Why you should wrap your keys in aluminum foil
Photo illustration. (REUTERS/Mal Langsdon)
Your car is always listening. Not for your voice, like the Amazon Echo or Siri,
but for an electronic signal, such as the coded "unlock" signal from
your electronic key fob. If it's a newer car model, you might not have
to press any buttons; just approach your car and the doors will unlock
automatically. In some cars, the engine will even turn on.
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Wirelessly unlocking your car is convenient, but it
comes at a price. Criminals can easily intercept the key fob's signal
and open your car without setting off any alarms. If you have a true
keyless car model, they might be able to just drive away. Let's look at
how criminals pull this off and what you can do to keep your car safe.
How your car's security system works
As you've probably noticed, you can't just open your
car with any old radio signal. You need your specific key fob to do the
job, and there's a reason.
A key fob uses a computer chip to create a unique
code that it sends to your car's security system. The car also has a
chip that uses the same algorithm to generate codes. If the codes match
up, the car opens. There's a bit more to it, but those are the basics.
How criminals attack #1
Since each key fob/car security pair is unique, and
each one can create billions of codes, hackers shouldn’t stand a chance.
But it turns out that a popular system from Megamos Crypto isn't as
secure everyone thought.
Researchers at Radboud University in the Netherlands
and the University of Birmingham found that by intercepting the wireless
signal just twice, they could narrow down the possible
combinations from billions to just 200,000. After that, a computer can
figure out the code in just half an hour and unlock the car.
In a real-world application, a thief could sit on a
street and gather wireless signals as car owners enter and exit their
vehicles. Then overnight they could steal a number of cars. Click here to find out if your car is at risk from this kind of attack.
Still, it takes a skilled car thief or hacker to
carry out this kind of attack, so the odds of it happening to you are
slim. But thanks to always-on key fobs, there's another risk that's much
more likely to happen.
How criminals attack #2
Always-on key fobs present a serious weakness in your
car's security. As long as your keys are in range, anyone can open the
car and the system will think it's you. That's why newer car models
won't unlock until the key fob is within a foot of them.
But for less than $100, criminals can get an
amplifier that detects key fob signals from up to 300 feet away and then
transmits them to your car. In other words, your keys could be in your
house, and criminals could walk up to your car and open it. This isn't
just a theory; it's actually happening.
Steps to stop car thieves
Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take
to keep hackers from stealing your signal. You can buy a
signal-blocking pouch that can hold your keys, like the Hack-Blocking Card Pouch I sell in the Komando Shop.
If you don’t want to spend any money, you can stick
your key fob into the refrigerator or freezer. The multiple layers of
metal will block your key fob's signal. Just check with the fob's
manufacturer to make sure that freezing your key fob won't damage it.
If you're not hot on freezing your key fob, you can
do the same thing with your microwave oven. (Hint: Don't turn it on.)
Stick your key fob in there, and criminals won't be able to pick up its
signal. Like any seasoned criminal, they'll just move onto an easier
target.
Since your key fob's signal is blocked by metal, you
can also wrap it up in aluminum foil. While that's the easiest solution,
it can also leak the signal if you don't do it right. Plus, you might
need to stock up on foil. You can also make a foil-lined box to put your
keys in, if you're in a crafting mood.
You should also be aware that this kind of signal
stealing isn't a problem just for car key fobs. Newer passports and
other I.D. cards contain radio frequency identification chips that
enable criminals to use a high-powered RFID reader to steal your information from a distance.
You don't need aluminum foil, however. Explore the line of stylish
RFID-blocking wallets, purses and passport cases I sell in the Komando Shop.
Key fob hacking isn't the only danger to modern cars. Learn how hackers can take control of cars through their entertainment systems and other avenues of attack.
On the Kim Komando Show,
the nation's largest weekend radio talk show, Kim takes calls and
dispenses advice on today's digital lifestyle, from smartphones and
tablets to online privacy and data hacks. For her daily tips, free
newsletters and more, visit her website at Komando.com. Kim also posts breaking tech news 24/7 at News.Komando.com.
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