Keyless car technology is one of those gadgets that make modern life easier. Plus, it looks cool.
However, many argue that keyless cars are potentially easier to steal. This largely depends on the car’s make and model, but how well you protect your vehicle can also be a factor. If you have a keyless car, there are a few things you can do to deter and prevent criminals from taking advantage of keyless entry.
Relay attack is the most popular technique used to gain access to keyless cars. It usually requires two criminals working together to relay the key fob signal to your car using a transmitter.
One device needs to be reasonably close to the key fob which will pick up the signal and relay it to a transmitter held by the other criminal, near your car. After this, once a clear enough signal is transmitted, the car’s system is tricked into unlocking.
Relay devices can be purchased for as little as £100, and can access your vehicle within 20 seconds.
To intercept and copy the signal from your key fob, the fob must be in reasonably close proximity. Car keys are often left by the front door, which is perfect for thieves who are reliant on a strong signal. The closer the key fob is to the vehicle, the easier it is for thieves to amplify the signal.
Therefore keep your key fob away from doors and windows, and as far away from the car as is practical.
Another method is to keep the fob in a blocking bag. Small and portable, blocking bags stop communication with the fob by blocking the signal. They also work with other remote entry fobs and can be picked up for around £5.
A deceptively simple way to prevent thieves from using your key fob’s signal is to turn the signal off. Depending on the make and model of the car, you may be able to manually switch off the signal when not in use. Check your vehicle user guide for further information.
Reprogramming key fobs is not cheap, but it will give you peace of mind. If you’ve lost a key fob or if your vehicle is second-hand, then get the system reset. This will mean any previous key fobs or any copies made can no longer be used to access the car.
Steering wheel locks present criminals with a visual barrier to driving away with your car. A thief specialising in digital hijacking may stumped when presented with a mechanical obstacle.
Steering wheel locks are visible from outside the vehicle and work well to deter criminals who may be considering targeting your car. Steering wheel locks could also reduce your car insurance.
Never leave a keyless car unlocked, even if you’re popping into a shop or paying for petrol. A car thief needs less than 20 seconds to trick-start your car.
Sometimes your car may not be the main target, and opportunists are on the lookout for valuables left in your car. Hide any valuables you may be storing or better yet, remove them altogether. Thieves are particularly on the lookout for electronic items such as smart devices and laptops.
Overall, any keyless car is vulnerable to attack since they rely on similar fob-to-car signal recognition. Although digital systems and security continue to improve, unfortunately, car theft is becoming all the more common. Desirable models amongst the most targeted include Range Rovers, BMW and Land Rovers.
The most secure models to look for are those that have a sleep mode for the wireless system. Using a motion sensor to trigger sleep mode means the signal on a stationary fob is inactive and cannot be intercepted. Additionally, more secure keyless cars may also come with the ability to turn off the signal manually.
At INSHUR, we always want to help our drivers by offering helpful advice to make your day easier or by ensuring you’ve got the right insurance cover. For more on how we can help and to get a quote in minutes, check out INSHUR now.
Sources:
Make Use Of – Prevent Keyless Car Theft
By Miles – Prevent Keyless Car Theft
Wikihow – Prevent Keyless Car Theft
While keyless entry cars are great for a hands-free life, you might be worried this tech leaves your pride and joy vulnerable to thieves.
Luckily, there are some easy hacks to make sure you don’t fall foul of this type of crime – and our guide here contains some of the best methods.
Some of us will be old enough to remember the days of turning an actual metal key in a door to unlock a car. But that's old school. These days, you open and start most cars using a key fob, card or, in some cases, an app on your smartphone.
But, like contactless debit and credit cards, keyless technology can sometimes be vulnerable to illegal cloning. This is when thieves trick your car into believing the digital key is being used, when in actual fact, they've just created a clone.
Don’t panic though, because there are some surprisingly basic ways to keep your wheels protected from this new type of crime. We’ve got you covered with the anti-theft 101.
A cheap, very quick and brilliantly effective way to protect your key when it's lying around at home is to buy a signal-blocking box or pouch. By storing your car keys, fob or card in an aluminium tin (even grandma’s old biscuit tins), or a special signal blocking box, the signal between the car and key is blocked. This means thieves can't intercept it and clone a new one.
If you’re out and about, then a Faraday pouch is your best friend. Think of it like RFID blocking wallet to protect your credit cards from contactless theft. Simple, but highly effective.
Lots of car manufacturers use motion sensor fobs now. These fobs stop transmitting a signal if the key is left idle for a certain amount of time. If you leave it on the counter, it will time itself out and stop actively transmitting so no one can clone it.
Handily, it also helps to save the battery life. Some fobs can also be switched off manually, which we’d advise doing, especially at night.
Like your smartphone's updates, an increasing number of cars have over-the-air (OTA) updates that download the latest software programs released by their makers.
Make sure you accept these when the notification pops up because many of them include new security measures, rolled out in response to new types of criminal technology.
Sometimes you can’t beat the old ways, and a steering wheel lock makes driving away almost impossible until it's removed. Even in this day and age, it’s a huge deterrent, and one that you can keep and use on future cars as well - assuming their wheels don't change shape...
While not completely effective (there are tools that can cut or break these locks), they do slow down thieves, plus they force them to make noise. That alone can convince them to move on to another, less secure car.
It’s important to remember that car manufacturers are always working to be one step ahead of the game, inventing advanced anti-theft technology like ultra wide-band radio, so thieves can’t tap into the car's signal.
There’s also an option in many cars now to turn off the keyless entry system when the car’s parked for long periods. Some cars even have password entry! So best consult your car's handbook to see what systems you could make the most of.