14 Cartoons About Keyless Cars Being Stolen To Brighten Your Day

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Keyless Cars Being Stolen in Minutes

Using equipment available for sale on the internet, criminals are focusing their efforts on keys-less vehicles, which can be taken in just a few minutes. Find out how thieves can bypass security features in your car and what you can do to protect it.

Keep your key fob in the faraday bag or an aluminum tin to block the signal. Consider installing a steering lock to stop your vehicle from being stolen.

Relay Theft

It's easy to forget about the dangers of keys-free cars. They can expose your car to high tech criminals. Relay theft is one of the most recent hacking techniques thieves use.

Two criminals could steal your car using this method. One thief is at your home with a device that amplifies the signal of an electronic key fob, and transmit that signal amplified across a distance to the other thief standing by your car. The second thief could use their device to mimic the fob's signal to unlock the car or start the engine and take off with the vehicle.

They can be purchased online for relatively low prices. They can be fitted to any car, regardless of whether it's the most recent SUV or the oldest Honda Civic. Certain types of vehicles are more at risk than others. Criminals target cars that are highly sought after by thieves because of their high resale values or the ease at which they can be dismantled. You should park your car in a safe, well-lit location and take anything valuable off the vehicle (including the owner's manual, which may contain a key for valet service).

According to the tracking company Tracker UK, the UK has seen record numbers of thefts made using this method. In July 2023, they accounted for 98% of the stolen cars that the company was able to recover.

Experts suggest installing aftermarket security systems such as GPS trackers and alarms to reduce the risk of becoming a victim. They also suggest storing keys in metal containers, signal-blocking bags or Faraday boxes, which can help prevent relay attacks.

Dealerships can also protect their inventory by implementing robust physical security measures that include perimeter fencing, surveillance cameras and well-lit areas. They should also instruct their staff on how to handle lockdown and keys to avoid theft. If they are selling older vehicles and want to consider installing an ignition immobilizer at the dealer. This will stop thieves from taking off with the vehicle, after fooling the system into believing it is still parked on the lot of the dealership.

Theft of Transponders

As car manufacturers update their keyless technology to make cars more secure, thieves are also upgrading their own equipment to keep up. One technique that criminals are using is known as a relay attack which is when two individuals work together to steal a vehicle that is keyless. A thief stands in front of the house of the victim with the aid of a device that receives the signal from a key fob, which is transmitted to a person who is waiting by the vehicle. If the copied signal is detected the door is opened and the car begins to move with no requirement for the actual key to be in the car. This has been recorded on security cameras at home that show cars being driven off in a matter of seconds.

Even the most expensive luxury vehicles are at risk. In fact, the tracing company Tracker UK reported that keyless thefts make up 98% of the high-tech cars it helped recover in the last year. Older luxury vehicles with keyless systems that are less advanced are the most susceptible including Mercedes C- and E-Classes, BMW 3 Series models, Land Rover Discovery, and Jaguar XF.

Another way of stealing keys is code theft that occurs when you're not paying pay attention to where you put your key fob. You might not remember to take it out of your pocket before leaving the home. If your fob is in the range of an in-home intelligent security or hub that can be hacked, it is possible to gain access to the vehicle's control systems. A hacker with a basic understanding of electronics can reprogram the vehicle to do what they want, for instance, disabling ignition and driving away.

It is important to protect your vehicle and be aware of attacks. You can lower the risk of theft by storing your vehicle in a secure or gated garage. If that's not an option, consider installing a motion-sensored camera that has a view of your driveway. You can also purchase signal-blocking products like bags or boxes that are designed to stop thieves from stealing the signals of your key fob if they are in close proximity to the jammer.

Theft of Programming

The technology that is used in keyless vehicles makes them more convenient for us, but it also makes them easier for thieves to steal. A typical method of stealing cars using keyless entry systems is called a "relay attack". The thieves work in pairs, using equipment to intercept your fob's signals as it nears the ignition or door to unlock your vehicle.

The keyless system relies upon low-power radio waves that only work when the key fob is placed close to the doors or ignition. However, a skilled hacker can use specially designed equipment to increase the amount of communication between the vehicle and the fob, significantly expanding the range of the system. This allows a criminal to trick the vehicle into believing the fob is close enough to unlock or start it even though it might be a few meters away from the victim's home or in their pockets.

Certain cars come with an additional security feature that disables the ignition when the fob is too far away. However, this only works if the vehicle has been programmed to recognize the fob's signal at certain frequency. Hackers who have the code for the car system could reprogram the key fob so that it operates according to the frequency the car has been programmed to recognize. This can bypass the security feature.

The On-Board Diagnostics port (OBD), which is usually located beneath the steering wheel, could be used by car criminals to get the coding of your keyless transmission. This device, also known as a "key programmer" can be purchased online for less that $1,000. This tool can download the specific information of your vehicle to a blank keyfob, permitting the fob to unlock and start the car as in the manner of a genuine thing.

These tools are easily accessible online and allow criminals to target a variety of types and makes. However, the most popular vehicles with keyless entry are still models from luxury brands like BMW, Audi, Mercedes and Jaguar, and these are the ones most frequently targeted by thieves. In fact, the here insurance company Tracker has found that luxury models account for as much as 50% of the high-tech theft claims that it assists in recovering.

Lockout Theft

Although keyless entry cars can be a great convenience, it doesn't take any experience to spot flaws in the system. The traditional method of smashing a car's window and then hotwiring it is still used, but more and more criminals are turning to advanced techniques that can steal vehicles without breaking into the home. According to data from the tracking company Tracker, car thefts have increased to an all-time record in the U.K., with keyless car thefts accounting for a significant portion of the total.

Many of these innovative techniques are not only cheaper than traditional car theft, but they can also be completed in a matter of minutes. A group of two thieves, for instance could use devices that capture the signal from the keyfob, and transmits it directly to a transmitter in the hands of the other thief. This enables the other criminal to unlock the vehicle and then drive away. These devices can be purchased for as little $100 and are compatible with a variety of automobile models.

In addition to these high-tech methods, thieves are now capable of capturing the data from a key fob that they can clone and upload to an unlocked key fob. The cloned keys will be capable of unlocking and starting the vehicle, even when the original key is not present.

ADAC's research has revealed that hundreds of popular cars such as the Ford Fiesta and Toyota Prius are at risk of this kind of theft. In fact, a single key can unlock multiple vehicles with this method, which means that it's no any longer necessary to target specific brands or models.

Automobile manufacturers are now offering preventative measures to keep their vehicles safe from these new threats. Kia, for example, has developed an faraday pouch which can be tucked into the pocket of the driver's keyfob to block signals and stop it from being stolen. Other options include creating extra keys and keeping them in safe but accessible places or installing cameras around your driveway and home or using apps to ensure that you aren't forgetting about your car. It is important to check the battery levels of your key fob frequently to ensure that it isn't going flat.