Keyless Car at risk
PETALING JAYA: Owners of cars using the keyless entry system are at risk of
having their vehicles stolen in minutes by a frequency-hacking device that is available
locally.
The
device, which costs about RM150 and can be obtained online or at some
electronics stores, can unlock a car and start its engine by hacking its radio
frequency identification (RFID) information.
A
source said the device could open almost every car with keyless entry.
The
source said car thieves recruited hackers to install the required software onto
their laptops and teach them how to operate the device.
There
are three ways to steal the encryption code to unlock these vehicles.
“The
device has to be attached to a computer and run with simple frequency
monitoring software, which can be downloaded for free from the Internet.
“The
software reads the frequency transmitted between the remote key and car system.
“It
can capture the frequency code used to lock the car. At the same time, it
decrypts the rolling codes transmitted back by the car to the remote key, to
unlock the vehicle,” the source explained.
The
other method is by “attacking” the car system. The hacking device broadcasts a
signal mimicking the remote, tricking the car into responding with a rolling
code.
The
device captures the code and decrypts it to unlock the vehicle.
The
source said the process could just take a few minutes, depending on the
hackers’ code database.
“Thieves
have also been known to steal the code from the remote key by broadcasting a
radio signal to it.
“This
emulates the car communicating with the key, which will automatically send a
response.
“The
car thieves will then capture and decrypt the frequency transmitted from the
key and pair it with the car’s locking system to unlock the vehicle.”
The
source said many keyless entry systems also included a remote keyless ignition
system. As such, when thieves unlock the vehicle, they can also start the car.
Remote
keyless ignition uses a push button to start the car, not a physical key.
Munich-based
Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club (ADAC), the largest auto club in Europe,
recently said 110 models from 27 different manufacturers were at risk of being
stolen based on the keyless system they used.
In
a test conducted by the club, which has 19 million members, the cars were
easily “stolen” using the frequency-hacking device.
An
ADAC report said they were not only able to unlock the vehicles but also start
them with no problem.
“To
date, car manufacturers have yet to find a foolproof solution to beat these car
thieves,” the ADAC findings concluded.
A
police spokesman said they were aware of this high-tech method.
“Car
owners should take extra precautions like installing GPS tracking devices or
use steering or gear locks to deter thieves,” he said.
He
added that keyless entry was impressive, but nothing beats a good physical
lock, which made it much harder for thieves.
Statistics
of such thefts are not available in Malaysia.
However,
according to RAC Ltd, a British automotive services company, the number of
thefts reported to 40 police stations in England and Wales rose from 65,783
vehicles in 2013 to 85,688 in 2016.
RAC’s
data indicated that the 30% increase was attributed to thieves using the
frequency-hacking method to break into cars.
Automotive
industry insiders believed the good old way of securing cars – using manual
keys and locks – was still effective in preventing vehicle theft.
A
spokesman for a carmaker said the longer time taken to steal vehicles with
old-fashioned locks discouraged thieves.
Owners
are also encouraged to use anti-theft devices such as steering locks,
immobilisers, motion sensors and top-grade alarms.
The
spokesman said a good tracking device in a vehicle would also be of great help
in the event of a theft.
A
car owner, who gave his name only as Lee, said he suspected thieves used this
method to steal his car.
“Five
other friends lost their vehicles within two months of my car being stolen,” he
said.
“I
believe the thieves used a computer or gadget to open the car doors,” he said,
adding that his car used push-button ignition.
He
said the thieves also deactivated the alarm when unlocking his luxury car.
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