Cars Being Stolen With Keyless Entry

If car owners throw their keys on the table or at their door, they may unknowingly be allowing thieves to hijack their signal. This relay attack is just one of the latest techniques criminals are using to steal brand new keyless vehicles.

Keyless ignition vehicles emit a low-power radio signal seeking a compatible fob that can respond. If the signal can be captured and recreated, it can be used to unlock the car, and also to start it.

Relay Attack

Imagine your car safely parked in the driveway, with the key fob sitting safely in your home. You're sure that your car is secure, but unseen by you sophisticated thieves are planning a heist. These thieves use technology to hack into vehicles via digital chinks. This is known as relay theft, it's a more common way to steal cars that have keyless entry.

The keyless entry system in cars is controlled by a signal by the car's radio transmitter to the key fob. To stop keyless entry by unauthorized individuals the RF transmitters on the key fob as well as the car are programmed only to activate when they are within a specific distance from each other. A thief, however, can circumvent this limitation employing a technique called the "relay-attack".

To accomplish this two people work together One stands near the car, using a device that captures an electronic version of the key fob's signal. The other who is at the owner's home, uses a second gadget to transmit the signal from the key fob to the car. This trickery tricks the car into thinking that the key fob stolen what to do fob is at the distance needed to unlock and start the vehicle.

This type of attack used to require expensive equipment. It is now possible to purchase a cheap relay transmitter on the internet and complete an heist in just a few minutes. This is why car thieves love it.

While some cars are less vulnerable to this kind of theft than others, all modern vehicles with keyless entry are at risk. Researchers have examined 237 well-known cars and found that every one of them could be taken through this method.

Tesla vehicles are said to be less susceptible to this kind of theft. However, the company hasn't yet implemented UWB technology to allow it to perform distance checks and prevent relay attacks. The company has said that they will implement this in the near future, however until then they are vulnerable. Installing an anti-theft device that protects both your car keys and your keys against such attacks is a proactive way to ensure the security of your car.

CAN Injection Attack

Modern cars are designed to guard themselves from thieves by exchanging cryptographic data with the key to prove it's genuine. The system is generally believed to be secure, but thieves have found a way around it. They fake the identity of a smart key, transmit messages to the vehicle, and then drive off. To do that they have access to the smart key's internal communication network.

Today, most cars are equipped with between 20 and 200 electronic control units, also known as ECUs, that control different aspects of the vehicle's operation. They communicate with one another using a network known as CAN bus. These ECUs enter a low power sleep mode to lower their power consumption. This mode is activated when ECUs receive an "wake up" frame. These frames typically come via the door or smart key receiver ECU. However, these messages aren't always authenticated or encrypted, which means that they could be snatched by criminals using a cheap and basic device.

To do this, they look for a location where they can connect directly to the CAN bus connector wires. They are usually hidden in the headlights, or in other areas of the front of the vehicle. To get them, you can pull the bumper and cut holes in the headlamp assemblies. The thieves then employ a device dubbed an CAN injection attacker, which is used to send fake messages that can trick the car's security systems to unlock it and disable its engine immobilizer.

These devices are available for sale on the Dark Web, and work for the majority of major car makers, including BMW, Cadillac, Chrysler, Fiat, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar, Jeep, Lexus, Nissan, Renault, Toyota, Volkswagen, Maserati, and many more. Researchers who have discovered the CAN Injection attack recommend that all car makers fix this issue in their existing models. However, the thieves will continue to take everything they can. We can stop this by installing mechanical security measures, such as Discloks inside all our vehicles and parking them in well-lit, visible areas.

The Signal is blocked

In a variation of the relay attack, which makes use of a device, thieves can jam the signal transmitted by a key fob while the car is locked. The device could be found in the pocket or hiding the location of a thief in the parking lot, or in the driveway being targeted. Once the owners hit the lock button on their fobs and walk away they don't consider whether or not the stolen car key reprogramming is really locked. The device used by the crook block the signal that locks the car. Therefore, thieves can drive away with the vehicle.

They also make use of devices that amplify signals from the key fob to unlock vehicles. They can even accomplish this if the key is in the pocket of the driver or hanging from a hook in the house. Once the car has been unlocked, hackers can make use of a standard diagnosis port to program an unlocked fob.

Automobile manufacturers have come up with various anti-theft devices to protect against these types of attacks. But thieves 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 then copy the unlock code from the key fob, and then start the vehicle with this fake signal.

This method is very popular in the US and Europe where a large number of vehicles are sold with wireless technology that allows owners to unlock and start their vehicles by using a mobile application on their smartphone. This technology is expected to gain popularity as more and more car manufacturers try to connect their vehicles to owners' smartphones.

In addition to installing anti-theft technologies in vehicles, it's crucial for drivers to use the best practices when parking their vehicles. They should not leave the key fobs in ignition and secure the car when they are not in it. If possible they should also utilize a steering or gearstick locking device. It is also recommended to think about installing a tracking device onto their vehicle in the event it's stolen car key what to do.

Flat Battery

This type of attack occurs more often than we think. Thieves use inexpensive devices to extend the signal from your key fob to unlock and start a car even when it's turned off. They then drive the car around a corner or onto a trailer to then drive off with it. Installing a starter circuit interruption switch would protect your car against this. The most basic ones have an ON/OFF switch that interrupts the starter circuit. It's about $15 and is simple to install.

Car thieves are always looking for new ways to rob vehicles. Police, car manufacturers and insurance companies are always trying to stay on top of the latest tactics and provide better anti theft systems for modern vehicles. However, this isn't stopping thieves who be quick to adapt and find ways to bypass the latest anti-theft technology.

For example, many criminals use a device that works on the same frequency as the fob to block the signal. They place the device in their pockets or somewhere near their vehicle, and it prevents the fob's lock commands from reaching the car and thereby leaving it unlocked. This can be done within minutes. The device is affordable and easily accessible online.

Another strategy is to hack into the car's computer system. This is more difficult but possible. Every car has an diagnostic port and hackers have designed devices that plug into them and allow them access the car's software. From there, they can program an unfinished key fob and get it to work. This can also be done on older vehicles, however it is more difficult without removal of the ignition lock.

As more vehicles are linked to the phones of drivers and this method could become more popular as well. Once a thief has the username and password to an application for vehicles, they can unlock or start the vehicle using the application. It is possible to be safe from these kinds of attacks by not putting valuables in your car and putting it in a garage or secured parking lot.