One of the most interesting feature in some cars are keyless ignitions. You don’t need a key to unlock or start your car; all you need is a special electronic key fob transmitter that sends a unique code to the electronic ignition receiver. Once the code is confirmed, the door unlocks and you can start the car with a push of a button.
All of this happens without any keys. The only requirement is that you have the key fob transmitter on your person. When you get within a certain distance of the car, it will unlock. Some more advanced cars actually start as you approach.
But anything electronic can be hacked and this is also true for keyless ignitions. Hackers can intercept the codes as they are transmitted and can use them to steal your car without the alarms going off. But there are ways to protect yourself from this.
Use a Metal ContainerMany electronic key fobs constantly send out the code and never turn off. This presents a security risk because a clever thief can set his receiver dish outside of a home and lift the code from the transmission—all from the convenience of a car.
Although there are literally billions of randomly generated code combinations that link your car to your keyless ignition key fob, hackers can now narrow this number down to around 200,000 possible by intercepting the code twice. After this, a computer can calculate the entry code.
This method is way beyond many hackers, but the point is, it is possible and actually happening.
When you are at home, the solution is to place your key fob into a metal container such as a breath mint box or even a small box lined with common aluminum foil. This can block the code transmissions of the key fob until needed.
Wrap It In FoilThis does away with the box but may not be as convenient–you’ll have unwrap the transmitter each time you want to use it. But if you are highly concerned with your very expensive car being a victim of a hacker, this may be a good solution.
Get a Special WalletThere are RFID (radio frequency identification) blocking wallets and cases for sale now. They not only protect your credit cards from being read, but can also protect your electronic key fob’s transmissions from getting out.
Is It Worth It?By now you’re saying that using all these preventative measures negates most of the advantages of having keyless ignitions, and you are absolutely correct on this. But the trade-off is a bit of inconvenience in using anti-hack measures to prevent someone from stealing your car.
Source:
FoxNews