5 Must-Know-Practices Of Cars Being Stolen With Keyless Entry For 2024

Cars Being Stolen With Keyless Entry

Car owners who throw keys on tables or near their front door may be unwittingly permitting thieves to steal the signal. This relay attack is a highly-tech technique used by criminals to steal keyless vehicles.

All keyless ignition cars emit an extremely low-power radio signal, in search of a fob that can respond. If the signal can be recorded and recreated, it could be used unlock the car and start it.

Relay Attack

Imagine your car parked in your driveway with your key fob inside your home. You're sure that your car is safe, but not seen by you, sophisticated thieves are plotting an heist. The thieves employ technology to hack into vehicles via digital chinks. This method of stealing vehicles with keyless access is called relay theft.

Cars with keyless entry are designed to operate using a signal transmitted by the car's remote control (RF) transmitter to the owner's key fob. To prevent keyless entry by intruders the RF transmitters on the key fob and the car are programmed only to activate when they are within a specified distance of each other. However, thieves can overcome this limitation using a technique known as the'relay attack'.

Two individuals are required to perform this: one person stands close to the car and uses a device to capture an electronic version of the signal from the key fob. The other, in the vicinity of the house of the owner is using a different device to send the key fob's signal to the car. This trickery fools the car into thinking that the key fob has reached the distance needed to unlock and start the vehicle.

This type of heist used to require expensive equipment. It is now possible to purchase a relay transmitter for a small price online and carry out an heist in just a few minutes. This is the reason car thieves love it.

While certain cars are less susceptible to this type of theft than others, all cars that have keyless entry are at risk. Researchers have tested 237 popular cars and found that all of them are susceptible to being stolen through this method.

Tesla vehicles are said to be less vulnerable to this kind of theft. However, the company hasn't yet implemented UWB technology that would enable it to perform distance checks and prevent relay attacks. The company has said it will do so in the future, but until then, they remain vulnerable. Installing an anti-theft system that guards your car and your keys against such attacks is a proactive approach to ensure the security of your vehicle.

CAN Injection Attack

Modern vehicles can defend themselves from thieves by exchanging encrypted messages with the key in order to confirm its authenticity. The system is believed to be secure, but thieves have found ways around it. They impersonate a smart key, send messages to the vehicle and then drive away. To achieve this, they need access to the smart keys' internal communication network.

Nowadays, the majority of automobiles are equipped with between 20 to 200 electronic control units (or ECUs) that manage different aspects of the car's operation. They communicate using the CAN bus network. These ECUs are put into a low power sleep mode to decrease their power consumption. This mode is activated when ECUs receive a "wake up" frame. These frames are typically sent through the door or a smart key receiver ECU. However, these messages aren't always authenticated or encrypted, which means that they can be intercepted by criminals who have a low-cost and simple device.

They search for a location that allows them to connect directly to the wires for CAN connection. They usually hide in the headlights, or in other areas of the front of the vehicle. To access them, you must pull the bumper and cut holes in the headlamp assemblies. 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 for sale on the Dark Web, and work for most of the major car makers, including BMW, Cadillac, Chrysler, Fiat, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar, Jeep, Lexus, Nissan, Renault, Toyota, Volkswagen, Maserati, and more. The researchers who discovered this CAN Injection attack are recommending that all car manufacturers fix the issue in their current models, but the reality is that the thieves will continue to grab everything they can lay their hands on. The best thing we can do is make an effort to prevent this from happening by putting in mechanical security measures here such as Discloks on all of our vehicles, and making sure that they are parked in well-lit areas that are clearly visible to people passing by.

Blocking the Signal

In a variant of the relay attack, which employs a device that is able to block the signal transmitted by key fobs while the vehicle is locked. The device could be found in the pocket or hiding the location of a thief in an open parking lot or even near the driveway being targeted. When owners hit the button to lock their fobs and leave they don't consider whether or not their car is really locked. Instead, thieves can escape with the vehicle because the signal that normally locks the car has been blocked by the device of the criminal.

The crooks also employ devices to amplify the key fob's signals to unlock vehicles. The crooks are able to do this even when the key is in a driver's pocket, or hanging from an outside hook in the home. After the car is locked, hackers can use the standard diagnostic port to program a blank fob.

To safeguard against this kind of attack, car makers have created a variety of anti-theft devices. But, thieves are constantly trying to beat 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 crooks can 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 where a lot of cars have wireless technology. Owners can unlock and start their vehicle through a mobile application on their smartphone. This technology will likely increase in popularity as more car manufacturers attempt to connect their vehicles with their owners smartphones.

In addition to incorporating anti-theft technology in vehicles, it's crucial for drivers to leverage best practices when they park their vehicles. They should not leave the keys in ignition and secure the car when not in it. If they can, they should also use a steering or gearstick locking device. They should also consider installing a tracking device on their vehicle in the event it's stolen.

Flat Battery

This kind of attack happens more often than we think. The thieves employ cheap devices that extend the signal of your key fob to enable it to unlock and start your car in the event that it is off. They then simply drive the car around the corner or to a trailer and take off with it. It is possible to protect your car from this by installing a starter circuit interrupt switch. Simpler versions come with an ON/OFF button that interrupts the circuit. It is priced at around $15 and is easy to install.

Car thieves are always looking for new ways to steal vehicles. The police as well as car manufacturers and insurance companies are always trying to keep up with their strategies and offer better anti-theft solutions for modern cars. However, this doesn't stop thieves who can be quick to adapt and find ways around the latest anti-theft technology.

Many thieves block the signal with a device that uses the same radio frequency as the fob. The device is tucked away in the pocket or close to the vehicle and blocks the fob from sending the lock command to the car. This can be done within just a few seconds. The device is cheap and easily available on the internet.

Another option is to hack into the car's computer system. This is more difficult but feasible. All cars have a diagnostic port, and hackers have developed devices that connect to them and let them access the software of the car. They can then program an unfinished fob to function. It is possible to do this with older cars also however it is more difficult without removing the ignition.

As more vehicles are linked to smartphones of drivers and this method could become more popular too. Once a burglar has gained the username and password for an app for vehicles, they can then unlock the car or start it with the app on their phone. You can help defend yourself from these kinds of attacks by not putting valuables in your car and putting it in a secure garage or parking lot.