Another Way for Thieves to Steal a Car
Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2018 11:09 pmHere is yet another way for a thief to steal your car...
https://gnd.com/why-authorities-warn-yo ... 18ae2495fd
Note that the link says the ways to protect your car are to have your keys in one of the following places:
1) Wrapped in aluminum/tin foil
2) Coffee can
3) Microwave oven
4) Refrigerator
5) Freezer
And here is the full text of the article (for when the link goes bad or disappears):
Why Authorities Warn You Should Always Keep Your Keys Wrapped In Foil
(Published August 28th, 2018)
It’s no secret that more than ever, thieves are getting more clever. As safety technologies evolve, so do ways criminals steal from you.
One of the biggest purchases you can make in your life, outside of a home, is a vehicle. That’s why it’s important to understand new ways criminals are using technologies to steal them. What thieves are now doing is they are using a “relay attack” to break into cars.
Basically what this “relay attack” does is it hijacks the signal from a person’s key fob which allows them to open a car without the alarm going off. It also in many cases lets them start the car without having to have the actual keys in their possession.
But how exactly do the thieves get close enough to your keys to steal the signal? It’s pretty easy actually. They often works in teams of two or more.
One will get close to victim, and the other will be close to their car. That way when the “hacking” device that’s near the victim who has the keys in their possession, it sends a signal to the other device near the car, unlocking it. Then they enter and use the same signal to start the car.
And they’re off, and when you get back to your parking spot your confusion soon turns to anger and a sick feeling in your stomach.
However, this type of criminal activity can be stopped quite easily, and very inexpensively. What many people are doing is they are wrapping their keys in tin foil to block the signals from being able to be hijacked.
Former FBI agent, Holly Hubert, who specialized in cybersecurity told the Detroit Free Press:
“Although it's not ideal, it is the most inexpensive way,”
She continued:
“The cyber threat is so dynamic and ever changing, it’s hard for consumers to keep up.”
While this is a great way to stop thieves from stealing your car during the day, while you are out and about, it’s quite annoying to keep having to re-wrap them in foil.
Since criminals are getting more and more brave, stealing cars from driveways, both during the day and at night, there’s an easier way to protect yourself while at home or sleeping.
Simply place your keys in an old coffee can. This acts in the same way the foil does, it blocks the signal from being able to be stolen.
If you don’t have an old tin can laying around you can also keep your key fob in a microwave, fridge, or the freezer. All of these will do the trick. (end of text from article linked above)
One question I have- what about "pre fob type keys", the ones where you'd push a button to arm/disarm your car alarm but the keys themselves were about half the size (or less) that they are now? Could those last generation type keys be hijacked? Of course the really old fashioned keys where there was no button to push wouldn't be affected by this technology. I guess you could still use a clothes hanger to open up one of those car doors.
https://gnd.com/why-authorities-warn-yo ... 18ae2495fd
Note that the link says the ways to protect your car are to have your keys in one of the following places:
1) Wrapped in aluminum/tin foil
2) Coffee can
3) Microwave oven
4) Refrigerator
5) Freezer
And here is the full text of the article (for when the link goes bad or disappears):
Why Authorities Warn You Should Always Keep Your Keys Wrapped In Foil
(Published August 28th, 2018)
It’s no secret that more than ever, thieves are getting more clever. As safety technologies evolve, so do ways criminals steal from you.
One of the biggest purchases you can make in your life, outside of a home, is a vehicle. That’s why it’s important to understand new ways criminals are using technologies to steal them. What thieves are now doing is they are using a “relay attack” to break into cars.
Basically what this “relay attack” does is it hijacks the signal from a person’s key fob which allows them to open a car without the alarm going off. It also in many cases lets them start the car without having to have the actual keys in their possession.
But how exactly do the thieves get close enough to your keys to steal the signal? It’s pretty easy actually. They often works in teams of two or more.
One will get close to victim, and the other will be close to their car. That way when the “hacking” device that’s near the victim who has the keys in their possession, it sends a signal to the other device near the car, unlocking it. Then they enter and use the same signal to start the car.
And they’re off, and when you get back to your parking spot your confusion soon turns to anger and a sick feeling in your stomach.
However, this type of criminal activity can be stopped quite easily, and very inexpensively. What many people are doing is they are wrapping their keys in tin foil to block the signals from being able to be hijacked.
Former FBI agent, Holly Hubert, who specialized in cybersecurity told the Detroit Free Press:
“Although it's not ideal, it is the most inexpensive way,”
She continued:
“The cyber threat is so dynamic and ever changing, it’s hard for consumers to keep up.”
While this is a great way to stop thieves from stealing your car during the day, while you are out and about, it’s quite annoying to keep having to re-wrap them in foil.
Since criminals are getting more and more brave, stealing cars from driveways, both during the day and at night, there’s an easier way to protect yourself while at home or sleeping.
Simply place your keys in an old coffee can. This acts in the same way the foil does, it blocks the signal from being able to be stolen.
If you don’t have an old tin can laying around you can also keep your key fob in a microwave, fridge, or the freezer. All of these will do the trick. (end of text from article linked above)
One question I have- what about "pre fob type keys", the ones where you'd push a button to arm/disarm your car alarm but the keys themselves were about half the size (or less) that they are now? Could those last generation type keys be hijacked? Of course the really old fashioned keys where there was no button to push wouldn't be affected by this technology. I guess you could still use a clothes hanger to open up one of those car doors.