How to prevent keyless car theft: the easy guide
There have been reports in the news for a few years that cars with keyless entry systems are much easier to steal, so this article will tell you how to prevent keyless car theft. A keyless entry system is one where you don’t need to put a key in the keyhole to open your car; In the case of a completely hands-free system, you press a button on the remote to unlock the car or walk up, and the car unlocks when you approach and touch the door handle.
But it is possible to hack and bypass these systems and clone key fobs, so an unauthorized person can gain access to your car and steal it. What kind of car theft prevention tools do you need to prevent this from happening to you? Let’s take a look at how to prevent key fob cloning, so that your car doesn’t get stolen right under your nose.
What is Car Key Cloning?
It is the process of copying the electronic data on the car key, including the transponder chip and keyless entry signal, to create a new, identical key to gain access to the car. This may form part of a legitimate service that locksmiths provide to create a spare key fob for your car, but criminals can use the same techniques to clone your car’s key data and start it.
Typically, thieves wait close by, within range of your key fob but out of sight. They intercept and amplify the signal to create their clone key when you lock or unlock your car. With completely hands-free systems, they don’t even have to do that, they can just be outside your house near your keys to clone.
Effective keyless-entry car theft prevention
Keyless car theft prevention is all about common sense and vigilance. Here’s what you can do:
Make sure your car is actually locked
Of course, never walk away from your car unless you’re sure it’s actually locked. Watch for the locking plungers to move, listen for a click, and look for flashing or audible clicks to make sure the car locks itself. Make sure the trunk is also properly latched and locked, and that you don’t leave anything valuable in your car that could tempt a thief to get inside.
Beware of signal jamming
There are many types of key fobs, and their signals can often be jammed by a thief hiding nearby using another remote control device while you’re pressing yours to lock your car. Jamming the signal in this way renders your remote ineffective at that moment, so it fails to communicate with the car and lock. If you think your car is locked, without confirming that it is, you leave the car unlocked for thieves to get into.
Store your car keys safely
You may have heard that aluminum foil can protect your keys from hackers, and it may sound like a scam, but it’s not. But why wrap car keys in aluminum foil? Since it’s important to keep your key from being cloned when stored in your home, placing it in some sort of Faraday cage that prevents any signal from coming in or out of the key, including aluminum foil, will do the trick.
Store your keys in the back of your house, away from your car and passersby on the street, and away from exterior doors and windows. You can keep the key in your microwave (don’t turn it on!) or store it in an aluminum foil-lined box or in a special RFID case or purpose-built Faraday pouch (photo above), which can protect against digital pickpocketing. Kim Commando explains how it works:
Deactivate your car key
Some keys have a process of storing and turning them off completely when not needed, so there is no signal to interrupt and extend. You may need to double-click a button or press the buttons in a specific order, so check your manual to see if your car keys have this functionality.
Do not park your car on the street
If you have a lockup garage, to make theft more difficult, park your car inside whenever possible, and not on the street. Many thieves are opportunistic and go for easy targets, so anything that makes it harder to get into your car helps. Store keys for your garage doors and remote controls in a Faraday cage, just like your car keys.
Other anti-car theft devices
If you must park on the street, you can use other, more traditional anti-theft devices in conjunction with secure key storage to discourage opportunistic thieves. For example, a large and clear steering-wheel lock or shifter lock. You can also install an additional immobilizer or alarm. The best systems cost a few hundred dollars, but have apps and remote controls, so you can check your car’s mileage from a distance. Other effective anti-theft measures include installing a tracking device in your car and placing CCTV cameras where your car is parked.
Display all software updates
Manufacturers are constantly updating their cars’ infotainment and security software, so keep up with your updates to ensure you have the latest and most secure software. In most modern cars, this can be done over the air, and you don’t have to take your car to a dealership for an update.
Your key has been reprogrammed
This might be something to consider if you’re buying a used car, and you don’t know if someone could make a copy of the electronic key that could be used to steal your car, or if the previous owner kept a copy of the key.
A final thought
With some vigilance and common sense, you can avoid becoming one of the keyless car theft statistics. Always be aware of your surroundings when locking and unlocking, and keep an eye out for nearby shift characters. Always make sure your car is actually locked and store your keys safely, so they can’t be hacked. Finally, keep your car software updated.
