Cars Being Stolen With Keyless Entry
If car owners leave their keys on the table or next to their doors, they could not realize that they are allowing thieves to hijack their signal. This relay attack is a highly-tech method criminals use to steal keys from new vehicles.
All keyless ignition vehicles emit a low power radio signal that is used to locate the fob that matches. If the signal is recorded and recreated, it could be used to unlock the car, and also to start it.
Relay Attack
Imagine your car being parked safely in your driveway, with the key fob sitting safely inside your home. You're sure that your car is safe, but not seen by you, sophisticated thieves are plotting an heist. They use technology to snoop on vehicles through digital chinks. This is known as relay theft, it's an increasingly common way to steal cars that have keyless entry.
Keyless entry cars are designed to operate via an electronic signal that is that is transmitted from the car's remote control (RF) transmitter to the owner's key fob. To ensure that keyless entry is not unauthorized the RF transmitters on the key fob and in the car are programmed to activate only when they're within certain distance from one another. However, a thief can overcome this limitation using an attack known as the'relay attack'.
To accomplish this two people work in tandem One stands near the car with the device that captures a digitized version of the key fob's signal. The other, who is at home with the owner and uses a different device to transmit the signal from the key fob to the car. This trick tricked the car into thinking the key fob is near enough to be able to unlock it and start it up.
This type of attack used to require expensive equipment. It is now possible to purchase an inexpensive relay transmitter online and pull off an heist in a matter of minutes. This is why car thieves love it.
While certain vehicles are less vulnerable to this kind of theft than others, all cars that have keyless entry are at risk. In fact researchers have examined 237 popular cars and found that they could be all stolen using this method.
Tesla cars are said to be less prone to this kind of theft, however Tesla hasn't yet implemented UWB features that could effectively perform distance checks on the car's signal and protect against relay attacks. The company has said that they will do this in the near future, but until then, they're vulnerable. That's why it's essential to adopt a proactive approach to your security in your car 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 are designed to shield themselves from thieves by exchanging cryptographic data with the key to prove it's genuine. The system is considered to be secure, but thieves have found ways around it. They pretend to be a smart key, send messages to the vehicle, and then drive off. To do that, they get access to the smart key's internal communications network.
Nowadays, the majority of cars are fitted with between 20 to 200 electronic control units (or ECUs) that control various aspects of the car's operation. They communicate using the CAN bus network. To reduce power consumption the ECUs are put into a low-power sleep mode that's activated when they receive a 'wake up' frame. These frames typically come through the door or a smart key receiver ECU. These messages are not always authenticated or encrypted. This means that criminals get more info are able to intercept them with an inexpensive and simple device.
They search for a spot that allows them to connect directly to the wires of the CAN connection. These are often hidden away within the headlights or in the front of the vehicle, and are accessible by removing the bumper and cutting holes in the headlamp assembly to expose them. The thieves employ the device referred to as an CAN injection attack. It is used to send fake messages which trick the car's safety systems to unlock and disable the engine immobilizer.
These devices can be bought through the Dark Web and work with most major car manufacturers which include 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 makers fix it in their existing models, but the fact is that these thieves will continue to take whatever they can get their hands on. We can prevent this by implementing mechanical safety measures, such as Discloks inside every car we own and parking them in well-lit, well-lit areas.
Jamming the Signal
In a different variation of the relay attack, thieves could use a gadget to jam the signal from a key fob when the car is locked. The device could be hidden in the pocket of a thief in a parking space or in a hidden spot near the driveway being targeted. Once the owners press the button to lock their fobs, and then walk away they don't consider whether or not their car is really locked. Instead, thieves are able to take off with the car because the signal that normally locks the car is blocked by the crook's device.
The crooks also use devices to enhance the signal of the key fob to unlock vehicles. They can even do this while the key is in the driver's pocket or hanging from its hook in the home. After the car is locked, hackers can use a standard diagnosis port to create a blank fob.
Automobile manufacturers have developed a range of anti-theft systems to protect against these types of attacks. However, criminals are constantly looking for ways to defeat these measures.
For example, they've started using devices that transmit on the same frequency as remote key fobs to intercept their signals. The crooks then copy the unlock code of the key fob and then start the car using this fake signal.
This method is particularly popular in the US in which many vehicles come with wireless technology. Owners can unlock and start their vehicle by using a mobile app on their smartphone. This technology is likely to increase in popularity as more manufacturers try to link their cars with their owners phones.
In addition to implementing anti-theft systems in vehicles, it's important for drivers to use the best practices when they park their vehicles. They should never leave their key fobs in the ignition, and should always ensure that their car is securely locked when they're not there and should make use of the steering wheel or a gearstick lock if possible. They should also consider installing a tracking device on their vehicle in case it is stolen.
Flat Battery
This type of attack occurs more often than people realize. The thieves make use of cheap devices that extend the signal from your key fob in order to unlock and start your car even in the event that it is off. They then drive the car around a corner or onto a trailer to 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 that interrupts the starter circuit. It is priced at around $15 and is simple to install.
Car thieves are always searching for new ways to rob vehicles. The police as well as car manufacturers and insurance companies are constantly trying to keep up to their tactics and offer better anti-theft solutions for the latest cars. However, that doesn't stop thieves who are able adapt quickly and find ways to circumvent the latest anti-theft measures.
A lot of thieves block the signal with devices that use the same radio frequency of the fob. The device is put in the pocket or close to the vehicle and prevents the fob from transmitting the lock command to the car. This can be done in just a few seconds. The device is cheap and is available on the internet.
Another strategy is to hack into the car's computer system. This is more difficult, but it is still possible. Every car has an diagnostic port and hackers have developed devices that plug into them and allow them access the car's software. They can then program a blank fob to work. It is possible to do this on older vehicles too, but it's more difficult without removing the ignition.
This method could become more popular if more vehicles are connected to drivers' phones. Once a thief gets the username and password for an app for vehicles and then they can unlock or start the car using the app on their phone. You can safeguard yourself by not putting valuables inside your car, and also by parking in garages.