Cars Being Stolen With Keyless Entry

Car owners who leave their keys on a table or in front of their front door may be unwittingly giving thieves the ability to take over the signal. This relay attack is a highly-tech method criminals use to steal keyless vehicles.

Keyless ignition cars emit an low-power radio signal that is looking for a matching fob that can respond. If the signal can be recorded and recreated, it can be used unlock the car and to start it.

Relay Attack

Picture your car parked securely in the driveway, with the key fob safely inside your home. You're confident that your car is secure, but unseen by you, sophisticated thieves are plotting an heist. Instead of slamming windows or jiggling locks, these thieves are using technology to gain access to cars through digital chinks in their armor. Also known as relay theft, it's an increasingly common method of stealing vehicles that have keyless entry.

Cars equipped with keyless entry are designed to operate using an electronic signal that is transmitted from the car's remote control (RF) transmitter to the owner's key fob. To prevent unauthorized keyless entry the RF transmitters on the key fob and car are programmed to activate only when they're within a specific distance from each other. However, a thief can bypass this limitation with a technique called the 'relay attack'.

Two people are required to do this: one person is close to the car and utilizes a device to capture digitally the signal coming from the key fob. The other person, who is at the owner's home and uses a different device to transmit the signal from the key fob back to the car. This trick tricks the car into thinking the key fob is near enough to allow it to unlock and start the engine.

In the past, this type of attack required expensive equipment to carry out. You can now buy a cheap relay transmitter online and carry out an heist in a matter of minutes. This is why it's popular among car thieves.

While some cars are less prone to this kind of theft than others, all modern cars with keyless entry are at risk. In fact researchers have examined 237 vehicles that are popular and found that they can all be stolen car key replacement using this method.

Tesla vehicles are believed to be less prone to this kind of theft. However Tesla hasn't implemented UWB technologies that would allow it to perform distance checks and stop attacks via relay. The company has said that they'll implement this in the future but until then, they're vulnerable. That's why it's essential to adopt 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 transferring encrypted messages using the key to confirm its authenticity. This system is generally reckoned to be secure, but thieves have found a way around it. They simply impersonate the smart key and send messages to the car, letting it unlock the doors, disable its engine immobilizer, and let them go on their way. To do this, they get access to the smart key's internal communications network.

The majority of cars today are fitted with between 20 and over 200 electronic control units, also known as ECUs, which control various aspects of the vehicle's operation. They communicate with each other using the CAN bus. These ECUs enter a low-power sleep mode to lower their power consumption. This mode is activated when the ECUs receive a "wake up" frame. These frames are typically sent by the ECU that is in charge of the smart key or door. However the messages aren't usually encrypted or authenticated so they can be intercepted by criminals using a cheap and basic device.

To accomplish this, they search for a location where they can connect directly to the CAN bus connection wires. They're usually hidden inside the headlights or elsewhere in front of the car and can be accessed by pulling the bumper and cutting holes in the headlamp assembly to expose them. The thieves use the device referred to as an CAN injection attack. It is used to send fake messages that can trick the security systems of the car into unlocking and disengaging the engine immobilizer.

These devices are available for purchase on the Dark Web, and work for the majority of major stolen car key what to do manufacturers including BMW, Cadillac, Chrysler, Fiat, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar, Jeep, Lexus, Nissan, Renault, Toyota, Volkswagen, Maserati, and many more. Researchers who discovered the CAN Injection attack recommend that all car makers address this issue in their existing models. However, the thieves will continue to take any opportunity they can. The best we can do is try and prevent this by installing security measures that are mechanical like Discloks on cars, and making sure that they are placed in areas that are well-lit and are clearly visible to passers-by.

Jamming the Signal

In a variant of the relay attack that makes use of a device, thieves can jam the signal sent by key fobs while the vehicle is locked. The device could be inside the pocket of a burglar in a parking area or in a hiding spot close to the driveway that is being targeted. Once the owners press the button to lock their fobs and leave, they don't think about whether or not the car is really is locked. Instead, thieves can drive off with the vehicle because the signal that normally locks the car is blocked by the crook's device.

The crooks also use devices to amplify the key fob's signals to unlock vehicles. The crooks can do this even when the key is in a pocket of a driver, or hanging on an outside hook in the home. Once the car has been unlocked, hackers can make use of a standard diagnosis port to program a blank fob.

Automobile manufacturers have developed a variety of anti-theft solutions to safeguard against these types of attacks. But, as always, thieves find ways to defeat these measures.

They've begun using devices that transmit at the same frequency as remote keyfobs to intercept signals. The crooks then copy the unlock code of the key fob and then start the car with this fake signal.

This technique is particularly popular in the US in which many vehicles come with wireless technology. Owners can start and unlock their car by using a mobile app from their mobile. This technology is expected to become increasingly popular as more and more companies attempt to link their vehicles to owners' smartphones.

In addition to incorporating anti-theft technology in vehicles, it's vital for drivers to use the best practices when parking their cars. They shouldn't leave their key fobs in the ignition. They should always make sure the car is fully locked when they're not in it and should use a steering wheel or gearstick lock, if they can. They should also consider installing a tracking device to their car in the event it is stolen car key fob.

Flat Battery

This kind of attack occurs more often than most people realize. Thieves use cheap devices to extend the signal from your key fob to unlock and begin cars even if they're switched off. They then simply drive the car around a corner or to a trailer and then drive off with it. Installing a starter circuit interruption switch can protect your vehicle from this. Simpler versions have an ON/OFF button which interrupts the circuit. It's about $15 and is simple to install.

Car thieves are always looking for new ways to take vehicles. The police as well as the car makers and insurance companies are constantly trying to keep up with their strategies and develop better anti-theft systems for modern cars. But this isn't stopping thieves who be quick to adapt and find ways to circumvent the latest anti-theft technology.

Many thieves jam the signal by using a device that uses the same radio frequency as the fob. The device is placed in the pocket or near the vehicle and prevents the fob from transmitting the lock command to the vehicle. This can be accomplished in a matter of minutes. The device is cheap and easily available online.

Another tactic is to hack the car's computer system. This is more difficult, but it is still possible. Hackers have created devices that plug into the diagnostic port of all cars and allow them to connect to the software. From there, they are able to program a blank key fob and start working. It is also possible to do this on older vehicles, but it is more difficult without taking off the ignition lock.

As more vehicles are linked to drivers' phones the method is likely to be more popular. Once a thief has the username and password to a vehicle app, they can unlock or start the vehicle by using the app. You can protect yourself by not putting valuables in your car and parking in garages.