Some Of The Most Common Mistakes People Do With Keyless Car Stolen
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How to Prevent Your Keyless Car From Being Stolen
Modern cars that have no keys are an ideal target for thieves. There are a few easy deterrents that can help.
One of the newest strategies employed by hackers is known as relay theft. It involves two thieves working together to gain access to the vehicle. They employ devices that detect the signal from your keyfob and then transmits it to your vehicle.
Keyless Car Theft
It's great to own a keyless vehicle, but it also makes your vehicle vulnerable to theft. Criminals quickly learn how to exploit new technology. There are ways to stop your car from being stolen, without forcing entry.
In the past, thieves who wanted to steal a vehicle required the vehicle's key or hotwire it. Today, they can make use of sophisticated technology to hack into cars that are not keyed and start them up. In fact 92% of vehicles UK car security firm Tracker found in 2019 were stolen using this method.
To make the most of this technology, criminals employ electronic signal relay devices to hijack the signal transmitted by a vehicle's key fob. They are easily accessible on the internet and cost as little as PS80 each. The devices will then transmit the identical signal to nearby vehicles and make them unlock and then turning off the devices.
Once the car has been started the thief is able to get away easily and leave no trace left behind. As a result, keyless car theft is increasing. In the US it is responsible for up to 65% of car thefts, and could result in you paying an inflated insurance premium.
While specific information on keyless car theft is hard to find however, it is safe to say that cars equipped with push-to-start ignition systems are more likely to be targeted than cars that require keys to be physically entered into the ignition. Other factors can impact the vulnerability of a vehicle that could be a target, such as its popularity among thieves and its model and the brand, and security protocols.
Despite the efforts of car manufacturers to close these loopholes certain keyless vehicles are more vulnerable to attack than other. A study by Thatcham Research in 2020 assessed how resilient a range of models were to theft via keyless and gave them Basic, Poor and Superior scores based on their ability to resist the attack. It's therefore important to take extra precautions if your car has keyless start or entry features.
How It Happens
As cars become more advanced and sophisticated, thieves have been devising ways to gain access to them. This includes stealing keys from cars by using technology that intercepts signals or "hacks" the fob to open and start the car. Risks are higher for luxury vehicles that are more recent. According to the most recent statistics from the England's Home Office, keyless entry is the reason for about half of all vehicle thefts. It's interesting to note that older models that had proximity keys but no button to start the vehicle have also been targeted by thieves.
There was a time when criminals had to break into your car through a window or door handle however the advent of keyless and remote locking ignition systems made it possible to do so from the distance. The thieves have created devices that pick up the signal from your key fob and amplify it before transmitting it to a emulator -- basically an imitation key. This device then emulates the signal from your car key, allowing it to open and start your car.
The CBC says that this type of hacking is increasing and thieves are being able to gain entry into vehicles and take them away within less than 20 seconds. This is because keyless systems don't require drivers to carry their key in their pocket or hand.
A few years ago in the past, an Toronto man was shocked to find his Toyota RAV4 torn up and its headlight smashed not just at all, but twice within three months. He realized that this wasn't just vandalism, but a part of a sophisticated method to steal keyless vehicles.
These thieves are called "relay attackers," and they work in teams. One person is equipped with an amplifier for relays, and the other holds a device that can pick up your car's remote control signal and transmit it back to the amplified device. This trick can trick your car into believing your key fob is in the vicinity and allow it to open the doors and begin taking off.
Some drivers are implementing security systems that are made by third parties to protect themselves however the best way to protect yourself may be to simply keep your key fob in a tin container or pouch that blocks signals, like a Faraday box. These are available online at an affordable price.
Deterrents
Modern thieves employ sophisticated tools to intercept the signal sent by key fobs. If they are able to get this, they can copy it to unlock the car and then start the engine. The best method to deter thieves is to ensure that the key fob does not remain in the range of the vehicle when it is parked, and preferably in a garage. You can also put the key in a metal container or Faraday pouch to prevent its signal from being detected. You can also invest in an alarm system that although it can't stop the vehicle from being stolen, it can aid in finding it later.
One of the most threatening types of keyless car theft is a type of'relay attack' in which two criminals collaborate to steal a vehicle from your home. One of the thieves is close to the car being targeted with wireless transmitters that pick the signal from the owner's original digital key fob and transmits it to a second box that is placed next to or inside the target vehicle. This tricked the car into thinking that the owner had opened the door and then pressed the lock. The other thief drives away in the car.
Although some experts suggest installing expensive after-market security systems to prevent this kind of crime, they aren't always effective and can be easily defeated by criminals who have the right technology and knowledge. A better strategy is to invest in deterrents that make the task of stealing your vehicle more difficult for thieves, like the locking of your steering wheel, which makes it difficult for thieves to get away.
You can also install motion detection lights around your garage and home that will light up and scare thieves away, and CCTV cameras that will aid in recording footage of criminals in the act. Another simple but effective deterrent is to park your vehicle in a well-lit and visible area. This will discourage thieves, who are more likely to be opportunists instead of targeted thieves, from trying to steal your car.
You should consider purchasing a keyless system that only the owner of the vehicle is aware of the unique security code. This option is only available on certain newer vehicles and requires an expert installation, however it can be worth the cost since it will make your vehicle less appealing to thieves.
Prevention
It is becoming more important for vehicle owners, as the incidence of theft through keyless keys rises and it is essential to implement effective prevention measures. These may include storing smart keys in the Faraday pouch or box when not in use. These items are lined with metal to stop radio signals from reaching them and to prevent thieves from intercepting or copying them. Furthermore, installing a lock for the steering wheel or an immobilizer could be a deterrent, and also physically stop the steering wheel from turning, or the engine from running, should a criminal succeed in gaining access to the keyless entry system.
Another option is to park the car in a more secured area in a safe distance from windows and doors. This can make thieves think twice and make it difficult for them to identify the car's owner. Etching the VIN onto windows and headlights is also a good deterrent as it makes it difficult to copy stolen vehicles.
Dealerships can prevent keyless car thefts by using stringent security measures. Dealerships should educate their employees on the importance and best practices for key inventory and handling of vehicles. They can accomplish this by installing perimeter fencing and creating a designated car storage area. Dealerships should also regularly audit their inventory in order to spot any issues.
In some cases, thieves will try to bypass security features built into the car through an electronic device that plugs into the computer in the vehicle. These devices are check here typically plugged into the diagnostic port which is usually located in the front footwell of many cars. The thieves can then program a blank key fob to unlock the vehicle and then start it without the owner's consent.
There are a few steps you can take to lower the risk of being a victim of unintentional car theft. You can stop criminals from gaining access to your car's computer with an antenna that is shielded, remove or conceal any electronic components inside the vehicle, and keep the key fob in a Faraday bag or pouch. You could also install an GPS tracker or an immobilizer to improve the chances of locating your car after it's stolen and assist police in catching the criminals responsible. Contact an auto electric specialist to determine the best preventative measures for you and your car.