Cars Being Stolen With Keyless Entry

Car owners who leave keys on tables or near their front doors may be unwittingly permitting thieves to steal the signal. This relay attack is a sophisticated method used by criminals to steal keyless vehicles.

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

Relay Attack

Picture your car parked securely in the driveway, and the key fob sitting safely in your home. You may think your vehicle is secure but sophisticated thieves are planning a heist, without you knowing. Instead of slamming windows and jiggling locks, thieves are using technology to gain access to cars through digital chinks in their armor. This method of stealing cars that have keyless access is known as relay theft.

The keyless entry system found in cars is controlled by a signal by the car's radio transmitter to the key fob. To stop keyless entry by unauthorized individuals, the RF transmitters on the key fob and the car are programmed to turn on when they are within a specific distance from one another. However, thieves can override this restriction using an attack known as the'relay attack'.

Two people are required to do this: one person is near the car and utilizes a device to capture a digitalized version of the signal from the key fob. The other who is at home with the owner is using a second device to transmit the signal from the key fob to the car. This trick tricks the car into thinking that the key fob is at an adequate distance to allow it to be opened and started the vehicle.

In the past, this type of attack required expensive equipment to perform. Now, you can purchase a relay transmitter on the inexpensive online market and carry out the heist in just a few minutes. This is the reason car thieves are enthralled by it.

While some cars are less prone to this kind of theft than others, all cars with keyless entry are vulnerable. In fact researchers have tested 237 vehicles that are popular and found that they can all be stolen using this method.

Tesla cars are said to be less prone to this kind of theft, however, the company has not yet implemented UWB features that would effectively conduct distance checks on the car's signal and protect against relay attacks. The company has stated that they will implement this feature in the near future, but until then they are vulnerable. Installing an anti-theft system that protects both your car and your keys against such a threat is a proactive way to ensure the security of your car.

CAN Injection Attack

Modern cars can guard themselves from theft by transferring encrypted messages using the key in order to confirm its authenticity. This method is generally thought to be secure, but criminals have found a way around it. They pretend to be a smart key, send messages to the vehicle, and then drive off. To do this, they get access to the smart key's internal communications network.

Nowadays, the majority of automobiles are equipped with between 20 and 200 electronic control units (or ECUs) that manage different aspects of the car's operation. They communicate via the CAN bus network. These ECUs enter a low-power sleep mode to reduce their power consumption. This mode is activated when ECUs receive an "wake up" frame. These frames are usually sent via the door or smart key receiver ECU. These messages are not always encrypted or authenticated. This means that criminals are able to intercept them with a simple and cheap device.

To accomplish this, they search for a location where they can directly connect to the CAN bus wires. They are usually hidden inside the headlights or elsewhere in the front of the vehicle, and are accessible by pulling the bumper and cutting holes in the headlamp assembly to expose them. The criminals then employ a device dubbed an CAN injection attacker, which is used to send fake messages which fool the security systems of the car to unlock it and disable its engine immobilizer.

These devices can be bought on the Dark Web and work with the majority of major car manufacturers, including BMW and Cadillac, Chrysler, Fiat and Ford, Honda, Hyundai and Jeep, Lexus and Nissan, Renault and Toyota, Volkswagen and Maserati. The researchers who discovered this CAN Injection attack are recommending that all car makers fix the issue in their current models, but the reality is that thieves will continue to take whatever they can get their hands on. The best we can do is attempt to stop this from happening by installing security measures that are mechanical like Discloks on cars, and making sure that they are placed in areas that are well-lit and are easily visible to pedestrians.

Jamming the Signal

In a variation of the relay attack, which makes use of a device that can be used to block the signal from key fobs while the vehicle is locked. The device could be in the pocket of a thief in a parking area or in a hideout near the driveway that is being targeted. Once the owners hit the lock button on their fobs, and then walk away, they don't think about whether or not the car really is locked. The device used by the criminal interferes with the signal to lock the car. Thus, thieves are able to escape with the car.

They also use devices that amplify signals from the key fob to unlock vehicles. They can do this when the key is inside the pocket of the driver or hanging from a hook in the house. Once the car is unlocked, they can use a standard diagnostic port or computer hacker to program the blank key fob and gain control over the vehicle.

Automobile manufacturers have come up with a variety of anti-theft solutions to protect against these types of attacks. But thieves always come up with ways to thwart these measures.

They've been using devices that transmit at the same frequency as remote keyfobs to intercept signals. The crooks then copy the unlock code from the key fob, and then start the vehicle using this fake signal.

This method is especially popular in the US where a lot of cars come with wireless technology. Owners can unlock and start their vehicle through a mobile application on their phone. This technique is likely to be more commonplace as more car manufacturers attempt to link their cars with their owners' smartphones.

In addition to incorporating anti-theft technology in vehicles, it's vital for drivers to leverage best practices when they park their vehicles. They should never leave their key fobs in the ignition, and should always ensure that their car is fully locked when they're not in it and should utilize a steering wheel or gearstick lock, if they can. It is also recommended to consider having a tracking device fitted to their vehicle in the event that it's stolen.

Flat Battery

This type of attack is more frequent than most people realize. Thieves make use of cheap devices to extend the signal from your key fob to open and start cars even if they're turned off. Then they drive the car to an unmarked trailer or around a corner, and take the car away. Installing an interrupter switch for the starter circuit can protect read more your vehicle from this. The most basic ones have an ON/OFF switch that interrupts the starter circuit. It is priced at around $15 and is simple to install.

Car thieves are always working on new ways to get into vehicles and steal them. The police, car makers and insurance companies are constantly trying to keep up with their tactics and develop better anti-theft systems for modern cars. But that doesn't stop the thieves who are able to change quickly and discover ways to bypass the most recent anti-theft measures.

For instance, a lot of criminals use a device that works on the same frequency as the fob to jam the signal. The device is placed in the pocket or close by the vehicle, and stops the fob from sending the lock command to the car. This can be accomplished in just a few seconds. The device is inexpensive and available on the internet.

Another tactic is to hack into the car's computer system. This is more difficult but still possible. Hackers have created devices that plug into the diagnostic port of all vehicles and permit them to access the software. From there, they are able to program a blank key fob and get it to work. It is possible to do this on older cars too, but it's more difficult without taking out the ignition.

This method is likely to become more popular as more vehicles are connected to drivers' phones. Once a thief gets the username and password for the vehicle app, they can then unlock or start the car using the app on their phone. You can guard yourself by not leaving valuables inside your car, and parking in garages.