How To Identify The Right Cars Being Stolen With Keyless Entry For You
How To Identify The Right Cars Being Stolen With Keyless Entry For You
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Cars Being Stolen With Keyless Entry
If car owners throw their keys on the table or near their doors, they may not realize that they are allowing thieves to steal their signal. This relay attack is a highly-tech method used by criminals to steal new keyless vehicles.
All keyless ignition vehicles emit a low-power radio signal to find a matching fob. If the signal is recorded and recreated it can be used to unlock the car and start it up.
Relay Attack
Imagine your car in your driveway, and your key fob at home. You might think that your car is secure but sophisticated thieves are planning a heist without you knowing. These thieves use technology to hack into vehicles using digital chinks. This is known as relay theft, it's becoming a common way to steal cars that have keyless entry.
The keyless entry system found in cars is controlled by a signal by the car's RF transmitter to the key fob. To prevent unauthorized keyless entry the RF transmitters inside the key fob as well as in the car are programmed to only activate when they're within certain distance from each other. A thief, however, can bypass this restriction by using a technique known as the relay-attack.
Two people are required to do this: one person stands near the car and utilizes a device to capture a digitalized version of the signal coming from the key fob. The other, who is at the home of the owner and using a second device to transmit the key fob's signal to the car. This trickery tricks the car into believing the key fob has traveled the distance needed to unlock and start the vehicle.
This type of attack used to require expensive equipment. However, now you can buy relay transmitters for cheap online and execute an heist in a matter of minutes. This is why it's popular among car thieves.
All modern vehicles that have keyless access are vulnerable. Some cars are more susceptible to this type than others. In fact, researchers have tested 237 vehicles that are popular and found that they could be targeted by this method.
Tesla vehicles are believed to be less susceptible to this kind of theft. However Tesla hasn't yet implemented UWB technologies that would enable it to perform distance checks and prevent attacks via relay. The company has stated that they will implement this feature in the near future, but until then they are vulnerable. Installing an anti-theft device that protects both your car and your keys against such a threat is a proactive way to ensure the security of your vehicle.
CAN Injection Attack
Modern vehicles are designed to protect themselves from theft by exchanging cryptographic messages with the key to prove that it's genuine. This system is generally reckoned to be secure, however thieves have found a way around it. They pretend to be a smart key, transmit messages to the vehicle, and then drive away. To do this, they get access to the smart key's internal communication network.
These days, most automobiles are equipped with between 20 to 200 electronic control units (or ECUs) that manage different aspects of the car's operation. They communicate via a network called CAN bus. To keep power consumption low the ECUs enter the sleep mode at low power. This mode is activated when they receive a 'wake up frame. These frames are typically sent by the ECU that is in charge of the smart key or door. These messages aren't always encrypted or authenticated. This means that thieves can intercept them with a simple and cheap device.
They search for a spot where they can connect directly to the CAN connection wires. These are often hidden away within the headlights or in front of the car and are accessible by pulling the bumper and cutting holes in the headlamp assembly to expose the wires. The thieves then use a device called a CAN injection attacker to send fake messages which can trick the car's security systems to unlock it and disable the engine immobilizer.
The devices are available through the Dark Web and work with all major car makers including BMW and Cadillac, Chrysler, Fiat and Ford, Honda, Hyundai and Jeep, Lexus and Nissan, Renault and Toyota, Volkswagen and Maserati. Researchers who have discovered the CAN Injection attack recommend that all car manufacturers fix this in their existing models. However, the thieves will continue to take whatever they can. We can stop this by implementing mechanical safety measures, such as Discloks inside all of our cars and parking them in well-lit, well-lit areas.
Jamming the Signal
In a variation of the relay attack that makes use of a device that is able to block the signal transmitted by a key fob while the car is locked. The device could be in the pocket or hidden where a burglar is hiding on the parking lot, or in the driveway that is being targeted. Owners don't check whether their vehicle is locked when they press the lock button. Instead, thieves can take off with the car since the signal that normally locks the car has been blocked by the device of the criminal.
They also use devices that amplify signals from the key fob to unlock vehicles. They more info can do this while the key is in the driver's pocket or hanging from its hook in the home. Once the car is unlocked, they can use the standard diagnostic port or computer hacker to program a blank key fob and gain control of the vehicle.
Car manufacturers have come up with a variety of anti-theft solutions to safeguard against these types of attacks. But, as always, thieves come up with ways to thwart these measures.
They've been using devices that transmit at the same frequency as remote keyfobs to intercept signals. The crooks then copy the unlock code from the key fob and begin the vehicle with this fake signal.
This method is particularly popular in the US in which many vehicles come with wireless technology. Owners can unlock and start their vehicle by using a mobile app on their phone. This technology will likely increase in popularity as more companies attempt to connect their cars to their owners smartphones.
It is important that drivers use best practices to park their vehicles. It is not advisable to leave the key fobs in ignition and secure the car when not in it. If possible they should also utilize the gearstick or steering locking device. It is also recommended to think about installing a tracking device onto their vehicle in the event that it's stolen.
Flat Battery
This type of attack is more common than many people believe. The thieves employ inexpensive devices that extend the signal of your key fob in order to unlock and start your car when it's off. They then drive the car around the corner or onto a trailer to leave with it. Installing an interrupter switch for the starter circuit can protect your vehicle from this. The most basic ones have an ON/OFF switch which interrupts the starter circuit. It's priced at around $15 and is easy enough to install by yourself.
Car thieves are always looking for new ways to steal vehicles. Police, car manufacturers and insurance companies are constantly trying to stay abreast of the latest techniques and offer better anti theft systems for modern vehicles. But that doesn't stop the thieves, who are able to adapt quickly and find ways to get around the latest anti-theft measures.
For example, many criminals employ devices that operate on the same radio frequency as the fob to jam the signal. The device is placed in the pocket or close by the vehicle, and stops the fob from transmitting the signal to the car. This can be done in minutes. The device is affordable and easily accessible on the internet.
Hacking the computer system of the car is another option. This is harder but still possible. Hackers have designed devices that plug into the diagnostic port of all vehicles and allow them to connect to the software. From there, they are able to program an unfinished key fob and get it to work. This is also possible on older vehicles, but it is more difficult to do without taking off the ignition lock.
As more vehicles are linked to the phones of drivers the method is likely to become more popular too. Once a thief gets the username and password for a vehicle app, they can then unlock the car or start it with the app on their phone. You can protect yourself by not putting valuables inside your car, and parking in a garage.