Cars Being Stolen With Keyless Entry
If car owners leave their keys on the table or next to their door, they may not realize that they are allowing thieves to hijack their signal. This relay attack is just one of the advanced methods criminals are using to steal brand new keys from cars.
All keyless ignition cars emit an low-power radio signal that is looking for a matching fob that can respond. If the signal can be recorded and recreated, it could be used unlock the car and to start it.
Relay Attack
Imagine your car safely parked in your driveway with your key fob in your home. You're confident that your vehicle is safe, but not seen by you, sophisticated thieves are plotting an attack. The thieves employ technology to hack into vehicles using digital chinks. Known as relay theft, it's a more common way to steal cars with keyless entry.
The keyless entry system that is found in cars is controlled by a signal sent from the car's RF transmitter to the key fob. To ensure that keyless entry is not unauthorized the RF transmitters on the key fob and in the car are programmed to only activate when they're within a specific distance from each other. The thief can bypass this restriction by employing a technique called the'relay-attack'.
To accomplish this two people work in tandem One stands near the car and uses an instrument that records an electronic version of the key fob's signal. The other, in the vicinity of the home of the owner and using a second device to send the key fob signal back to the car. This trickery tricks the car into believing the key fob has traveled a distance sufficient to unlock and start the vehicle.
This type of attack used to require expensive equipment. Today, you can purchase a cheap relay transmitter online and pull off an heist in a matter of minutes. This is why car thieves are enthralled by it.
While certain cars are less susceptible to this kind of theft than others, all modern vehicles with keyless entry are at risk. Researchers have tested 237 popular automobiles and found that all of them could be taken through this method.
Tesla vehicles are believed to be less prone to this kind of theft, however, Tesla hasn't yet implemented UWB features to effectively perform distance checks on the car's signal and protect against relay attacks. The company has stated that they will do this in the near future, but until then, they're vulnerable. That is why it's important to be proactive about your vehicle security and install an anti-theft tool that safeguards your keys and car from these types of attacks.
CAN Injection Attack
Modern vehicles are designed to protect themselves from thieves by transferring cryptographic messages using the key to prove it's authentic. This system is generally reckoned to be secure, however thieves have found a way to circumvent it. They simply impersonate the smart key, and send other messages to the vehicle letting it unlock the doors, disable its engine immobilizer, and then leave the car. To do this they have access to the smart key's internal communication network.
Most cars today are equipped with between 20 and over 200 electronic control units, or ECUs, that control different aspects of the vehicle's operation. They communicate with each other via a network known as CAN bus. To keep power consumption low, these ECUs are put into the sleep mode at low power. This mode is activated when they receive a wake up' frame. These frames are typically sent by the ECU that manages the smart key or door. These messages aren't always authenticated or encrypted. This means that criminals are able to capture them using the use of a cheap and simple device.
To do this, they look for a spot that allows them to connect directly to the CAN bus connector wires. These are often hidden away inside the headlights or elsewhere in the front of the car and are accessible by removing the bumper and cutting holes in the headlamp assembly to expose the wires. The thieves employ a device known as an CAN injection attack. It is used to send fake messages that can trick the security systems of the car to unlock and disable the engine immobilizer.
The devices are available for purchase on the Dark Web, and work for all major car manufacturers, including BMW, Cadillac, Chrysler, Fiat, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar, Jeep, Lexus, Nissan, Renault, Toyota, Volkswagen, Maserati, and more. Researchers who discovered the CAN Injection attack recommend that all car manufacturers fix this issue in their existing models. However, these criminals will continue to take any opportunity they can. The best we can do is to make an effort to prevent this from happening by installing security measures that are mechanical such as Discloks on all of our vehicles, and making sure that they're always placed in areas that are well-lit and are clearly visible to passers-by.
The Signal is blocked
In a variant of the relay attack, which employs a device that can be used to block the signal from key fobs while the vehicle is locked. The device may be hidden in the pocket of a thief in a parking space or in a hidden spot close to the driveway that is being targeted. The owners don't know if the car is locked after pressing the lock button. Instead, thieves can take off with the car because the signal that normally locks the car is blocked by the device of the criminal.
The crooks also employ devices to amplify the key fob's signals in order to unlock vehicles. They can even do this when the key is in the driver's pocket or hanging from a hook in the house. After the car has been locked, they can use a standard diagnostic port or computer hacker to program an unlocked key fob to gain control of the vehicle.
Automobile manufacturers have come up with a range of anti-theft systems to guard against these kinds of attacks. But, as always, thieves come up with new ways to beat these measures.
For instance, they've begun using devices that transmit on the same radio frequency as remote key fobs to intercept their signals. The thieves then copy the unlock code from the key fob, and then start the vehicle with this fake signal.
This method is particularly popular in the US where a lot of cars have wireless technology. Owners can start and unlock their car using a mobile application from their mobile. This technology is expected to become increasingly popular as more and more companies try to connect their vehicles to owners' smartphones.
It is important that drivers use best practices when parking their vehicles. They should never leave their keys in the ignition. They get more info should always make sure the car is fully locked when they're not using it and should utilize a steering wheel or gearstick lock if possible. It is also recommended to think about installing a tracking device onto their vehicle in case it's stolen.
Flat Battery
This kind of attack is more prevalent than most people realize. Thieves employ cheap devices to extend the signal from your key fob to unlock and begin the car, even if it's switched off. They then simply drive the car around a corner or onto a trailer to leave with it. Installing an interrupter switch for the starter circuit will protect your vehicle from this. The simplest ones are an ON/OFF switch that interrupts the starter circuit. It's priced at around $15 and is simple to install by yourself.
Car thieves are always trying new ways to enter vehicles and take them away. The police as well as the car makers and insurance companies are always trying to keep up with their strategies and provide better anti-theft systems for modern vehicles. But that doesn't stop the thieves who are able change quickly and find ways to circumvent the latest anti-theft measures.
For example, many criminals use devices that operate on the same frequency as the fob in order to block the signal. They place the device in their pockets or near their vehicle, and it stops the fob's lock command from reaching the car, leaving the vehicle unlocked. This can be done in a matter of seconds. The device is inexpensive and readily available online.
Another option is to hack into the car's computer system. This is more difficult but feasible. Every car has a diagnostic port, and hackers have designed 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 also, but it's more difficult without taking out the ignition.
As more vehicles are connected to smartphones of drivers, this method may become more popular too. Once a criminal has the username and password to the vehicle app they are able to open the car or get it started using the app on their phone. You can help be safe from these kinds of attacks by not putting valuables in your car, and then parking it in a garage or secured parking lot.