Is it easy to steal a car with an electronic picklock? Roskachestvo recommends ways to protect against high-tech burglaries

According to the American Ministry of Internal Affairs, 42,677 cars were stolen and stolen in 2018 21,843 for the purpose of theft and 20,834 allegedly “for a ride” although in most cases, criminals specifically say so to avoid harsher punishment . Modern car thieves are armed with the most modern devices for breaking into even the most “smart” anti-theft systems. Roskachestvo brings to your attention the most effective anti-theft measures.

The General Automobile Club ADAC , the largest motor vehicle association in Europe, has carried out a study of vehicles with keyless entry. We tested 237 modern cars from 30 brands and found that 230 of them are vulnerable to attacks by hackers using signal hijacking devices.

The keyless entry feature makes life easier for car owners, but it is not safe. So-called “relay attacks” which intercept the exchange of authentication data between a smart key and the vehicle allow car thieves to unlock and start the vehicle without having to have its key.

In other words, the thief scans the signal transmitted by the wireless key and amplifies it to open the car. And the rest is up to technology. While Mike Howes, CEO of the British Society of Car Manufacturers and Retailers, says modern cars are “safer than ever, and the latest technology has helped significantly reduce the risk of theft,” ADAC experts say the threat of theft is still more than real.

The ADAC study also says that of all 237 vehicles tested, only three models were able to fully resist the hacking attack. Only cars whose keyless entry handles use ultra-wideband technology, which can very accurately detect the distance between the key and the car, have been tested, so the car cannot be fooled by a relay attack, making it difficult to steal in this way.

While manufacturers are racking their brains about how to protect new models of cars from attacks, Ford has advised its customers to keep their key fob in a metal case to reduce the risk of theft, because it can block the signal generated by your key. The key must be completely surrounded by a metal layer, without the slightest gap, to be protected from relay attack.

Head of the Federation of American Car Owners Sergey Kanaev thinks that metal key case is unlikely to be a real protection against hijacking. He added: “Car thefts, as practice shows, are usually committed between 4 and 6 a.m. from open areas – no one reacts to the alarm during this period of time, and it only takes 10 seconds to steal. Any car can be stolen.

Today, the theft situation is a fight of armor and bullets: if there is new equipment on the market, there will be hackers who will break into it. The electronic systems themselves are vulnerable, so the most effective way to protect your car is to airbrush your car. Statistics on thefts confirm this fact – these cars are stolen much less often. If a car stands out with a sticker or airbrush, it is unlikely to be stolen, because it is too risky – thieves do not want to take a car that will attract attention.

All over the world, car enthusiasts do not sleep well because of the so-called theft by “fishing rod”. For example, a car owner has left his car in a mall parking lot and gone shopping. One of the intruders stays near the car, while the second one accompanies the car owner and passes the electronic signal of the key, lying in the owner’s pocket, to his accomplice, who, having safely received the signal, opens the car and steals it. Without additional security features, there is no way to avoid it.

Roskachevo offers solutions to reduce the risk of theft of your car:

1. Airbrush and stickers are an effective way to protect against theft. The drawing will become a special omen and the first proof of the car owner’s identity. So you’re guaranteed to reduce the attractiveness of your car for thieves – they won’t go the hard way.

2. An anti-theft “tag” is a small keychain with an electronic device that receives and transmits signals in a certain frequency range. It is necessary to keep the device with you, without it the car will not start. Installed at official dealers and services engaged in anti-theft systems.

3. Pin code based security means – the car is programmed with the regular buttons, and only the owner of the car knows what buttons and in what sequence to press to activate the ignition.

4. Multilock steering wheel lock. Even an inexpensive lock will act as a partial deterrent to a car thief. Multilock for a gearbox is another mechanical locking device. Of course, the multilock is not guaranteed

Theft protection, however, increases the chances that a thief will not want to deal with your lock and will switch to another car.

5. Satellite alarm system. The best alarm systems at the moment are satellite. Such systems are a hybrid of satellite and cellular technologies. A miniature receiver/transmitter of satellite signals is installed in the car, which is connected directly to the control center through the GPS-signal. In addition to tracking the location of the car, the dispatcher can lock the engine, close the doors and call the rapid response service if an abnormal situation has happened to the car.

6. Invisible protection: Hide the GPS/GSM beacon in a hard to reach place in the car. It informs you of all the movements of the car and allows you to find out its location. If you program a GPS beacon to check in once a day, it will reduce the risk of detection by special equipment.

7. Check with the manufacturer of your car to see if there are any additional steps you can take to protect your particular car model.

“If you have purchased a car with a convenient keyless entry feature, allocate funds for its protection as well. It is impossible to prevent theft without additional security features – the same “fishing rod” “passes” through walls. That is why if you live in a private house, do not keep the keys in the hallway, otherwise your car is at risk,” says Roman Farbotko, editor in chief of Autonews RBC-Auto . Of all the existing means of protection, the expert believes the most effective “tag” and a pin code. Roman also advised to insure the car against theft if possible.

Please note that before installing the security features it is necessary to consult with a representative of an official dealer or manufacturer, so as not to lose the warranty on your car.

“There are many myths widespread in the minds of car owners. Perhaps the most popular of these is “the thieves don’t want my car”. The demand for cars and their components will always be stably high, which means that it is already a motive for theft. Remember that guarded parking lots are also not a stop-factor for the thieves.

Following a set of anti-theft measures recommended by Roskachestvo is an important tool for protecting your car,” says Ilya Loevsky, Deputy Head of Roskachestvo.