Thieves Have Developed A New Way To Steal Your Car In Seconds Without The Key
Keyless start technology is letting thieves steal cars without even needing to take the keys first, according to reports.
By amplifying the key fob’s signal via relays from the house wall, within range of the fob, to the car itself, thieves can be away with someone’s pride and joy in seconds. It’s the latest facepalm-worthy loophole to be found in car systems that were designed for convenience, not security.
Many people hang their house and car keys on the wall by their front door, or put them in a bowl there. That means the key fob’s signal is often transmitting through the front wall of the house, if only very weakly. By relaying and boosting this signal, just like with in-house WiFi boosters, the car detects the key’s signature and starts on command. All aboard the failboat, etc.
BMWs and Peugeots are the most vulnerable to this new technique, says German research quoted by tracking system maker Tracker, but the Ford Focus, Toyota Prius and Volkswagen Golf were also vulnerable – and that’s just among the cars that were actually tested from among 30 manufacturers’ ranges.
Apparently, the tools needed to steal a car this way are available for just £80 online, and until the engine starts it’s a theoretically silent process. We’d have to say that the old security tricks are still the best: put a steering lock on your car and thieves will simply choose an easier target. If you do have keyless entry, keep the key fob away from any exterior walls.
Comments
I wonder why is it taking so long for the industry to develop biometric security systems - finger print sensors and facial recognition - for cars? It doesn’t have to replace car keys, it could be a second verification process.
Don’t tell me it’s due to cost, there are already USB finger print sensor sold on Amazon for $35. And I’m sure this price includes a very well profit margin.
Or use the personal phone with fingerprint
Because weight reduction bro
The whole point of a keyless entry is convenience. Replace it with a biometric security scanner and someone can actually take your fingerprints that you leave on your car, replicate them and create his very own key. Then its only a matter of days before your car unwillingly finds a new owner overnight. :P
And this is why I will always try to stick with cars that have a physical key that needs to be put into a physical keyhole and turned in order to start the engine.
Or a race car setup of a set sequence of events to start the engine
#cheekydisklok
This has been used for ages already…
Bulgarian car thieves statisticly are the best in the world
i’m not a car thief but always interested in ideas
I ‘d very much like to share (learn actually) how they do it :D All the planning and tech that goes under it. Some ways are surprisingly elemental, that take down big systems. I admire those people more than i despise…
“knowlegde is a superpower” thing…
Nothing to worry about here in America, manual is unbreakable lock if they don’t know how to use it
Good thing i have a manual transmission, thieves cannot break into that 😃😃😃
Waits for disklok to refute
you must live on american continent :P
I was able to steel a brand new Peugeot because the fuel cap was not closed properly, this made the whole car not actually lock when you lock it with the key. I’ll take your iPhone and wallet thank you very much. Lol
and the worst part is, that you can’t easily double-check if doors are actually locked, because of proximity sensors…
Don’t see an old car stolen like that… hue hue hue
I have 4 cars, only one of which can be unlocked without a key, none that can be started with a key and the one that can be unlocked without still needs a button to be pressed