Cars Being Stolen With Keyless Entry
If car owners throw their keys on the table or at their door, they may unknowingly be allowing thieves to hijack their signal. This relay attack is a high-tech method criminals use to steal keyless vehicles.
Keyless ignition vehicles emit a low power radio signal to locate a matching fob. If the signal is captured and recreated, it could be used unlock the car and to start it.
Relay Attack
Imagine your car at your driveway, with your key fob at home. You may be confident that your car is secure however, sophisticated thieves are planning a heist without you knowing. Instead of breaking windows or jimmying locks, they are leveraging technology to hack into cars via digital chinks in their armor. Known as relay theft, it's becoming a common way to steal cars that have keyless entry.
The keyless entry system in cars is controlled by a signal from the car's RF transmitter to the key fob. To ensure that keyless entry is not unauthorized, the RF transmitters in the key fob as well as in the car are programmed to only be activated when they're within certain distance from each other. However, thieves are able to bypass this limitation with a technique called the 'relay attack'.
Two individuals are required to perform this: one stands near the car and uses a device that captures an electronic version of the signal coming from the key fob. The other, who is at the house of the owner is using a different device to send the key fob's signal down to the car. This trick tricked the car into thinking that the key fob is close 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 purchase a relay transmitter on the low cost online and conduct an heist in a matter of minutes. This is the reason why car thieves love it.
While some cars are less vulnerable to this type of theft than others, all modern cars with keyless entry are at risk. Researchers have tested 237 popular cars and found that all of them could be taken by this method.
Tesla cars are said to be less susceptible to this type of theft, but the company has not yet implemented UWB features to effectively check distances on the car's signal and prevent relay attacks. The company has promised to make this happen in the near future, but until then, they remain vulnerable. That is why it's important to adopt a proactive approach to your car security and install an anti-theft tool which protects your keys as well as your vehicle from these kinds of attacks.
CAN Injection Attack
Modern cars can guard themselves from thieves by sending encrypted messages to the key to prove its authenticity. This method is generally thought to be secure, but thieves have found a way around it. They simply impersonate the smart key, and send messages to the car, letting it unlock the doors, disable its engine immobilizer, and let them go on their way. To do that, they get access to the smart key's internal communications network.
Most cars today are equipped with between 20 and over 200 electronic control units, also known as ECUs, that control different aspects of the vehicle's operation. They communicate using an electronic network known as CAN bus. To keep power consumption low, these ECUs enter sleep mode with low power that is activated when they receive a wake up frame. These frames are usually sent by the ECU that controls the smart key or door. However they aren't always encrypted or authenticated and, therefore, could be snatched by criminals with a cheap and simple device.
To accomplish this, they search for a place where they can directly connect to the CAN bus connector wires. These are often hidden away within the headlights or in the front of the get more info car, and can be accessed by removing the bumper and cutting holes in the headlamp assembly to expose them. The thieves use a device known as an CAN injection attack. It is used to send fake messages that trick the car's safety systems to unlock and disable the engine immobilizer.
These devices can be purchased through the Dark Web and work with all major car makers which include BMW and Cadillac, Chrysler, Fiat and Ford, Honda, Hyundai and Jeep, Lexus and Nissan, Renault and Toyota, Volkswagen and Maserati. Researchers who discovered the CAN Injection attack recommend that all car makers fix this in their existing models. However, the thieves will continue taking everything they can. We can stop this by installing mechanical safety measures like Discloks in all our vehicles and parking them in well-lit, well-lit areas.
The Signal is blocked
In a variation of the relay attack that employs a device, thieves can jam the signal from key fobs while the car is locked. The device could be inside the pocket of a thief in a parking space or in a hidden spot near the driveway that is being targeted. Owners aren't able to verify if the car is locked after pressing the lock button. The device used by the crook interferes with the signal to lock the car. Thus, thieves are able to drive away with the vehicle.
The crooks also make use of devices to enhance the signal of the key fob in order to unlock vehicles. The crooks can do this even when the key is in a driver's pocket, or hanging from an outside hook in the home. After the car is unlocked, hackers can use an ordinary diagnosis port to program a blank fob.
To safeguard against this kind of attack, car manufacturers have created a variety of anti-theft devices. However, thieves are always trying to beat these measures.
They've begun using devices that transmit at the same frequency as remote keyfobs to intercept signals. The thieves can then copy the key fob's unlock code and start the car with this fake signal.
This method is particularly popular in the US, where many cars have wireless technology. Owners can unlock and start their vehicle through a mobile application on their smartphone. This technology is expected to gain popularity as more and more companies attempt to connect their vehicles to owners' smartphones.
In addition to implementing anti-theft systems in vehicles, it's vital for drivers to follow the best practices when they park their cars. They should never leave their keys in the ignition, should always make sure the vehicle is locked completely when they're not there and should make use of the steering wheel or a gearstick lock if possible. They should also think about fitting a tracking device to their vehicle in case it's stolen.
Flat Battery
This kind of attack happens more often than people realize. The thieves make use of inexpensive devices that extend the signal from your key fob to enable it to unlock and start your car if it is off. They then drive the car around a corner or to a trailer and take off with it. Installing an interruption switch to the starter circuit can protect your vehicle from this. The simplest ones are an ON/OFF switch which interrupts the starter circuit. It's priced at around $15 and is easy enough to install by yourself.
Car thieves are always working on new ways to gain access to vehicles and then steal them. The police as well as the car makers and insurance companies are always trying to keep up with their strategies and develop better anti-theft systems for modern vehicles. But that doesn't stop the thieves who are able to change quickly and find ways to get around the most up-to-date anti-theft systems.
Many thieves block the signal using devices that use the same radio frequency of the fob. The device is placed in the pocket or near the vehicle and prevents the fob from transmitting the lock command to the car. This can be done within minutes. The device is affordable and readily available online.
Hacking the computer system of the car is an alternative option. This is more difficult, but possible. Hackers have designed devices that plug into the diagnostic port of all vehicles and allow them to connect to the software. They can then program the fob with blank code to work. This can also be done on older cars, although it is more difficult to do without removing the ignition lock.
This method could become more popular if more vehicles are connected with drivers' phones. Once a thief gets the username and password to an app for vehicles and then they can unlock the car or start it by using the app on their phone. You can help defend yourself from these kinds of attacks by not leaving valuables in your car, and then parking it in a garage or secured parking lot.