Scary Theft!

[TitanTim]

Think I will be keeping the cars keyfobs in the fridge from now on

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4456992/Shocking-moment-car-hackers-steal-60-000-BMW.html

Tim.

 

[mmm-five]

Do your cars have keyless entry, as that's what these seem to be targeting?

 

[Matt64]

Disturbing stuff . Only going to be risk for keyless starters though, the earlier 'plipper' type for just opening & unlocking the doors do not transmit continually so there is no signal to subvert.

 

[TitanTim]

Yes my M140i has comfort access, I've always been careful when locking the car and ensured the alarm is armed with the red light blinking but this story is taking it to a new level. I didn't realise the keyfob emits a continous signal.

Tim.

 

[Matt64]

A metal box (or even wire, for that matter) will give you effective Faraday cage protection and isolate a fob from outside subversion.

 

[DPG]

Just put your keys in your microwave when you get home.

 

[Neilc]

 

[Maniac]

Or just let them take it and get a replacement without keyless Go.

 

[Buckz]

well Id rather that than them breaking into the house and looking for the key

 

[ric19]

Yes my M140i has comfort access, I've always been careful when locking the car and ensured the alarm is armed with the red light blinking but this story is taking it to a new level. I didn't realise the keyfob emits a continous signal.

Tim.

They don't, it's based on NFC or Near Field Communication. When it receives a signal it energises the circuit and allows it to power up

 

[dans6490]

I wonder if the "device" the criminals use can continue to be used instead of the fob? As soon as the criminals stop the car, surely the car can't be used anymore?

Or am I missing something?

 

[DPG]

I wonder if the "device" the criminals use can continue to be used instead of the fob? As soon as the criminals stop the car, surely the car can't be used anymore?

Or am I missing something?

Yeah be a bitch if these cars had stop start enabled.

 

[mr wilks]

Just put your keys in your microwave when you get home.

& park your van in front of it

 

[Havard]

So putting a van in front of the microwave works?

 

[TitanTim]

Yes my M140i has comfort access, I've always been careful when locking the car and ensured the alarm is armed with the red light blinking but this story is taking it to a new level. I didn't realise the keyfob emits a continous signal.

Tim.

They don't, it's based on NFC or Near Field Communication. When it receives a signal it energises the circuit and allows it to power up

So whatever the low life are using they must be boosting the signal from the keyfob to the car? a little like a wifi extender?

Tim.

 

[TitanTim]

I wonder if the "device" the criminals use can continue to be used instead of the fob? As soon as the criminals stop the car, surely the car can't be used anymore?

Or am I missing something?

When I have the keyfob on me and I leave the car you get a warning appearing on the dash but the car will carry on running, I'm pretty sure you could could still drive it away without the key as the engine is running anyways, you would have to clone a key to be able to start it up again.

Tim.

 

[shawna]

Once the car is started even if you throw away the key it keeps on running.

 

[ric19]

Well I'm guesing they are sending a powerful enough signal to the keyfob to get it to activate and then picking up that signal with some kind of antenna and then emulating the returned key with a laptop or something

 

[ric19]

Yes my M140i has comfort access, I've always been careful when locking the car and ensured the alarm is armed with the red light blinking but this story is taking it to a new level. I didn't realise the keyfob emits a continous signal.

Tim.

They don't, it's based on NFC or Near Field Communication. When it receives a signal it energises the circuit and allows it to power up

So whatever the low life are using they must be boosting the signal from the keyfob to the car? a little like a wifi extender?

Tim.

Well I'm guesing they are sending a powerful enough signal to the keyfob to get it to activate and then picking up that signal with some kind of antenna and then emulating the returned key with a laptop or something

 

[Anonymous]

Just put your keys in your microwave when you get home.

That only works if you also turn it on though...