Cars Being Stolen With Keyless Entry
If car owners throw their keys on the table or next to their doors, they may unknowingly allow thieves to hijack their signal. This relay attack is one of the advanced methods criminals are using to steal brand new keyless vehicles.
Keyless ignition vehicles emit a low-power radio signal to locate the fob that matches. If the signal is captured and recreated, it can be used to unlock the car and start it up.
Relay Attack
Imagine your car safely parked in the driveway, with the key fob tucked away inside your home. You're sure that your car is safe, but not seen by you sophisticated thieves are planning an heist. Instead of slamming windows or jiggling locks, thieves are using technology to gain access to cars through digital chinks in their armor. This method of stealing cars that have keyless access is known as relay theft.
The keyless entry system that is found in cars is controlled by a signal by the car's RF transmitter to the key fob. To stop keyless entry by intruders the RF transmitters that are on the key fob as well as the car are programmed to turn on when they are within a specified distance of each other. A thief, however, can circumvent this limitation employing a method known as the'relay-attack'.
Two people are required to complete this: one person is close to the car and uses a device that captures digitally the the key fob. The other person, who is at the home of the owner and uses a different device to transmit the signal from the key fob back to the car. This trickery fools the car into thinking that the key fob is close enough to be able to unlock it and start the engine.
In the past, this type of attack required expensive equipment in order to execute. It is now possible to purchase an inexpensive relay transmitter online and carry out a heist within minutes. This is the reason car thieves love it.
While certain cars are less susceptible to this kind of theft than others, all modern cars with keyless entry are at risk. Researchers have tested 237 of the most popular automobiles and found that all of them can be stolen by this method.
Tesla cars are said to be less susceptible to this type of theft, however, Tesla hasn't yet implemented UWB features to effectively check distances on the car's signal and stop relay attacks. The company has said it will make this happen in the near future, but for now they are still vulnerable. Installing an anti-theft system that safeguards your car keys and your keys against such a threat is a proactive way to ensure your car's security.
CAN Injection Attack
Modern vehicles are designed to shield themselves from theft by exchanging cryptographic data with the key to prove that it's genuine. The system is believed to be safe, but thieves have found ways around it. They fake the identity of the smart key, then send messages to the vehicle, and then drive off. To do that they have access to the smart key's internal communication network.
The majority of cars today are fitted with between 20 and over 200 electronic control units, or ECUs, that control different aspects of the vehicle's operation. They communicate with one another using a network known as CAN bus. These ECUs enter a low power sleep mode to reduce their power consumption. This mode is activated when the ECUs receive an "wake up" frame. These frames are typically sent by the ECU that is in charge of the smart key or door. These messages are not always authenticated or encrypted. read more This means that criminals are able to intercept them with the use of a cheap and simple device.
To do this, they look for a location where they can connect directly to the CAN bus connection wires. These are often hidden away within the headlights or in the front of the car and are accessible by pulling the bumper off and cutting holes in the headlamp assembly to expose the wires. The criminals then employ a device known as an CAN injection attacker to send fake messages which trick the car's security systems into unlocking the car and disengaging its engine immobilizer.
These devices can be purchased on the Dark Web and work with all major car makers, including BMW and Cadillac, Chrysler, Fiat and Ford, Honda, Hyundai and Jeep, Lexus and Nissan, Renault and Toyota, Volkswagen and Maserati. Researchers who have discovered the CAN Injection attack recommend that all car makers fix this issue in their existing models. However, the thieves will continue to steal whatever they can. We can prevent this by implementing mechanical safety measures such as Discloks in all our vehicles and parking them in well-lit and visible areas.
Jamming the Signal
In a variant of the relay attack that employs a device that can be used to block the signal sent by a key fob while the car is locked. The device could be found hidden in the pocket of a thief in a parking area or in a hideout close to the driveway that is being targeted. The owners don't know whether the vehicle is locked when they press the lock button. The device used by the crook blocks the signal that locks the car. Therefore, thieves can leave the vehicle.
The crooks also employ devices to amplify the key fob's signals to unlock vehicles. They may even accomplish this if the key is in the pocket of the driver or hanging from a hook in the house. After the car is unlocked, hackers can make use of a standard diagnosis port to create a blank fob.
To guard against this kind of attack, car makers have created a variety of anti-theft gadgets. However, thieves are always looking for ways to defeat these measures.
They've started using devices that transmit at the same frequency as remote keyfobs in order to intercept signals. The crooks then copy the key fob's unlock code and start the car with this fake signal.
This method is very popular in the US and Europe where many vehicles are equipped with wireless technology that lets owners unlock and start their vehicles using a mobile app on their phone. This technology is likely to become more popular as more and more car manufacturers try to connect their vehicles with their owner's smartphones.
It is crucial that drivers follow the best practices to park their vehicles. They shouldn't leave their keys in the ignition, and should always make sure the car is fully locked when they're not in it and should utilize an engine or steering wheel lock, if they can. It is also recommended to consider installing a tracking device to their car in case it gets stolen.
Flat Battery
This kind of attack happens more often than people realize. The thieves employ low-cost devices that increase the signal from your key fob in order to unlock and start your car when it's off. They then simply drive the car around a corner or to a trailer and take off with it. Installing an interrupter switch for the starter circuit would protect your car against this. Simpler versions come with an ON/OFF button that interrupts the circuit. It is priced at around $15 and is simple to install.
Car thieves are always trying new ways to gain access to vehicles and then steal them. The police as well as the car makers and insurance companies are constantly trying to catch up to their tactics and develop better anti-theft systems for the latest cars. But that doesn't stop the thieves, who are able to be quick to adapt and discover ways to bypass the most recent anti-theft measures.
For example, many thieves use a device that works on the same frequency as the fob to block the signal. They place the device in their pockets or somewhere near their vehicle, and it blocks the fob's lock signal from reaching the car and thereby leaving it unlocked. This can be done in minutes. The device is cheap and is available on the internet.
Another option is to hack into the car's computer system. This is more difficult but nevertheless possible. Hackers have developed devices that plug into the diagnostic port of all vehicles and allow them to connect to the software. They can then program a blank fob to function. It is also possible to do this on older cars, although it is more difficult without taking off the ignition lock.
This method is likely to become more popular if more vehicles are connected with drivers' phones. Once a thief has the username and password to an application for vehicles they can open or start the vehicle with the application. You can guard yourself by not putting valuables inside your car, and by parking in a garage.