5 Must-Know Car Stolen Keyless Entry Techniques To Know For 2024

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Keyless Entry and Car Theft

The number of car burglaries is growing and thieves are finding new ways to gain access to vehicles. Keyless entry is among the most commonly used methods.

Gone are the days when thieves broke windows and wired vehicles to steal. They can now hack into the computer systems of a vehicle within a matter of minutes.

Relay Attack

Since the introduction to the Push-to Start technology, millions of people have enjoyed the convenience to be able to start their vehicles without having to search for a car key. Unfortunately, this same convenience can make vehicles more vulnerable. Particularly 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 devices that record and amplify the signal sent from your car's key fob, permitting thieves to unlock the car and drive away.

Relay attacks are a variation of an older technique known as Man-in the-Middle Attacks. This kind of attack could be used in cybersecurity to intercept communication between two entities and alter it without the other being aware of. In the scenario of a relay attack the attacker uses a device to capture the signal from the key fob in your car and then transmits that signal to another device located close to. The 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 by making use of a low-cost and readily accessible device to detect the signal from the key fob. Usually, thieves operate in pairs, with one holding the relay amplifier and the other standing near the home of the victim. The thief waves the device towards the home of the victim, luring the car into believing that the key is nearby.

Some experts recommend storing your key fob in a metal container, signal-blocking pouch or Faraday bag whenever not in use to avoid this type of theft. This is a basic but ineffective solution against modern relay devices. A steering wheel lock is a better choice, since it physically prevents the thief from driving the vehicle once it was taken.

Many vehicle manufacturers have attempted to address this issue by introducing features like secure keyless entry systems that use encryption techniques and time-sensitive codes to guard against relay attacks. Criminals have devised devices that are able to defeat these measures. This is why the race is on to find a solution to relay crime without comprising the convenient nature of technology that is keyless.

Hacking

Many new cars come with keyless entry systems that allow users to open and start their car without a physical button or key. But these systems can also be susceptible to a different type of theft. The thieves could use electronic devices that copy the signal from the key fob and then transmit it to a accomplice holding a transmitter close to the vehicle. The person who stole the car then unlocks it and takes off. According to AAA the method is referred to as a relay attack. It can be completed in 20 to 30 second.

In most cases, thieves employ inexpensive devices that imitate wireless key fob signals to collect the signal and send it to a accomplice. The thief then appears to be the owner of the vehicle when the victim presses the key fob to start or lock the vehicle. They do this by sending a response that appears to the car's computer as authentic signal.

The more sophisticated thieves have developed devices that connect to the On-Board Diagnostics port (OBD), which is located usually under the steering wheel. This port permits mechanics to connect diagnostic tools. The thief can then download data from the car's computers and create a blank key fob that meets the car's specifications. This type of hacking is possible with virtually all cars.

Some thieves have even made use of TikTok challenges to teach people how to make cheap amplifiers that boost the signal from a key fob and allow an accomplice to unlock the car from a distance, while it's in the driveway. This technique has led manufacturers like Kia to release software updates that mitigate the vulnerability.

Experts recommend that you keep your keys to your car in a trunk, or a place further away from home to ensure that thieves cannot easily gain access to the keys. You can also purchase RFID pouches that help protect the signal from misuse. They can be purchased for just $10. Some are equipped with metal mesh linings. It is also essential to keep your car's software current and up to the latest version, just as you would on your smartphone and computer.

Radio Frequency Identification Cards

The most recent car key fobs connect to vehicles using radio signals, allowing owners of cars to open and start their cars without touching keys. These new technologies increase the risk of theft. Thieves are able to steal the signal from a key fob if it is placed on a table near the front door of the house or in a pocket, and they can clone the signal using devices the size of handheld gaming consoles called emulators. From there, they are able to open the car and drive it away in minutes.

Typically, crooks operate in pairs. One will stand outside your house holding a relay amplifier and the other one will hold the device that records the signal from the key fob. The thieves can then amplify the signal until it becomes strong enough to be able to bypass security systems in your vehicle.

Another popular tactic is to simply jam the communication between the key fob and the car. The thieves employ signal jammers which emit the same radio frequency as the key fob. This here blocks the signal and stops it from being picked up by the vehicle. The lock button will not work.

As thieves become more sophisticated in their techniques auto dealers must be alert in securing their inventory. Dealerships need to implement high-security perimeter fencing, with cameras and a secure entrance so that thieves can't drive on flatbeds with vehicles after hours. They should also train their employees on the proper handling of keys, including locking vehicles securely and storing keys safely when not being used.

Fortunately, technology is helping to stop car thefts and tackling these new thieves. Certain car makers are creating key fobs that have active RFID chips and frequency-hopping technology, which makes it harder for thieves to amplify the signal of the keys. Faraday cages are another method to prevent signals from a keyfob's signal to the car. Other defences include engraving the last seven digits of your vehicle Identification Number (VIN), on the windows, headlights, and mirrors in order 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 steal vehicles. If your car recognizes the signal from your wireless remote or key fob, it will unlock the door and begin the engine. If the signal is not acknowledged, the vehicle will still be locked, but it will not start. You must hold the key to turn on the starter.

Even when your car is parked, it's crucial to keep the remote and key fob hidden. A criminal could use a tiny transmitter device to pick up your signal and steal it. Then, he's able to open your door and drive away without ever touching the key or ignition.

In some cases criminals may be able to swap out the vehicle's VIN and title to conceal their involvement in the stolen vehicle. This is known as VIN switching and is currently on increasing. Typically, crooks buy a damaged car at auction or from police departments, and then alter the VIN. They then make use of an authentic VIN from a different model and make an attempt to get a new registration and title, and then sell the vehicle to unwitting buyers.

The VIN is a popular way to deter theft. There are a number of companies that provide kits to do this, and in some areas, the police department or AAA provides this service for no cost. It might seem odd to think that etching will discourage thieves. After all, it makes it more difficult for dealers to buy your car. Professional thieves will stay away from your car because they are aware that etching is a major stumbling-block.

The NICB also offers a no-cost VINCheck service online to determine whether your vehicle has been reported as a salvaged or stolen vehicle and is not yet recovered. The service is available only on their website and requires an authentic VIN. Additionally, a vast assortment of security products available for your car, including audible and visible devices that act as a deterrent to criminals. Some of them include the locking of your steering wheel, alarms and window etching.