Cars Being Stolen With Keyless Entry

If car owners leave their keys on the table or near their doors, they could not realize that they are allowing thieves to hijack their signal. This relay attack is a sophisticated technique used by criminals to steal keys from new vehicles.

All keyless ignition vehicles emit a low power radio signal to find the fob that matches. If the signal is recorded and recreated it can be used to unlock the car and then start it up.

Relay Attack

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

Cars with keyless entry are designed to function using a signal that is transmitted from the car's remote control (RF) transmitter to the owner's key fob. To prevent keyless entry by unauthorised persons the RF transmitters on the key fob and the car are programmed only to be activated when they are within a specified distance of each other. However, thieves can bypass this limitation with an attack known as the'relay attack'.

To do so two people work in tandem: one stands by the car and uses a device that captures an electronic version of the key fob's signal. The other, who is at the home of the owner, uses a second device to send the key fob signal back to the car. This trickery tricks the car into thinking that the key fob is at a distance sufficient to allow it to be opened and started the vehicle.

In the past, this kind of heist required expensive equipment in order to execute. It is now possible to purchase an inexpensive relay transmitter online and pull off an heist in just a few minutes. This is the reason it's well-liked by car thieves.

While certain vehicles are less susceptible to this kind of theft than others, all modern cars with keyless entry are vulnerable. In fact researchers have tested 237 popular cars and found that they can be targeted by this method.

Tesla vehicles are supposedly less susceptible to this type of theft, but the company hasn't yet implemented UWB features that would effectively check distances on the car's signal and protect against relay attacks. The company has said it will do so in the future, but until then they are still vulnerable. Installing an anti-theft system that guards your car and your keys against such attacks is a proactive way to ensure your car's security.

CAN Injection Attack

Modern cars can protect themselves against thieves by exchanging encrypted messages with the key in order to verify its authenticity. This method is generally thought to be secure, however thieves have found a way around it. They pretend to be a smart key, send messages to the vehicle, and then drive away. To do that they have access to the smart key's internal communications network.

Nowadays, the majority of cars are fitted with between 20 to 200 electronic control units (or ECUs) that control various aspects of the car's operation. They communicate with each other via an electronic network referred to as CAN bus. To keep power consumption low the ECUs go into the sleep mode at low power. This mode is activated when they receive a wake up' frame. These frames typically come from the door or smart key receiver ECU. These messages aren't always authenticated or encrypted. This means that criminals can take them over with an inexpensive and simple device.

To accomplish this, they search for a location where they can directly connect to the CAN bus connection wires. They are usually hidden in the headlights, or in other areas of the front of the vehicle. To get them, you can remove the bumper and make holes in the headlamp assemblies. The thieves employ an instrument known as a CAN injection attack to send out fake messages that trick the car's safety systems to unlock and disable the engine immobilizer.

The devices are available for sale on the Dark Web, and work for all major car makers which include 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 take whatever they can get their hands on. The best thing we can do is try and prevent this by installing security measures that are mechanical like Discloks on our vehicles and ensuring that they are always parked in well-lit areas that are easily visible to pedestrians.

Blocking the Signal

In a different variation of the relay attack, thieves can employ a device to block the signal from the key fob when the vehicle is locked. The device could be in the pocket of a burglar in a parking lot or in a hideout close to the driveway that is being targeted. Once owners press the lock button on their fobs and leave they don't consider whether or not the car is really is locked. Instead, thieves can escape with the vehicle since the signal that normally locks the car is blocked by the crook's device.

They also make use of devices that amplify signals from the key fob to unlock vehicles. The crooks can accomplish this even if the key is in the pocket of a driver, or hanging from a hook inside the home. Once the car has been unlocked, hackers can use a standard diagnosis port to create the fob with a blank.

Automobile manufacturers have come up with various anti-theft devices to safeguard against these types of attacks. But, thieves are constantly looking for ways to defeat these measures.

For instance, they've begun using devices that transmit on the same radio frequency as remote key fobs in order to intercept their signals. The crooks then copy the unlock code of the key fob and begin the vehicle with this fake signal.

This technique is especially popular in the US and Europe where a large number of cars are equipped with wireless technology that allows owners to unlock and start their cars with a mobile app on their phone. This technology is expected to become increasingly popular as more and more car manufacturers try to connect their vehicles to their owners' smartphones.

It is important that drivers follow the right procedures when parking their vehicles. It is not advisable to leave the key fobs in ignition and should always secure the car when they are not in it. If possible they should also utilize a gearstick lock or steering device. They should also website think about installing a tracking device to their vehicle in the event that it gets stolen.

Flat Battery

This kind of attack occurs more often than people realize. The thieves employ low-cost devices that increase the signal of your key fob to enable it to unlock and start your car, even if it is off. Then, they drive the car to an unmarked trailer or around a corner, and take the vehicle away. It would be possible to shield your vehicle from this by installing an interrupter for the starter circuit. The most basic ones have an ON/OFF switch which interrupts the starter circuit. It costs around $15 and is easy to install.

Car thieves are always looking for new ways to enter vehicles and take them away. Car manufacturers, police and insurance companies are constantly trying to stay on top of the latest methods and offer better anti theft systems for modern vehicles. But this does not stop thieves who are able to be quick to adapt and find ways to bypass the latest anti theft measures.

Many thieves block the signal with a device that uses the same radio frequency as the fob. They put the device in their pockets or near their vehicle, and it stops the fob's lock signal from reaching the vehicle which leaves the vehicle unlocked. This can be accomplished in just a few seconds. The device is affordable and readily available online.

Another tactic is to hack the car's computer system. This is harder but still feasible. All cars have an diagnostic port and hackers have developed devices that plug into them and let them access the software in the car. From there, they are able to program an unfinished key fob and start working. This is also possible on older cars, although it is more difficult to do without removal of the ignition lock.

As more vehicles are connected to smartphones of drivers and this method could be more popular. Once a criminal has the username and password to an app for vehicles, they can then open the car or get it started with the app on their phone. It is possible to be safe from these kinds of attacks by not putting valuables in your car and putting it in a secure garage or parking lot.