There's A Good And Bad About Cars Being Stolen With Keyless Entry
Cars Being Stolen With Keyless EntryIf car owners throw their keys on the table or near their doors, they could not realize that they are allowing thieves to steal their signal. This relay attack is just one of the latest techniques criminals are using to steal brand new keys from cars.
All keyless ignition cars emit an low-power radio signal that is in search of a fob that can respond. If the signal is recorded and recreated it can be used to unlock the car and start it up.
Relay Attack
Imagine your car at your driveway, with your key fob at home. You may think your vehicle is secure however, sophisticated thieves are planning to steal your car without you knowing. Instead of slamming windows or jiggling locks, they are leveraging technology to gain access to cars through digital cracks in their armor. Known as relay theft, it's becoming a common method of stealing vehicles with keyless entry.
The keyless entry system that is found in cars is controlled by a signal sent by the car's RF transmitter to the key fob. To ensure that keyless entry is not accessed by intruders the RF transmitters on the key fob and the car are programmed only to turn on when they are within a certain distance from one another. However, thieves can circumvent this limitation employing a technique called the relay-attack.
To do so, two people work in tandem One stands near the car with an instrument that records a digitized version of the key fob's signal. The other, in the vicinity of the home of the owner, uses a second device to transmit the key fob signal back down to the car. This trickery fools the car into believing the key fob is at an adequate distance to unlock and start the vehicle.
This type of heist used to require expensive equipment. Now, you can purchase a relay transmitter on the low cost online and conduct the heist in just a few minutes. This is why it's well-liked by car thieves.
While certain vehicles are less prone to this kind of theft than others, all cars with keyless entry are at risk. In fact, researchers have tested 237 popular cars and found that they can be targeted by this method.
Tesla cars are said to be less prone to this kind of theft, however, the company hasn't yet implemented UWB features that would effectively perform distance checks on the car's signal and prevent relay attacks. The company has said that they will implement this in the near future, but until then, they are vulnerable. That's why it's essential to take a proactive approach to your car security and install an anti-theft tool that safeguards your keys and vehicle from these kinds of attacks.
CAN Injection Attack
Modern vehicles can defend themselves from thieves by transferring encrypted messages using the key in order to prove its authenticity. The system is believed to be secure, but thieves have found ways to get around it. They simply impersonate the smart key, and send messages to the car letting it unlock the doors, turn off its engine immobilizer, and let them go on their way. To accomplish this, they have access to the smart keys' internal communication network.
Today, most cars are equipped with between 20 and 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 reduce power consumption, these ECUs go into sleep mode with low power that is activated when they receive a 'wake up' frame. These frames are usually sent by the ECU that manages the smart key or door. These messages aren't always authenticated or encrypted. This means that criminals are able to intercept them with the use of a cheap and simple device.
To do this, they look for a spot where they can directly connect to the CAN bus wires. They're usually hidden in the headlights or in front of the vehicle, and can be accessed by pulling the bumper and cutting holes in the headlamp assembly to expose them. The thieves then employ a device dubbed an CAN injection attacker to send fake messages that trick the car's security systems into unlocking it and disengaging its engine immobilizer.
The devices are available for sale on the Dark Web, and work for most of the major car manufacturers including BMW, Cadillac, Chrysler, Fiat, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar, Jeep, Lexus, Nissan, Renault, Toyota, Volkswagen, Maserati, and more. Researchers who have discovered the CAN Injection attack recommend that all car makers address the issue in their current models. However, the thieves will continue to steal everything they can. We can prevent this by installing mechanical safety measures, such as Discloks inside all our vehicles and parking them in well-lit, well-lit areas.
The Signal is blocked
In a variation of the relay attack, which employs a device that can be used to block the signal transmitted by a key fob while the vehicle is locked. The device could be found hidden in the pocket of a thief in a parking space or in a hideout near the driveway being targeted. Owners aren't able to verify whether their car is locked after pressing the lock button. The device used by the criminal block the signal that locks the car. Therefore, thieves could leave the vehicle.
The crooks also use devices to amplify the signal from the key fob in order to unlock vehicles. The crooks can do this even when the key is inside a driver's pocket, or hanging on an outside hook in the home. After the car is unlocked, hackers can make use of the standard diagnostic port to program the fob with a blank.
To safeguard against this kind of attack, car manufacturers have created a variety of anti-theft devices. However, criminals are constantly looking for ways to defeat these measures.
They've begun using devices that transmit at the same frequency as remote keyfobs in order to intercept signals. The thieves then copy the unlock code from the key fob and begin the vehicle using this fake signal.
This method is particularly popular in the US and Europe where a large number of automobiles are equipped with wireless technology that lets owners unlock and start their vehicle by using a mobile application on their smartphone. This technology is expected to become increasingly popular as more and more car manufacturers attempt to connect their vehicles to their owners' smartphones.
It is essential that drivers follow the best practices to park their vehicles. They should never click here leave the key fobs in ignition and should always lock the car when they are not in it. If they can, they should also use a gearstick lock or steering device. They should also think about fitting a tracking device to their vehicle in the event that it's stolen.
Flat Battery
This kind of attack is more frequent than most people realize. The thieves employ inexpensive devices that extend the signal from your key fob to enable it to unlock and start your car even when it's off. They then drive the car around the corner or to a trailer and take off with it. Installing an interruption switch to the starter circuit would protect your car against this. Simpler versions include an ON/OFF button that interrupts the circuit. It's about $15 and is simple to install by yourself.
Car thieves are always searching for new ways to steal vehicles. The police as well as the car makers and insurance companies are always trying to keep up with their strategies and provide better anti-theft systems for the latest cars. However, that doesn't stop thieves who are able adapt quickly and discover ways to bypass the most recent anti-theft measures.
Many thieves block the signal using a device that uses the same radio frequency as the fob. The device is placed in the pocket or close to the vehicle, and stops the fob from transmitting the signal to the car. This can be done in a matter of minutes. The device is inexpensive and can be purchased on the internet.
Hacking the computer system of the car is an alternative option. This is more difficult, but possible. Hackers have designed devices that plug into the diagnostic port of all cars and allow them to access the software. From there, they can program an unfinished key fob and get it to work. It is possible to do this on older vehicles too, but it's more difficult if you remove the ignition.
As more vehicles are linked to smartphones of drivers, this method may be more popular. Once a thief has the username and password to a vehicle app, they can unlock or start the vehicle using the app. You can help protect yourself from these types of attacks by not putting valuables in your car and parking it in a garage or secure parking lot.