Keyless Entry and Car Theft

Car theft is on the rise and thieves have found new ways to enter vehicles. One of the most popular methods is keyless entry.

The days of stealing cars through breaking windows and wiring them long gone. They are now able to hack the computer systems of a vehicle in a matter of minutes.

Relay Attack

Since the introduction to the Push-to Start technology, millions have enjoyed the convenience to be able to start their vehicles without needing to reach for the car keys. However, this same convenience can make vehicles susceptible to theft. The relay attack is a new method that thieves can employ to steal cars within minutes. This method makes use of an amplifier to capture and amplify the signal transmitted by the key fob of your car. It allows thieves to unlock the vehicle and drive off.

The relay attack is actually an alteration of an older method known as Man-in-the-Middle attacks. This type of attack can be employed in cybersecurity to intercept communication between two entities and alter it without either party knowing. In a relay attack, the attacker employs an electronic device that can capture and transmit the signal from the fob of the key in your car to another device in the vicinity. This second device can open the door and begin the engine of your car in a matter of minutes.

To perform an attack using relays, criminals simply need an affordable, easily accessible device that is able to pick up and amplify the signal emanating from your key fob. Usually, thieves work in pairs, with one person holding the relay amplifier and the other standing close to the house of the victim. The thief will then wave the device in front of the victim's house, which tricks the car into thinking the key is within reach and allows it to open and start.

Some experts suggest keeping your key fob in a steel container, signal-blocking pouch, or Faraday bag when not in use to stop this kind of theft. However it is a straightforward solution that has been proven to not work against modern relay devices. A far better option is to purchase an ignition lock for the steering wheel, which physically blocks the criminal's ability to steer the vehicle once it's taken.

Many vehicle manufacturers have attempted to tackle this problem by introducing features such as secure keyless entry systems, which use cryptographic methods and time-sensitive codes to guard against relay attacks. However, criminals have been able to create devices that can defeat these measures. The race is on to find a solution for relay crime that does not interfere with the security of keyless technology.

Hacking

Many new cars are equipped with keyless entry cars stolen entry systems, which let drivers open and start their car without the need of a physical key or button. But these systems can also be susceptible to a different type of theft. The thieves may use electronic devices that copy the signal from the key fob, and transmit it to a accomplice who is holding an electronic transmitter near the vehicle. The criminal then unlocks the vehicle and is able to drive away. According to AAA this method is known as relay attack. It can be completed in between 20 and 30 seconds.

Thieves often employ cheap devices that mimic the wireless signal from the key fob to capture it and transmit it to an accomplice. Then, when a victim clicks their key fob to lock or start the car, the criminal can pretend to be the owner of the car keys got stolen what to do by transmitting a response to the car's system that makes it think a genuine signal is being sent through the fob.

More sophisticated thieves have created devices that can be plugged into a car's On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) port which is typically situated under the steering wheel and allows mechanics to connect a diagnostic tool. The thief then downloads information from the computer of the car and creates an empty key fob that is compatible with the specifications of the car. Nearly all cars are vulnerable to this type of hacking.

Some thieves have employed TikTok challenges as a way to teach people to make inexpensive amplifiers that boost the signal of the key fob, making it possible for an accomplice unlock the car even when it is in the driveway. This method has led companies like Kia to release software updates that mitigate the vulnerability.

Experts recommend keeping your keys to your car in a trunk, or a location that is further away from your home so that a thief can't easily access them. You can also buy RFID pouches to protect the signal from unauthorized use. Some of these pouches feature metal mesh linings and can be purchased at a low cost of around $10. Just like your phone or computer it's essential to keep the software in your vehicle up-to date.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Cards

The latest car key fobs connect to vehicles using radio signals, which allows owners of automobiles to unlock and start their cars without touching keys. Unfortunately, these new technologies also increase the possibility of theft. The signal from a keyfob can be captured if the fob is left on a desk near the front door or in the wallet. Then, they can copy it using simple devices called emulators, the size of handheld consoles. Once they have it, they can open the car and drive it away in just a few minutes.

Typically, crooks operate in pairs. The crooks usually operate in pairs. One will be outside of your house equipped with a relay amplifier and the other one will be carrying a device that records the signal of the keyfob. The crooks can then amplify the signal until it is strong enough to disable your car's security system.

Another method of securing key fobs is by jamming the communication between the key fob and the vehicle. The thieves employ signal jammers which emit the same radio frequency as a key fob. This muddles the signal, preventing it from being interpreted by the car, thereby preventing the lock button from working.

As thieves become more sophisticated in their tactics and techniques, dealers must be alert in securing their inventory. Dealerships need to implement high-security perimeter fencing with cameras and a secure entryway so that thieves can't drive in flatbeds and vehicles after hours. They should also instruct employees on the proper handling of keys that include locking vehicles securely and keeping them in a secure location when they are not being used.

Fortunately, technology can help stop car thefts and fight these new thieves. Certain car makers are creating key fobs with active RFID chips and frequency-hopping technology that makes it harder for thieves to amplify the signal of the keys. In addition, Faraday cages can be used to block the transmission of signals from a key fob a car. Other defences include etching the last seven numbers of your vehicle Identification Number (VIN) onto the headlights, windows and mirrors to stop reuse or re-sale of your vehicle.

VIN Theft

Keyless entry is useful, but it also provides new opportunities for thieves to steal vehicles. If your car recognizes a signal sent from your wireless key or remote fob, it will unlock the door and start the engine. If the signal is not acknowledged, the vehicle will still lock, but it will not start. You need to hold the key to turn on the starter.

This is the reason it's crucial to keep your remote and key fob out of view even when your vehicle is parked. Criminals can use a small transmitter to intercept your signal and then steal it. Then, he is able to open your door and leave without ever having to touch the ignition or key.

In some cases, criminals are even capable of swapping out the vehicle's VIN and title to conceal their involvement in the stolen car with keys left in it car. This practice, also known as VIN-switching, is on increasing. Typically, crooks buy a damaged car through auctions or police departments and then modify the VIN. They then take a legitimate VIN from a different model and make an attempt to get a new registration and title, and then sell the car to unsuspecting buyers.

A popular method of deterring theft is to have your VIN etched into the windshield of your car. There are a number of companies that offer kits to do this, and in some areas, the police department or AAA offers this service for no cost. It seems counterintuitive that etching would discourage thieves, since it makes your car difficult to sell to chop shops and other dealers. A professional thief would avoid your car because they are aware that etching is a major stumbling-block.

The NICB also provides a free VINCheck online service that will determine whether your vehicle has been reported as salvaged or replace stolen car keys vehicle and is not yet recovered. The service is only available on their website and requires a valid VIN. In addition, a wide assortment of security products available for your car as well as visible and audible devices that act as a deterrent to criminals. These include alarms and locks for the steering wheel and window etching.