Is Using Keyless Entry a Security Risk?
Remote keyless entry systems are a common feature of modern cars, but is keyless entry a security risk? A recent report analysed figures obtained from The Office for National Statistics from April 2023 to March 2024. This showed that almost two thirds of car thefts involved vehicles using remote locking keys. They were hacked by criminals using modern technology. Gone are the days when a casual thief could get into your car with a coat hanger or a putty knife. Manufacturers have invented ever more sophisticated ways to improve vehicle security. The problem is, that the thieves are keeping up with them.
Photo by Swansway Motor Group on Unsplash
The Vulnerability of Remote Control
There is an inherent weakness in any remote controlled device, in that the signal can be intercepted. And there a number of ways of doing this.
- Jamming – When you walk away from your vehicle in a car park, and turn to activate the locks, it’s possible for someone with a jamming device to block that signal. Your car will remain unlocked and vulnerable.
- Cloning – In the same way that criminals clone credit and debit cards, they can just as easily clone your car key. All they need is a chance to intercept and copy the key’s signal.
- Replay – Replay attacks were originally seen as a computer network security vulnerability. An attacker could intercept a data transmission, such as an authentication message. They can then re-transmit this to gain unauthorized access. They can use exactly the same method to intercept and use the signal transmitted by your remote key. They can then replay it once the coast is clear.
- Relay – A relay attack is where criminals use devices to intercept and amplify the signal from a keyless car key fob. They can then trick the car’s system into thinking the key is nearby, giving them full access as if they were the driver.
Older methods of breaking into cars such as breaking windows and other means of brute force now make up a much smaller percentage of car crime. But is that because criminals are becoming more sophisticated. Or is it just because of the way manufacturers are designing security? Either way, it’s clear that we must not allow ourselves to believe that modern security systems are infallible. So what can we do to lessen the keyless entry security risk?
Physical Protection
There are materials which you can buy to block the scanning of credit cards in our wallets. There are also similar items such as the Faraday Pouch, which you can pop your key into to prevent anyone from accessing the signal. Just keep your fob inside the pouch when it’s not in use.
Disable the System
On some vehicles, you can disable the keyless entry system. Although you probably wouldn’t want it permanently switched off, you could temporarily disable it when parking in an area where there may be a risk.
Security at Home
Thieves can also sometimes scan your car key from outside your property. So keep it out of range, in as safe a place as possible when you’re at home. Or better still, pop it into a Faraday Pouch or box once you’re indoors.