LONDON — They appear at night like ghosts, standing outside your house, one holding the antenna and the other crouching next to the car parked in the driveway. Within seconds, your car is gone and another victim is among them edged boost in car thefts made possible by technology designed to make unlocking and starting vehicles easier.
Car technology has evolved, and many newer cars utilize wireless fobs and push-button starters instead of established metal keys. The remote control sends a short-range signal so that when the driver approaches the car, it automatically unlocks the doors. This saves you the hassle of searching for your keys when your hands are full of groceries.
But this technology it also makes things easier for thieves. The wireless remote control will continue to emit a signal even if you are not using it. Thieves prowl neighborhoods at night, looking for cars parked outside so they can carry out so-called relay attacks. Using portable equipment that can pick up a faint signal from a remote control at home or in a parking lot, they transmit it back to a transmitter that can clone the signal.
Officials urged automakers to limit security vulnerabilities and warned owners about the risks.
So what can you do to reduce the risk of your car disappearing within 60 seconds? “It’s relatively simple for drivers to protect themselves,” said Steve Launchbury, chief vehicle safety engineer at Thatcham Research, a British company that researches automotive hazards. Here are some tips:
Utilize a signal blocker
A plain but effective way to stop robbers from stealing your remote control signal is to utilize a Faraday bag or pouch. They are lined with a conductive metal mesh that blocks the transmission of electromagnetic signals.
The pouches are not pricey, and you can also get boxes that do the same thing. However, experts recommend testing to make sure they work. Just put the key inside and approach the car. If the door does not unlock automatically, the signal is blocked.
It’s also crucial to remember to utilize it every time you leave your vehicle and don’t forget to put all your key fobs inside, including spare parts.
But ignore some advice floating around the internet that recommends putting your key fob in the microwave or freezer. It doesn’t have the same effect as a Faraday bag and you risk damaging the key.
Get an old-fashioned lock
Try the old-school solution by using a physical lock. Locks in the shape of a disc or long bar tighten the steering wheel and make steering complex. There are also versions that prevent shifting into gear. Some police forces are advising car owners to utilize them to make your vehicle less tempting to steal. The reasoning is that a would-be thief might be discouraged by the effort required to cut the lock and instead pay attention to an easier target. The disadvantage is that you will need more time to attach or remove it when you are not driving.
Change your settings
In many cars, it is possible to deactivate the wireless settings, which prevents you from opening the doors remotely. For Ford, Honda and Audi, utilize the touchscreen menu. If you have Toyotas, you can temporarily disable the signal by holding down the remote lock button and pressing the unlock button twice at the same time. If you did this correctly, the remote control airy should flash four times. Please note that the next time you press any button, remote unlock will be activated again.
The method will vary depending on make and model, so check your owner’s manual for a thorough description of the process. If this sounds complicated, there are videos on YouTube that will walk you through it. Don’t forget that in most cases you will now have to manually press the unlock button on your remote.
Automakers have started adding motion sensors for key rings. If the sensor doesn’t detect recent movement because it was, say, left on the kitchen counter when you get home, the remote will go into sleep mode and stop transmitting. If it is missing this feature, please contact your seller to see if an update is available.
If you’re buying a used car, some experts also recommend reprogramming the keys, in case the previous owner kept one of the fobs.
Be careful with up-to-date methods
Scientists have discovered a up-to-date car theft technique that does not utilize radio signals. A Controller Area Network (CAN) is “a feature of state-of-the-art cars that allows various components and systems to communicate, (and) which has recently been targeted and exploited by thieves,” Thatcham’s Launchbury said.
The network allows sensors and control modules to communicate directly, rather than going through a central node. Thieves take advantage of this advantage by accessing the network from outside the car, usually by removing the headlight and connecting a device that can “inject” a signal, tricking the car into unlocking and starting.
While automakers are working to improve CAN security, “there are already steps drivers can take to add layers of security and deter criminals,” such as using a physical lock, Launchbury said.
Aftermarket electronic immobilizer systems “should render a theft tool used by a criminal useless” and may even render car insurance discounts, he said. Thatcham and other companies offer them, but the downside is that they can be quite pricey.
