By Steve Heap @ Shutterstock.com
Originally posted on April 27, 2017.
“My car was stolen,” is the last thing I want to say to the authorities. Mine wasn’t, thankfully. But how vulnerable am I to car theft?
Isn’t it cool that you can start your car with a push of a button? Technology is great. But what happens when the signal from your key fob is stolen?
It’s happening while victims are asleep, not at the wheel, but in their comfy bed.
Imagine all the car key fobs in your neighborhood.
They are silent beacons inviting criminals into your driveway or garage. Ever wonder how that emergency button’s signal can travel so far?
So have the criminals. And you don’t have to be pressing a button. Fobs send out a signal whether they’re in your pocket, on your desk, or hanging on your wall.
Criminals, using radio devices to copy your fob signal, amplify it, send it to your car, start it and off they go.
Once the car is started it doesn’t care where the fob/key actually is.
Criminals, using a device discussed in Wired, were able to break into a car 1,000 feet away from the owner.
Picture this: You run into Starbucks to get your hot latte, you ordered on your iPhone, and the next thing you know: your car is gone.
Or this: Your condo unit is on the third floor and your car is outside below, an easy target for a team to steal.
One way to protect yourself against this is with a Faraday pouch to store your key or a Faraday box for storage in your house. Or you could simply lock your garage.
There isn’t an easy solution. I know, who wants to deal with this? Apparently not the car companies.
Be aware. You’re sending signals to the world all day long. Understanding that will help make you think about better ways to secure your belongings.
How to Safeguard Your Car From Hackers
Originally posted on Yoursurvivalguy.com.
