How to Protect Your Vehicle from Keyless Entry Theft
The holidays are fast approaching. And with all the festive sights and sounds of the season, it brings out the joy and happiness in everyone. But unfortunately, it also brings out the thieves who have set their sights on your vehicle. And if you think that because you have a keyless entry system, you’re safe, not so fast.
That’s because thieves have figured out a way to hack into keyless entry systems to steal vehicles. That’s why now is the perfect time to protect your mobility van conversion so that you won’t become another victim of the Grinch during the holidays.
How Thieves Hack Into Your Vehicle
Not too long ago, stealing a car involved smashing a window, ripping out the ignition, or pulling wires out from below the dashboard to hotwire the vehicle. Today, it’s a whole different story. Theft using keyless ignition systems is the most popular method of car theft. Also called “relay attack,” hacking a vehicle with keyless entry is now the go-to method for car thieves.
Here’s what’s involved: the hacker uses two devices that communicate with one another using the key’s radio frequency. The first device is placed next to a key fob to receive the signal. A thief can even unwittingly stand near your vehicle to capture the signal. This signal is then transferred to the second device that is right next to the car – fooling it into believing that a legitimate key fob was used. The vehicle is unlocked, started – and driven away.
Consumers Prefer Keyless Entry
It should be noted that after a record number of keyless entry vehicles were stolen in 2008, the number had decreased to 773,139 in 2017. That’s still a considerable number, and auto manufacturers are working on innovative ways to reduce the problem.
Keyless entry systems are more popular than ever. In 2008, a keyless entry feature was only available on 11 percent of vehicles. Today, that number is 62 percent of vehicles sold in 2018. Currently, the only models that are not susceptible to stealing the radio frequency to start a vehicle are the Jaguar Land Rover. Other manufacturers, including BMW and Mercedes, have a motion sensor detector in place, so if the key is motionless, it won’t work.
Thwarting Keyless Entry Hackers
Car thieves are using technology to steal vehicles, so you can start using some technology as well to prevent vehicle theft. Part of the problem is that the factory car alarm installed most vehicles is not enough. It can’t differentiate the vehicle’s owner from using a key fob from a thief who has an illicit device. On the other hand, if you have a CarLock app on your smartphone, the hacker’s device won’t impact or disable the CarLock system. That means you’ll still be notified when your vehicle is started and moved and will continue to track its location as well.
Other measures include storing your car keys inside a metal key cabinet, known as a Faraday cage, to prevent signal capture. You can also use a Faraday Cage car key pouch when you’re traveling, as it acts the same way the metal cage works – blocking attempts at capturing your key fob signal. Here’s something else to consider: storing your car keys in the fridge or microwave when you’re at home will also thwart hackers as the signal will be too weak. Just don’t forget where you put your car keys!
For a fast, inexpensive way to prevent keyless entry theft, experts recommend wrapping your key fob in tin foil. If it’s covered tightly enough, the signal will be too weak to capture and relay. Sadly, this type of thievery escalates during the holidays, as they’re supposed to be the happiest times of the year. But by taking some precautions, parking your mobility van in a safe spot and using the tools mentioned in this article, will help prevent theft.
