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Thieves boosting signal from key fobs inside homes to steal vehicles

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Re: Thieves boosting signal from key fobs inside homes to steal vehicles

#441

Post by verelo »

calmyournerves wrote: post #386
verelo wrote: post #320

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ha, that’s an interesting one! I am sure I’ve done that by accident given how unreliable i find pulling the handle to be.

Just to clarify: Double pressing the close button on the key, not the one on the door handle. I was a bit unclear, sorry! And it‘s only disabled temporarily. As soon as you press any button on the key again (e.g. open the car), keyless-go will be activated again.

Hmm ok yeah, that wouldn't be it then. However it's still good to know! I'd love to be able to just disable the remote without taking out the battery or storing it in some faraday cage.

Re: Thieves boosting signal from key fobs inside homes to steal vehicles

#442

Post by topmonk »

nkrisc wrote: post #432
topmonk wrote: post #405

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Then the thief could hide in the back, and rob you while you were driving down the interstate (ie. he could hold a knife to your throat and force you to drive to location that was hidden from public view). I don't know how realistic this is, but it is far more dire.

Which the theives in the article could have done anyway.

If the objective is to steal your car, the thief is going to use the least risky way that he can come up with. If you take away his ability to do it without having you start the engine yourself, this is what he's left with.

Re: Thieves boosting signal from key fobs inside homes to steal vehicles

#443

Post by megraf »

jiveturkey wrote: post #399
megraf wrote: post #280

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Following around someone with a 'signal booster' could be very difficult. If you capture and reply, you afford yourself a lot of advantages.

it’s not difficult when you steal it from their house. which is what happens.

See my original comment.

Re: Thieves boosting signal from key fobs inside homes to steal vehicles

#444

Post by jl6 »

gnicholas wrote: post #247
jl6 wrote: post #242

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I do exactly this. I lined a cookie tin with foil, and tested it by holding the closed box (with the keys inside) next to the car. It didn’t unlock. Then I opened the box, and it did unlock. The box has to be closed (lid fully on, no gaps) or the car will still unlock. Of course this only foils overnight theft. I imagine it would be trivial for someone to follow me from a car park to a public location and sit next to…

Does an unlined cookie tin not work? Does having the lid mostly closed (but with some small gaps) at least cut the effective range?

I didn’t test rigorously but an unlined tin did not block the signal when the tin was right next to the car. Maybe it still reduces the range.

Re: Thieves boosting signal from key fobs inside homes to steal vehicles

#446

Post by jiveturkey »

megraf wrote: post #443
jiveturkey wrote: post #399

Earlier quoted context omitted.

it’s not difficult when you steal it from their house. which is what happens.

See my original comment.

?

Your original comment is that cloning is nearly if not entirely nonexistent. Of course it has advantages. But it's difficult and doesn't happen in the real world. What happens is replaying. Which isn't difficult.

Re: Thieves boosting signal from key fobs inside homes to steal vehicles

#447

Post by mdtancsa »

com2kid wrote: post #168
blattimwind wrote: post #142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's standard with many "premium" brands (e.g. BMW, Audi, ...)

My 2015 Kia has it. It is pretty much standard across all cars now days, except maybe the very bottom of the line models.

Thankfully, the 2019 Honda Fit I got does not have this feature. The Sport model had it, and was one of the reasons I decided against it. Old school keyless entry via fob button and traditional key ignition

Re: Thieves boosting signal from key fobs inside homes to steal vehicles

#448

Post by exabrial »

exabrial wrote: post #371
nkurz wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From the linked article: Relay thefts According to Bates, many of these thieves are using a method called "relay theft." Key fobs are constantly broadcasting a signal that communicates with a specific vehicle, he said, and when it comes into a close enough range, the vehicle will open and start. "The way that the thieves are getting around this is they're essentially amplifying that low power signal coming off of the…

Have a link? I'm familiar with rolling code systems, but this continuous transmission is new to me

I can't find anything on continuous transmission, but it appears most of the keys use an rfid system, where the transmitter is powering the receiver.

Re: Thieves boosting signal from key fobs inside homes to steal vehicles

#449

Post by zuppy »

huebnerob wrote: post #391
alistproducer2 wrote: post #295

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I suspect many people will happily give up such a convenience if it means they won't have their cars stolen so easily.

You suspect that the average person is going to give up a convenience that benefits them multiple times daily to ever so slightly mitigate the risk of an incredibly rare problem? I do not agree.

i'm a very technical person and I also wouldn't give up the convenience of keyless entry. that is what insurance is for.
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