Posted on 07/09/2018 8:16:52 AM PDT by BenLurkin
Given that the best way to store your car keys at night is by putting them in a coffee can, what's an ex-FBI agent's advice to protect cars from theft during the day? Wrap car fobs in aluminum foil.
“Although it's not ideal, it is the most inexpensive way,” said Holly Hubert, a cybersecurity expert who retired in 2017 from the FBI in Buffalo, New York. “The cyber threat is so dynamic and ever changing, it’s hard for consumers to keep up.”
Now, as CEO of GlobalSecurityIQ, she suggests clients go online and spend a few dollars and buy what’s called a Faraday bag to shield the fob signal from potential theft. Imagine a traditional sandwich bag made of foil instead of plastic. Thing is, the car is always waiting for the fob signal. Thieves can buy legitimate devices that amplify the fob signal sitting unprotected in a purse, a pocket, on a counter at home or even just copy the code to access the vehicle.
Copying code from key fobs isn’t difficult. And this is something the auto industry and insurance companies are monitoring closely.
The cheap (or homemade) metal protection covers, named for the scientist who figured out how to block an electromagnetic field, can prevent thieves from having access to vehicles with a wireless fob. Currently, thieves can capture fob signals from outside a home, office or hotel room.
“You know it works if you can’t unlock a car door when the fob is inside,” said Moshe Shlisel, CEO of GuardKnox Cyber Technologies and a veteran of the Israeli Air Force who helped develop cyber protection for fighter jets and missile defense systems . “The credit card holders don’t work because they’re essentially a net rather than a wall.”
(Excerpt) Read more at wsbtv.com ...
Yep. The system assumes that whoever has the fob (or a copy) is authorized to drive the car...
As long as it sees the right signal, you are the owner. It’s just a virtual key. It doesn’t require a physical cutting of the ridges, but it is a copy.
Yes, my key (2008 GM) is just a button activated radio transmitter (315 Mhz) with no proximity sensor on the vehicle side. Once the key is inserted in the ignition, however, the pass-key system does verify the chip code.
I would just as soon get rid of all the electronic stuff and go back to mechanical fuel injection and no ecm, personally.
Interesting. That would only work with the modern key fob that unlocks the door when you get close to the vehicle. My old 2003 F-250 fob wouldn’t start the car because it isn’t a push button ignition.
This is of interest.
“I would just as soon get rid of all the electronic stuff and go back to mechanical fuel injection and no ecm, personally.”
AMEN BROTHER.
Yep. A key wasn’t offered... You can’t roll-start your dead battery stick shift with a push button ignition switch, either.
My Suburban has a Viper 5706V system. I highly recommend it for vehicle security.
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