Why Cars Being Stolen With Keyless Entry Could Be More Risky Than You Thought
Why Cars Being Stolen With Keyless Entry Could Be More Risky Than You Thought
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Cars Being Stolen With Keyless Entry
Car owners who toss keys on tables or near their front doors may be unwittingly permitting thieves to steal the signal. This relay attack is just one of the latest techniques criminals are using to steal new keyless cars.
Keyless ignition cars emit an extremely low-power radio signal, looking for a matching fob to respond. If the signal is captured and recreated it can be used to unlock the car and then start it up.
Relay Attack
Imagine your car safely parked in the driveway, and the key fob sitting safely inside your home. You're sure that your car is safe, but not seen by you sophisticated thieves are planning an attack. Instead of breaking windows or jimmying locks, thieves are leveraging technology to hack into vehicles using digital cracks in their armor. This is known as relay theft, it's an increasingly common method of stealing vehicles with keyless entry.
Keyless entry cars are designed to operate via signals that are sent from the remote control (RF) transmitter to the owner's key fob. To stop keyless entry by intruders the RF transmitters on the key fob as well as the car are programmed only to activate when they are within a specified distance from each other. A thief, however, is able to circumvent this restriction employing a method known as the'relay-attack'.
Two people are required to complete this: one stands close to the car and utilizes a device to capture a digitalized version of the the key fob. The other person, who is at home with the owner, uses a second gadget to transmit the signal from the key fob to the car. This trick tricks the car into thinking the key fob is near enough to unlock and start it up.
In the past, this type of attack required expensive equipment in order to execute. But now, you can pick up relay transmitters on the inexpensive online market and carry out an heist in a matter of minutes. This is the reason it's well-liked by car thieves.
All modern vehicles that have keys are at risk. Certain cars are more susceptible to this kind of attack than others. Researchers have tested 237 popular cars and found that every one of them are susceptible to being stolen through this method.
Tesla vehicles are supposedly less vulnerable to this type of theft, however Tesla hasn't yet implemented UWB features that would effectively conduct distance checks on the car's signal and stop relay attacks. The company has stated that they will implement this in the future but until then, they are vulnerable. That is why it's important to be proactive about your security in your car and install an anti-theft tool that protects your keys and car from these types of attacks.
CAN Injection Attack
Modern vehicles can defend themselves from theft by exchanging encrypted messages with the key in order to verify its authenticity. This system is generally reckoned to be secure, but thieves have found a way around it. They fake the identity of the smart key, then send messages to the vehicle and then drive away. To accomplish this, they have access to the smart keys' internal communication network.
Most cars today are equipped with between 20 and 200 electronic control units, also known as ECUs, which control various aspects of the vehicle's operation. They communicate through an electronic network known as CAN bus. These ECUs enter a low power sleep mode to decrease their power consumption. This mode is activated when the ECUs receive a "wake up" frame. These frames are usually sent by the ECU that controls the smart key or door. These messages aren't always encrypted or authenticated. This means that criminals are able to capture them using the use of a cheap and simple device.
They look for a place that allows them to connect directly to the wires for CAN connection. They are usually hidden in the headlights, or in other places in the front of the vehicle. To get them, you must remove the bumper and cut holes in the headlamp assemblies. The thieves then use a device called a CAN injection attacker to send out fake messages that can trick the car's security systems to unlock it and disable its engine immobilizer.
The devices are available through 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 manufacturers fix it in their existing models, but the reality is that thieves will continue to take everything they can lay their hands on. We can prevent this by installing mechanical safety measures such as Discloks in all of our cars and parking them in well-lit and visible areas.
Blocking the Signal
In a different variation of the relay attack, thieves may employ a device to block the signal sent from the key fob when the car is locked. The device may be inside the pocket of a burglar in a parking lot or in a hideout close to the driveway that is being targeted. Once the owners hit the lock button on their fobs and leave they don't consider whether or not the car actually locks. Instead, thieves could escape with the vehicle since the signal that normally locks the car has been blocked by the device of the criminal.
The crooks also employ devices to amplify the signal from the key fob to unlock vehicles. The crooks can do this even when the key is in the driver's pocket, or hanging on a hook inside the home. Once the car has been unlocked, hackers can make use of an ordinary diagnosis port to create a blank fob.
To protect against this type of attack, car makers have created a variety of anti-theft gadgets. But thieves always come up with ways to thwart these measures.
For instance, they've begun using devices that transmit on the same frequency as remote key fobs in order to intercept their signals. The thieves then copy the unlock code from the key fob and start the vehicle using this fake signal.
This method is particularly popular in the US and Europe where a lot of cars are sold with wireless technology that allows owners to unlock and start their vehicle with a mobile app from their phones. This technology is likely to become more popular as more and more companies try to connect their vehicles with their owner's smartphones.
It is important that drivers follow the best practices to park their cars. They shouldn't leave their key fobs in the ignition, and should always ensure that the car is securely locked when they're not there and should make use of an engine or steering wheel lock, if they can. They should also think about installing a tracking device to their car in case it gets stolen.
Flat Battery
This kind of attack is more common than most people realize. Thieves use inexpensive devices to extend the signal from your key fob to unlock and start a car even when it's shut off. Then, they drive the car to the trailer or around a corner, and take the car away. Installing a starter circuit interruption switch would protect your car against this. Simpler versions have an ON/OFF button that shuts off the circuit. It's about $15 and is simple enough to install by yourself.
Car thieves are constantly seeking new ways to take vehicles. Police, car manufacturers and insurance companies are always trying to stay abreast of the latest tactics and provide better anti-theft systems for modern vehicles. But that doesn't stop thieves who are able to be quick to adapt and find ways to get around the latest anti-theft measures.
For instance, many thieves use a device that works on the same frequency as the fob to block the signal. They put the device in their pocket or somewhere close to their vehicle, and it blocks the fob's lock command from reaching the car, leaving it unlocked. This can be done in a matter of minutes. The device is affordable and easily available online.
Hacking the computer system of the car is another option. This is harder read more but still feasible. Hackers have developed devices that plug into the diagnostic port of all vehicles and allow them to connect to the software. From there, they are able to program the blank key fob to start working. This can also be done on older vehicles, but it is more difficult to do so without removal of the ignition lock.
This technique could become more popular if more vehicles are connected with drivers' phones. Once a thief has the username and password to an application for vehicles and is able to unlock or start the vehicle with the application. You can protect yourself by not leaving valuables inside your car, and by parking in a garage.