicles more vulnerable to theft. In particular the past, thieves have been able to employ a new method known as the relay attack to steal cars in a matter of seconds. This method makes use of an amplifier to record and amplify the signal sent by the key fob of your car. It allows thieves to unlock your car and then drive away.

Relay attacks are a variation of an older technique known as Man-in-the-Middle Attacks. This kind of attack is utilized in cybersecurity to alter and intercept the communication between two entities without either party realizing it. In the case of a relay attack the attacker employs a device to intercept the signal from the key fob in your car and then transmits that signal to another device that is close by. This second device is able to open the door and start the engine, effectively taking your car in a matter of seconds.

Criminals can perform a relay attack making use of a low-cost and readily accessible device to detect the signal from a key fob. Usually, thieves will work in pairs. One person will hold the relay amplifier, while another is outside, near the victim's home. The thief will then 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 be opened and started.

To prevent this type theft, experts suggest that you store your key fob when not being used in a metal container or pouch. This is a basic but ineffective solution against modern relay devices. A steering wheel lock is a much better choice, since it physically stops the thief from steering the vehicle after it has been taken.

Many car manufacturers have attempted to tackle this problem by introducing features such as secure keyless entry systems that rely on cryptographic methods and time-sensitive codes to guard against relay attacks. However criminals have managed to create devices that defy these measures. The race is on to find a solution for relay crime that does not interfere with the security of keyless technology.

Hacking

Many new cars are equipped with keyless entry systems, that allow drivers to open and start their car without needing an actual key or button. However, these systems could be susceptible to a different type of theft. Thieves could employ electronic devices to copy the signal from the key fob and transmit it to a transmitter held by an accomplice standing close to the vehicle. The thief is then able to unlock the car and drive off. This method is called a relay attack and can be done within 20 to 30 seconds according to AAA.

Thieves typically use cheap devices that mimic the wireless signal from the key fob to record it and send it to an accomplice. Then, when the victim presses their key fob to unlock or start the car, the thief can pretend to be the owner of the car by sending a signal to the car's system that makes it think a genuine signal is being sent through the fob.

More sophisticated thieves have developed devices that can be connected into a car's On Board Diagnostics (OBD) port that is usually located under the steering wheel. This port allows mechanics to connect an instrument for diagnostics. The criminal then downloads data from the computer of the car and creates a blank key fob matching the specifications of the car. Almost all vehicles are vulnerable to this kind of hacking.

Some thieves have used website TikTok challenges to teach people to make cheap amplifiers which boost the signal of a key fob, allowing an accomplice unlock the car even when it is in the driveway. This method has led to manufacturers such as Kia and Toyota to perform software updates that block this vulnerability.

Experts recommend that you keep your keys to your car in a trunk or location that is further away from your home to ensure that thieves can't easily access them. You can also buy RFID pouches that help protect the signal from misuse. These pouches can be purchased for just $10. Some come with metal mesh linings. It is also essential to keep your car's software up-to the latest version, just as you would on your phone and computer.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Cards

The most recent car key fobs communicate with vehicles via radio signals, allowing owners of automobiles to unlock and start their cars without touching keys. These new technologies increase the likelihood of theft. Thieves can steal the signal from a key fob when it is left on a table close to the front door of the house or in a pocket and they are able to duplicate the signal using simple devices that are the size of handheld gaming consoles referred to as emulators. From there, they can open the car and drive it away in just a few minutes.

Typically, crooks operate in pairs. One will be outside your home, holding a relay amplifier while the other holds the device that collects the signal from the key fob. The thieves can then amplify the signal until it becomes strong enough to bypass the security systems in your vehicle.

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 blocks the signal and prevents it from being picked up by the vehicle. The lock button won't work.

As thieves become more sophisticated in their tactics auto dealers must be alert in securing their inventory. Dealerships need to implement high-security perimeter fencing that includes cameras and a secure entryway to ensure that thieves aren't able to drive on flatbeds with vehicles after hours. They should also train their employees on proper handling of keys, which includes locking cars securely and storing them safely when not in use.

Technology can help stop car thefts and fight these new thieves. For instance, certain automobile manufacturers are creating key fobs with 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 stop signals from a keyfob to the vehicle. Other defenses include engraving the last seven digits from your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), on the windows, headlights and mirrors to stop the resale or reuse of your vehicle.

Theft of VIN

Keyless entry is useful, but it also opens up new opportunities for thieves to take vehicles. If your car recognizes a signal sent from your wireless key or remote fob, it will unlock the door and start the engine. However, if the signal isn't recognized, your car will still be locked, but it will not start. This is because you need to have the key in your palm to press a button on the fob to start the starter.

Even when your car is parked, it is crucial to keep the remote and key fob from being seen. Criminals can use a small transmitter device to detect your signal and steal it. Then, he can open your door and drive away without ever having to touch the actual physical key or ignition.

Criminals are even able to swap out the VIN and title of a stolen car to conceal their involvement. This is known 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 legitimate VIN of a different make and model to get a new title and registration and then sell it to unsuspecting buyers.

The VIN is a very popular method to deter theft. There are a number of companies that offer kits to do this and in some areas, the police department or AAA provides this service for no cost. It seems counterintuitive that etching can deter thieves since it makes your car more difficult to sell to chop shops and other dealers. A professional thief will avoid your vehicle because they know that etching is a major obstacle to their pursuit.

The NICB offers a free VINCheck online service to determine if your car was ever reported as stolen or salvaged, but has not yet recovered. The service requires a valid VIN to perform a search and is accessible on their website. Additionally, a vast range of products to deter crime are available for your car that include audible and visible devices that serve as a deterrent to criminals. These include steering wheel locks and alarms, as well as window scratching.