Cars Being Stolen With Keyless Entry
If car owners place 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 a sophisticated method used by criminals to steal keyless vehicles.
Keyless ignition vehicles emit a low power radio signal to find the fob that matches. If the signal can be captured and recreated, it can be used to unlock the car and to start it.
Relay Attack
Picture your car parked securely in the driveway, and the key fob sitting safely inside your home. You may think your car is secure, but sophisticated thieves are planning to steal your car without you knowing. Instead of breaking windows or jimmying locks, they are using technology to hack into cars via digital cracks in their armor. This method of stealing cars with keyless access is called relay theft.
Keyless entry cars are designed to operate via an electronic signal that is that is transmitted from the remote control (RF) transmitter to the owner's key fob. To ensure that keyless entry is not unauthorized the RF transmitters inside the key fob as well as in the car are programmed to only activate when they're within a specific distance from one another. However, a thief can overcome this limitation using a technique called the 'relay attack'.
To accomplish this two people work together one is positioned by the car, using an instrument that records an electronic version of the key fob's signal. The other, standing by the house of the owner is using a different device to send the key fob's signal down to the car. This trickery tricks the car into believing that the key fob has reached an adequate distance to allow it to be opened and started the vehicle.
In the past, this type of attack required expensive equipment to perform. It is now possible to purchase a cheap relay transmitter online and carry out an heist in just a few minutes. This is the reason car thieves are enthralled by it.
All modern vehicles with keyless access are at risk. Some cars are more susceptible to this kind of attack than others. Researchers have tested 237 popular cars and found that every one of them are susceptible to being stolen using this method.
Tesla vehicles are supposedly less prone to this kind of theft, however, Tesla hasn't yet implemented UWB features to effectively conduct distance checks on the car's signal and protect against relay attacks. The company has stated that they will make this happen in the near future, but until then they are vulnerable. Installing an anti-theft device that guards your keys and your car against such attacks is a proactive way to ensure the security of your vehicle.
CAN Injection Attack
Modern vehicles are designed to guard themselves from theft by exchanging cryptographic messages with the key to prove it's authentic. The system is thought to be safe, but criminals have found ways to circumvent it. They impersonate a smart key, transmit messages to the vehicle and then drive off. To achieve this, they need access to the smart keys' internal communications network.
These days, most automobiles are equipped with between 20 and 200 electronic control units (or ECUs) which control different aspects of the car's operation. They communicate via a network called CAN bus. To keep power consumption low the ECUs enter sleep mode with low power that is activated when they receive a wake up' frame. These frames are usually sent by the ECU that controls the smart key or door. However, these messages aren't always encrypted or authenticated, which means that they can be intercepted by criminals with a cheap and basic device.
To accomplish this, they must look for a spot that allows them to connect directly to the CAN bus wires. They are usually hidden 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 an instrument known as a CAN injection attack to send fake messages which trick the car's safety systems into unlocking and disengaging the engine immobilizer.
The devices are available for sale on the Dark Web, and work for the majority of major car manufacturers which include BMW, Cadillac, Chrysler, Fiat, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar, Jeep, Lexus, Nissan, Renault, Toyota, Volkswagen, Maserati, and many more. The researchers who discovered this CAN Injection attack are recommending that all car makers fix it in their existing models, but the reality is that the thieves will continue to steal anything they can get their hands on. The best we can do is to try and prevent this by installing mechanical security measures like Discloks on our vehicles, and making sure that they are placed in areas that are well-lit and are clearly visible to people passing by.
Jamming the Signal
In a variation of the relay attack that employs a device that can be used to block the signal from a key fob while the car is locked. The device may be hidden in the pocket of a burglar in a parking lot or in a hideout near the driveway being targeted. When owners hit the lock button on their fobs, and then walk away and leave, they don't have to think about whether or not the car is really locked. Instead, thieves can drive off with the vehicle since the signal that normally locks the car has been blocked by the device of the criminal.
They also use devices that amplify signals from the key fob to unlock vehicles. The crooks can accomplish this even when the key is inside a driver's pocket or hanging on a hook inside the home. After the car has been unlocked, they can make use of a standard diagnostic port or computer hacker to program an unlocked key fob to gain control over the vehicle.
To protect against this type of attack, car manufacturers have developed a variety of anti-theft gadgets. But, thieves are constantly looking for ways to defeat these get more info measures.
They've started using devices that transmit at the same frequency as remote keyfobs in order to intercept signals. The thieves can then copy the unlock code of the key fob and then start the car with this fake signal.
This technique is especially popular in the US and Europe where many automobiles are sold with wireless technology that lets owners unlock and start their vehicle by using a mobile application from their phones. This technology is likely to become more popular as more and more companies attempt to connect their vehicles to owners' smartphones.
It is crucial that drivers follow the best practices to park their vehicles. They should never leave their keys in the ignition, and should always ensure that the vehicle is locked completely when they're not there and should utilize a steering wheel or gearstick lock if possible. It is also recommended to consider installing a tracking device to their car in the event it's stolen.
Flat Battery
This kind of attack happens more often than people realize. The thieves use inexpensive devices that extend the signal of your key fob to unlock and start your car even in the event that it is off. They then simply drive the car around the corner or onto a trailer to then drive off with it. Installing an interruption switch to the starter circuit would protect your car against this. The simplest ones are an ON/OFF switch that shuts off the starter circuit. It's about $15 and is easy to install.
Car thieves are always trying new ways to enter vehicles and then steal them. The police as well as car manufacturers and insurance companies are always trying to catch up with their tactics and provide better anti-theft systems for modern vehicles. However, this does not stop thieves who are able to easily adapt and find ways to bypass the latest anti theft measures.
For instance, many criminals employ a device that works on the same frequency as the fob in order to block the signal. The device is placed in the pocket or close to the vehicle and blocks the fob from sending the lock command to the car. This can be done within just a few seconds. The device is affordable and easily accessible online.
Another option is to hack into the car's computer system. This is more difficult but possible. Hackers have created devices that plug into the diagnostic port of all vehicles and allow them to connect to the software. They can then program an unfinished fob to work. This can also be done on older vehicles, but it is more difficult to do so without removal of the ignition lock.
This technique could become more popular if more vehicles are connected to drivers' phones. Once a criminal has the username and password to an app for vehicles, they can then open the car or get it started by using the app on their phone. Fortunately, you can be safe from these kinds of attacks by not putting valuables in your car, and then parking it in a garage or secure parking lot.