The 9 Things Your Parents Taught You About Keyless Cars Being Stolen

Keyless Cars Being Stolen in Minutes

Criminals target vehicles with keys that can be stolen within minutes with the help of equipment that is sold online. Find out how thieves are able to bypass security features and what you can do to protect your vehicle.

Keep your key fob in an aluminum tins to block its signal. Also, think about fitting a lock for the steering wheel to prevent the car being driven away.

Relay Theft

It's easy to forget about the dangers of cars that don't have keys. They can expose your car to high tech criminals. Relay theft is one of the most recent hacking techniques thieves employ.

With this method, two criminals work together to steal your vehicle. The first thief, who is standing near your house, uses equipment to amplify the signal of the key fob. Then, he transmits this amplified signal to the second thief who is standing near your car. The second thief can then use their device to mimic the fob's signal to unlock the car or start the engine and take off with the car stolen without key.

The devices can be purchased online for relatively low prices. They can be fitted to any vehicle, regardless of whether it is the latest SUV or the old Honda Civic. Certain types of vehicles are more at risk than others. Cars that are highly sought-after from thieves, whether due to their resale value or the ease of dismantling components, are usually targeted by criminals. You should park your vehicle in a safe, well-lit location and take anything valuable off the vehicle (including the owner's guide that may include keys for valet service).

According to tracking company Tracker UK, the UK has seen a record number of thefts utilizing this method. In July 2023, they were responsible for 98 percent of the stolen vehicles that the company was able to recover.

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

Dealerships can also help protect their inventory by installing physical security measures like perimeter fencing, surveillance cameras and well-lit areas. In addition, they must instruct employees on proper key handling techniques and lockdown protocols to prevent thefts. If they decide to sell older vehicles, they should think about a dealer-installed ignition immobilizer. This will prevent thieves from driving away with the vehicle after fooling the system into thinking that it's still parked in the dealership lot.

Theft of Transponders

In order to keep up with the latest developments in technology and technology, thieves upgrade their equipment to keep up. One technique that criminals are using is referred to as a relay attack which is where two people work together to steal a car with a keyless. The thief is waiting in the vicinity of the victim's house with a device which detects a signal coming from the key fob. This signal is then transmitted to a person waiting near the vehicle. The car will start if the copied signal is recognized. Video footage from security cameras at home has documented this happening, with deactivate stolen car key fob cars being towed away in a matter of seconds.

This is a growing risk to owners of all makes and models, putting even older luxury vehicles at risk. Tracker UK, a tracking company based in the UK, said that 98% of high-tech vehicles it found last year were robbed using keyless systems. The older luxury vehicles with lower-end keyless systems are most at risk which includes Mercedes C- and E-Class, BMW 3 Series, Land Rover Discovery and Jaguar XF models.

Another method of keyless theft is code theft that occurs when you're not paying attention to where you place your key fob. For instance, you could put it in your pocket while you're at home, but forget to take it when you leave. If your fob is within range of an in-home intelligent hub or security system it could be hacked to gain access to the vehicle's control systems. A hacker with a good understanding of electronics could reprogram the car to perform whatever they want it to do, such as disable the ignition and then drive off.

It is essential to secure your vehicle and be aware of these attacks. You can try to limit the risk by parking in a locked garage or gated safe car park. If this is not possible then install a motion-sensored camera that can see your driveway. You can also purchase signal-blocking accessories like bags and boxes, which are designed to prevent thieves from taking over your key fob's signals if they are within the vicinity of an electronic jammer.

Programming Theft

The technology that is used in keyless vehicles makes them more comfortable for us, but it can also make them more easy for thieves to steal. The "relay attack" is a common way to steal a vehicle using keyless entry systems. The thieves work in pairs, using equipment to capture your fob's signal as it nears the ignition or door to unlock your vehicle.

The keyless system relies on radio signals with low power that only operate when the fob is in close proximity to the doors or ignition. A skilled hacker can make use of specially-designed devices to boost the signal between the fob and the vehicle, increasing the range of the system. This allows criminals to fool the vehicle into thinking the fob is close enough to allow it to start or unlock it, even though it may be a few meters away from the victim's house or even in their pocket.

Certain cars being stolen with keyless entry come with a security feature that disables ignition if the fob is not close enough. However this feature only works if the vehicle has been programmed so it can detect the signal of the fob at a certain frequency. Hackers who have the code for the car system could modify the key fob's programming so that it operates at the frequency the car is programmed to recognize. This bypasses the security feature.

The On-Board Diagnostics port (OBD) is typically located under the steering wheel, could be used by my car key was stolen thieves to steal the code of your keyless transmission. This device, known as a "key programmer" can be purchased on the internet for less than $1,000. This tool can download the specific information about your car to a blank keyfob permitting the fob to unlock and start the vehicle as if it were the real thing.

These tools are easily available online, and they permit criminals to target wide variety of makes and models. But the most popular cars that have keyless entry are those from luxury makers like BMW, Audi, Mercedes and Jaguar, and these are the ones most frequently targeted by thieves. In fact the insurance company Tracker has found that high-end models account for as much as 50% of all high-tech theft cases it assists in recovering.

Theft of a Lockout

Criminals are able to easily exploit the weaknesses of keyless entry systems. The old method of smashing a car's window and hotwiring the vehicle is still used, but increasing numbers of thieves are turning to high-tech methods to steal cars without breaking into the home. According to the data gathered by the tracking company Tracker Car thefts have increased to an all-time record in the U.K., with keyless car thefts making up an important portion of the total.

Many of these innovative techniques are not just less expensive than traditional car theft but they can also be completed within a matter of minutes. A group of two thieves, for instance, can use an instrument that detects the signal from the keyfob, and transmits it directly to a transmitter in the hands of the other criminal. The other thief could then unlock the car key stolen from house and leave. The tools employed by these criminals can be bought for as little as $100 and work effectively on a variety of makes and models.

In addition to these high-tech methods, thieves are capable of capturing the data that is transmitted by keys and then copy and upload to an empty key fob. Key fobs that have been cloned will be able to unlock and start vehicles even if they're not the original keys.

ADAC's research revealed that a variety of popular vehicles such as the Ford Fiesta and Toyota Prius, are vulnerable to this kind of theft. A single key can be used to unlock a variety of cars by using this method. This means it is not necessary to target specific vehicle models or manufacturers.

Automobile manufacturers are now offering preventative measures to help protect their vehicles from these new threats. For instance, Kia has created a faraday bag that can be tucked inside the pocket of a driver's key fob to block signals and safeguard it from theft. Other options include creating additional keys and keeping them in safe yet accessible locations, installing cameras around your home and driveway or making use of apps to ensure that you don't forget about your car. It's also a good idea to regularly check the battery status of your key fob in order to avoid it becoming depleted.