This Week's Most Popular Stories About Keyless Cars Being Stolen

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Keyless Cars Being Stolen in Minutes

Criminals target keyless cars that can be stolen within minutes with the help of equipment that is sold online. Learn how thieves can bypass security features on your car and what you need to do to secure it.

Keep your key fob inside a faraday bag or an aluminium tin in order to block the signal. Also, consider fitting an ignition lock on your steering wheel to prevent the car being taken away.

Relay Theft

It's easy to forget about the dangers of cars that don't have keys. They could make your vehicle vulnerable to high tech criminals. Relay theft is one of the most recent hacking techniques thieves employ.

Two criminals could steal your car using this method. One thief is standing by your home and is equipped using equipment that boosts the signal of a key fob, then transmit that amplified signal across a distance second thief positioned near your car. The second thief could utilize their device to replicate your fob's signal and unlock the car or start the engine, allowing them to take off with the vehicle.

Online, these devices are available for a reasonable price. They can be put on any car, whether it's the latest SUV or the earliest Honda Civic. But certain vehicles are more at risk than others. Criminals target cars that are sought-after by thieves because of their high resale value or the ease at the ability to dismantle them. This is why you should always park in a well-lit spot and make sure you do not leave valuable items in the vehicle (including the owner's manual that may include keys for valet service).

In the UK, thefts using this method are at an all-time high according to tracking company Tracker UK. In July 2023, they accounted for 98% of the stolen cars that the company was able to recover.

Experts recommend installing security systems like GPS trackers and alarms to reduce the risk of becoming a victim. They also suggest keeping keys in containers made of metal, signal-blocking bags or Faraday boxes, which can help prevent relay attacks.

Dealerships can help protect their inventory as well by installing physical security measures, like perimeter fencing, surveillance cameras and well-lit areas. They should also train their staff on how to handle lockdown and keys in order to prevent thefts. If they decide to sell older vehicles, they should look into installing an ignition immobilizer from the dealer. This will stop thieves from driving away with the vehicle after fooling the system into thinking it's still parked in the dealership lot.

Theft of Transponders

To keep up with the latest technology the thieves update their equipment to match. Criminals use a relay attack to steal cars with keyless locks. Two people collaborate. The thief is outside the home of the victim, using an instrument that detects the signal from a key fob, which is relayed to a partner who is seated near the vehicle. If the signal copied is recognized the door is opened and the car begins to move and the car starts - without the requirement for the actual key to be in the car. Footage from household security cameras has documented this happening, with stolen vehicles being towed away in a matter of seconds.

Even older luxury cars are at risk. In fact, the tracing company Tracker UK reported that keyless thefts account for 98% of all the high-tech vehicles it assisted in recovering last year. The older luxury vehicles with lower-end keyless systems are at the highest risk, including Mercedes C- and E-Class, BMW 3 Series, Land Rover Discovery and Jaguar XF models.

Code theft is another method to steal a car with a keyless. This can occur if you don't be aware of where you put your key fob. For example, you might place it in your pocket while you're at home, but forget to pick it up when you leave. If your device is in range of the smart hub or home security system, you can hack it to gain access to the vehicle's control systems. Hackers with a thorough knowledge of electronics can modify the car's software to do whatever they want it accomplish, like turning off the ignition and start driving off.

It is important to protect your vehicle and be aware of these attacks. You can lessen the chance of theft by parking your car in a gated or locked garage. If that's not feasible you could consider installing a motion-sensored camera with a view of your driveway. You can also purchase signal blocking accessories such as bags and boxes, which are designed to prevent thieves from stealing the key fob's signal if they're in close proximity to a jammer.

Programming Theft

The technology that is used in keyless vehicles makes them more comfortable for us, but it also makes them more easy for thieves to take. A common method of stealing cars using keyless entry systems is called a "relay attack". It involves criminals working in pairs and using equipment to capture the signal transmitted by your fob when it's within the reach of the door or ignition, allowing it to unlock and start your car.

The keyless system is based on radio waves of low power that can only work if the key fob is placed close to the doors or ignition. A skilled hacker can make use of specially-designed devices to amplify the signal between the fob and the vehicle, extending the capabilities of the system. This allows a criminal to fool the vehicle into thinking that the fob is near enough to open or start it even though it could be a few meters away from the victim's home or in their pockets.

Certain cars come with a security feature that disables ignition if the fob is too distant. However, this only works when your vehicle is programmed so that it is able to recognize the fob's signal at a certain frequency. Hackers who have the code for the car system can modify the key fob's programming so that it operates at the frequency the car is programmed to recognize. This is a way to bypass the security feature.

Car thieves can acquire the code for your vehicle's keyless transmission by inserting a device known as a "key programmer" which can be purchased on the internet for less than $1,000 to the On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) port usually found beneath the steering wheel. This tool can download the specific information about your car to a blank keyfob permitting the fob to unlock and start the car as like it was the real thing.

They are readily accessible online, and allow criminals to target wide variety of makes and models. However, the most sought-after cars with keyless entry are the ones from premium brands like BMW, Audi, Mercedes and Jaguar and they are the vehicles most often targeted by thieves. Tracker, an insurance company discovered that luxury models contributed to about half of all high-tech thefts that it assisted in recovering.

Theft of Lockout

Criminals are able to take advantage of the weaknesses of keyless entry systems. While the traditional method of smashing car windows and hotwiring vehicles is still popular, more and criminals are using high-tech techniques that allow them to rob cars without taking homes. According to the data gathered by the tracking company Tracker the theft of cars has reached an all-time high in the U.K., with keyless car thefts making up a significant portion of the total.

These new methods aren't just less expensive than traditional car thefts, they can be done in just a few minutes. For instance, a pair of two thieves could employ an instrument to capture the signal from the key fob, and then send it directly to the transmitter in the hands of the other thief. The other thief can then unlock the car and leave. The devices employed by these criminals can be purchased for as little as $100, and they work effectively on a variety of models and makes.

In addition to these advanced methods, thieves are able to capture the data from the key fob, which they can then duplicate and upload to an empty key fob. Key fobs that have been cloned will be able unlock and start vehicles, even if they're not the original keys.

ADAC's research has revealed that a large number of popular cars including the Ford Fiesta and Toyota Prius, are vulnerable to this kind of theft. In reality, a single key can unlock multiple vehicles using this method, which means it's no any longer necessary to target specific brands or models.

Manufacturers of cars now offer security measures to keep cars safe against check here these new threats. Kia, for example, has developed a faraday pouch which can be tucked into the pocket of the driver's keyfob to block signals and stop it from being stolen. Other options include making spare keys and placing them in secure but accessible places, installing surveillance cameras around your driveway and at home and using apps to make sure you don't leave your car unattended. It is essential to monitor the battery level of your key fob frequently to ensure that it isn't going flat.