Cars Being Stolen With Keyless Entry

Car owners who leave their keys on tables or in front of their front door may be unwittingly allowing thieves to hijack the signal. This relay attack is just one of the high-tech methods criminals are using to steal new keys from cars.

Keyless ignition vehicles emit an low-power radio signal that is seeking a compatible fob to respond. If the signal is captured and recreated, it could be used unlock the car, and also to start it.

Relay Attack

Picture your car parked securely in your driveway, with the key fob tucked away in your home. You might think that your car is secure but sophisticated thieves are planning to steal your car without you being aware. Instead of slamming windows or jiggling locks, thieves are leveraging technology to hack into cars via digital chinks in their armor. Known as relay theft, it's a more common method of stealing vehicles that have keyless entry.

The keyless entry system in cars is controlled by a signal by the car's radio transmitter to the key fob. To stop unauthorized keyless entry, the RF transmitters in the key fob as well as in the car are programmed to only activate when they're within a specific distance from one another. The thief is able to circumvent this restriction employing a method known as the'relay-attack'.

Two people are required to do this: one person stands near the car and utilizes a device to capture digitally the the key fob. The other, who is at the owner's home and uses a different device to transmit the signal from the key fob to the car. This trick tricks the car into believing the key fob has traveled an adequate distance to allow the vehicle to start and unlock. vehicle.

This type of heist was once a costly process that required expensive equipment. But now, you can purchase a relay transmitter on the cheap online and execute an heist in a matter of minutes. This is why it's so well-liked by car thieves.

While certain vehicles are less vulnerable to this kind of theft than others, all modern vehicles that have keyless entry are at risk. Researchers have tested 237 popular automobiles and found that all of them can be stolen by this method.

Tesla vehicles are said to be less susceptible to this kind of theft. However, the company hasn't yet implemented UWB technology that would allow it to conduct distance checks and stop relay attacks. The company has said that they'll implement this in the future but until then, they are vulnerable. Installing an anti-theft device that guards your keys and your car against such attacks is a proactive method to ensure the security of your car.

CAN Injection Attack

Modern cars can protect themselves from thieves by exchanging encrypted messages with the key to verify its authenticity. The system is believed to be secure, however thieves have found ways to get around it. They just impersonate the smart key, and send other messages to the car, letting it unlock the doors, turn off its engine immobilizer, and then drive away. To do this they gain access to the smart key's internal communications network.

Today, most automobiles are equipped with between 20 and 200 electronic control units (or ECUs) that control various aspects of the car's operation. They communicate through an electronic network known as CAN bus. These ECUs enter a low-power sleep mode to lower their power consumption. This mode is activated when ECUs receive an "wake up" frame. These frames typically come from the door or smart key receiver ECU. These messages aren't always encrypted or authenticated. This means that criminals are able to capture them using an inexpensive and simple device.

To accomplish this, they search for a place where they can directly connect to the CAN bus connector wires. They usually hide in the headlights or in other areas of the front of the vehicle. To gain access to them, you need to remove the bumper and cut holes in the headlamp assemblies. The thieves then employ a device dubbed an CAN injection attacker, which is used to send fake messages which trick the car's security systems into unlocking the car and disengaging the engine immobilizer.

The devices are available for purchase on the Dark Web, and work for all major car manufacturers including BMW, Cadillac, Chrysler, Fiat, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar, Jeep, Lexus, Nissan, Renault, Toyota, Volkswagen, Maserati, and many more. The researchers who discovered this CAN Injection attack are recommending that all car makers address the issue in their current models, but the reality is that these thieves will continue to steal anything they can get their hands on. We can stop this from happening by installing mechanical safety measures such as Discloks in all of our cars and parking them in well-lit, visible areas.

The Signal is blocked

In a different variation of the relay attack, thieves can employ a device to block the signal that is sent by the key fob when the car is locked. The device could be hidden in the pocket or in the hiding the location of a thief in an open parking lot or even near the driveway that is being targeted. Owners don't check whether their car is locked after pressing the lock button. The device of the crook interferes with the signal to lock the car. Therefore, thieves can escape with the car.

They also make use of devices that amplify signals from the key fob to unlock vehicles. The crooks can accomplish this even when the key is in the driver's pocket or hanging from an outside hook in the home. When the car is unlocked, they can use the standard diagnostic port or computer hackers to program the blank key fob and gain control over the vehicle.

Car manufacturers have developed various anti-theft devices to guard against these kinds of attacks. But, thieves are constantly looking for ways to defeat these measures.

For instance, they've been using devices that transmit on the same frequency as here remote key fobs to intercept their signals. The thieves copy the unlock code of the key fob and start the vehicle with this fake signal.

This technique is especially popular in the US and Europe where a large number of vehicles are sold with wireless technology that lets owners unlock and start their vehicles by using a mobile application on their smartphone. This technology is expected to gain popularity as more and more manufacturers attempt to link their vehicles with their owner's smartphones.

In addition to implementing anti-theft systems in vehicles, it's important for drivers to use the best practices when they park their cars. They should never leave their key fobs in the ignition, and should always ensure that their vehicle is locked completely when they're not in it and should make use of a steering wheel or gearstick lock if possible. It is also recommended to think about installing a tracking device onto their vehicle in the event it's stolen.

Flat Battery

This kind of attack is more prevalent than most people realize. Thieves employ cheap devices to extend the signal from your key fob to unlock and begin the car, even if it's switched off. They then drive the car around the corner or to a trailer and take off with it. It would be possible to shield your vehicle from this by installing a starter circuit interrupt switch. Simpler versions have an ON/OFF button that interrupts the circuit. It's priced at around $15 and is easy enough to put in yourself.

Car thieves are always working on new ways to gain access to vehicles and then steal them. Police, car manufacturers and insurance companies are constantly trying to keep up with the latest techniques and offer better anti-theft systems for modern vehicles. However, that doesn't stop thieves, who are able to change quickly and find ways to get around the most up-to-date anti-theft systems.

Many thieves block the signal with devices that operate on the same radio frequency as the fob. They put the device in their pockets or somewhere close to their vehicle, and it blocks the fob's lock command from reaching the car, leaving it unlocked. This can be done in minutes. The device is affordable and can be purchased on the internet.

Another option is to hack into the car's computer system. This is harder but still possible. Hackers have created devices that connect to the diagnostic port of all vehicles and allow them to connect to the software. From there, they are able to program a blank key fob and get it to work. This is also possible on older vehicles, however it is more difficult without removal of the ignition lock.

This method is likely to become more popular if more vehicles are connected with drivers' phones. Once a thief has the username and password to a vehicle application, they can unlock or start the vehicle using the app. You can help defend yourself from these kinds of attacks by not leaving valuables in your car, and then parking it in a garage or secure parking lot.