10 Meetups About Keyless Cars Being Stolen You Should Attend

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Keyless Cars Being Stolen in Minutes

Criminals target keyless cars that can be stolen within minutes by using online-based equipment. Learn how thieves can bypass security features of your vehicle and what you should do to secure it.

Keep your key fob in a faraday bag or an aluminium tin in order to block the signal. Also, think about fitting a steering wheel lock to stop the car from being taken away.

Relay Theft

It's easy to forget about the dangers of keys-free cars. They can expose your car to cybercriminals with high-tech devices. Relay theft is among the most advanced hacking techniques thieves employ.

This method lets two criminals collaborate to rob your vehicle. The first thief who is located near your home, utilizes equipment to boost the signal from a key fob. He then transmits this amplified signal to the second thief who is standing near your car. The second thief will use their device to mimic the fob's signal to unlock the car or start the engine. This allows them to leave with the vehicle.

On the internet devices are accessible for a reasonable price. And they can be used on any type of car, from the newest SUVs to the earliest Honda Civics. Certain vehicles are at greater risk than others. Criminals target cars that are highly sought after by thieves due to their high resale value, or the ease at which they can be dismantled. This is why you should always park in a well-lit spot, and don't leave anything valuable in the vehicle (including the owner's manual that could contain the valet key).

In the UK The thefts that are facilitated by this method are at an all-time high according to tracking company Tracker UK. In July 2023, they were responsible for 98% of the stolen cars that the company recovered.

Experts recommend installing security systems like GPS trackers and alarms to reduce the risk of becoming a victim. They also suggest storing keys in a container made of metal, signal-blocking pouch, or Faraday box, which will prevent relay attacks.

Dealerships can also help protect their inventory by implementing robust physical security measures, such as perimeter fencing, surveillance cameras, and well-lit areas. They should also instruct their employees on how to manage keys and lockdown procedures to avoid theft. If they are selling vehicles that are older and want to consider installing an ignition immobilizer by the dealer. This will stop thieves from driving off with the car, after tricking the system into believing that it is still parked on the lot of the dealership.

Transponder Theft

As car manufacturers update their keyless technology to make vehicles more secure, thieves are also upgrading their own equipment to keep up. One technique used by criminals is known as a relay attack, which is where two people work together to steal a vehicle that is keyless. The thief is in front of the house of the victim with a device that picks up the signal from a key fob, which is then transmitted to a person who waits by the vehicle. The car will start if the copied signal is recognized. This has been recorded on security cameras at home, which show the cars being driven away in seconds.

Even luxury cars that are older are at risk. In fact, the tracing company Tracker UK reported that keyless thefts make up 98% of all high-tech vehicles it helped recover in the last year. And older luxury cars with lower-end keyless systems are at the highest risk, including Mercedes C- and E-Class, BMW 3 Series, Land Rover Discovery and Jaguar XF models.

Another method of keyless theft is code theft that occurs when you're not paying attention to where you place your key fob. You might forget to take it out of your pocket when you leave the house. If your device is in range of a smart hub or home security system, you could hack it to gain access to vehicle control systems. Hackers with good understanding in electronics can reprogram the vehicle to do whatever they want, like the ignition off and drive away.

These attacks are a threat to anyone who has an automobile that is keyless, but it's important to be aware of them and take steps to protect your car. You can lessen the chance of theft by parking your vehicle in a gated or locked garage. If this isn't feasible, install a motion-sensored video camera that can view your driveway. You can also purchase signal blocking accessories, such as boxes and bags that are designed to stop thieves from taking over your key fob's signals when they are within the vicinity of a jammer.

Programming Theft

The technology of keyless cars is convenient for us but makes them more easy to be stolen by thieves. The "relay attack" is a typical method to steal a car using keyless entry systems. The thieves operate in pairs, using equipment to record your fob's signal as it approaches the ignition or door to open your car.

The keyless system is based on radio signals with low power that only operate when the key fob is in close proximity to the doors or ignition. However, a clever hacker can make use of specially designed equipment to amplify the communication between the vehicle and the fob, significantly expanding the range of the system. This can be used to fool the vehicle into believing that the fob is in close proximity to start or unlock it, but it is just within a few meters of the victim's house or pocket.

Certain cars come with an additional security feature that turns off the ignition if the fob is too far away, however this only is effective if the vehicle has been programmed to recognise the fob's signal at certain frequency. Hackers who have the code for the car system can modify the key fob's programming so that it operates at the frequency the car is programmed to recognize. This is a way to bypass the security feature.

The On-Board Diagnostics port (OBD) is typically situated under the steering wheel, can be used by car thieves to steal the code of your keyless transmission. This device, referred to as a 'key programmer' is available on the internet for less than $1,000. The tool will download the car's particular data to a blank key fob, allowing it to unlock and start your vehicle exactly as a genuine key fob would.

These tools are easily available online, and they allow criminals to target a wide variety of makes and models. However, the most sought-after cars with keyless entry are still those from luxury makers such as BMW, Audi, Mercedes and Jaguar, and these are the vehicles most often targeted by thieves. In fact the insurance company Tracker has found that the luxury models account for more than 50% of the high-tech theft claims it assists in recovering.

Lockout Theft

Criminals can easily exploit the weaknesses of keyless entry systems. The old method of smashing the car's windows and then hotwiring the vehicle is still used, but more and more thieves are turning to more sophisticated techniques that can steal vehicles without breaking into homes. According to Tracker's data, car thefts in the U.K. have reached an all-time high with keyless thefts accounting for a large percentage of the total.

These new techniques are not just cheaper than traditional car thefts they can be done within a matter of minutes. For example, a team of two thieves can use an instrument to capture the signal from the key fob and send it directly to the transmitter in the other thief's hand. This enables the other thief to unlock the car and drive it away. The tools used by criminals can be bought for less than car stolen with keys in ignition insurance $100, and they work well on a wide range of makes and models.

In addition to these high-tech methods, thieves are now capable of capturing the information sent by the key fob, which they can then clone and upload to an empty key fob. Key fobs that have been cloned will be able to unlock and start vehicles even if they're not the original keys.

ADAC's research revealed that hundreds of popular automobile models, including the Ford Fiesta, Toyota Prius and Volkswagen Golf are vulnerable to this kind of theft. In reality one key can unlock multiple vehicles using this method, meaning that it's no any longer necessary to target specific brands or models.

To help keep cars safe from these new threats, car makers are now offering preventative measures. For instance, Kia has created a faraday bag that can be tucked in the pocket of a key fob to block signals and safeguard it from theft. Other options include creating additional keys and storing in secure but accessible places, installing cameras around your driveway and home, or using apps to ensure that you aren't forgetting about your car. Also, it's an excellent idea to check regularly the battery status of your key fob to prevent it becoming depleted.