Fighting off Keyless Car Hackers

Does your car have a keyless entry system? If so, it may be an easy target for sophisticated car thieves who have figured out how to hack the technology designed to make your life easier.

Car makers, the insurance industry, and law enforcement are playing catch-up on fob-related car theft techniques that have become a growing problem with modern cars.

Here’s what you need to know to protect yourself from these criminals.

How Is Fob Hacking Possible?

A key fob is designed to be small, so it can be carried around inconspicuously, just like a key chain. The term fob and small key chains have been used interchangeably for many years.

Keyless cars use a fob to communicate low-power radio signals to car doors, ignition and start/stop buttons. They’re only effective when the fob is within three feet of these components. However, hackers have developed special equipment to amplify the communication signals between vehicles and smart fobs, greatly extending the system’s effective range. Signals can also be cloned using an RFID transmitter or by hacking into a smartphone app which is also used to start cars.

These are known as relay hacks and can trick the car into thinking the fob is next to the car door or ignition system when it is really somewhere else. Thieves use the relay hack to unlock and start the vehicle.

Some relay thieves use wireless transmitters held up to the front door or window of a house or the pocket of a car owner to capture the signal from a genuine digital key and relay it to a target vehicle. Another person standing close to the vehicle captures the signal, fooling the car into thinking the key is within range, allowing it to be unlocked. Once inside the vehicle, the process can be repeated to start the engine.

Typically, these attacks happen in residential areas where many people have their keys hanging by the door or in the kitchen, such as in a condo or apartment community where keys tend to be closer to where a car is parked.

Other thieves use signal jamming by transmitting on the same radio frequency as the fob. This blocks the signal that locks the door, allowing thieves to open the door when the owner walks away.

These methods are commonplace because they don’t require any special or expensive equipment. It’s also easy to find online videos on how to hack a key fob, which makes a crook’s job even easier.

Not all cars can be hacked by the methods above. For example, only vehicles manufactured during 2009-2017 can be hacked by key cloning, and the most vulnerable makes are Toyota, Hyundai, Kia, and Tesla. Also, encryption flaws are usually common among older cars sold outside the USA.

How Can I Prevent My Key Fob From Being Hacked?

You have several options to reduce or eliminate key fob hacks.

Block the fob signal. A Faraday bag is one of the most effective ways to do this. It’s made of flexible metallic fabric to stop any signal from getting out or in the bag. They’re already in common use and come in different sizes and price ranges so finding one that best suits your needs should be a relatively simple task. If you don’t want to use a Faraday bag, you can store your fob in a safe or another metal object.

Reprogram the fob from time to time. A locksmith can do this for you in just a few minutes, but it’s probably more of a hassle and will cost more money and time than using a Faraday bag.

Physically place your fob away from doors or windows in your home or office, effectively reducing or blocking a hacker’s signal-stealing technology.

Look for a fob flash. When you lock your car with a fob by touching the door handle or clicking the button on a remote, make sure the indicators flash and listen for the clunk of locks.

Keep up with software updates. As cars, phones, and other technology are more connected than ever, it’s crucial to keep thieves at bay by installing the latest software on your vehicle and phone.

Keep your key fob in a shielded wallet when you’re out and about. Some people think wrapping a fob in aluminum foil will provide enough protection, but that may not be true. Again, a Faraday bag is still your best bet when in public.

Attach a lock to your steering wheel. It’s old school, but metal bars that lock steering wheels are an effective and visible deterrent for thieves trying to steal your vehicle. You may go a little more extreme and get a lock for one of your car wheels. Just remember to remove it before you attempt to drive off!

Install a tracker. Unusual activity is monitored, and you are alerted if it appears a car is not where it should be. You can also trace the vehicle via GPS if it is stolen.

Switch off the fob when not in use or use a motion sensor fob. Some fobs can be turned off, which is what you should do when it’s not in use. Other fobs have motion sensors, meaning the fob stops transmitting a signal if it’s left idle for a certain amount of time. This negates the use of relays to steal your fob signal.

Install CCTV or a smart doorbell. This may not prevent your car from being stolen, but if thieves see active cameras on your property, that may be enough of a deterrent for them to move on. These devices also make it easier to find your car if it does get stolen. Good exterior lighting and an active Neighborhood Watch are also added deterrents that are easy to implement.