How to Steal a Keyless Car in 10 Seconds--And How to Prevent It

Think your keyless fobs are secure? No they're not. Actually, it only takes ten seconds to steal a keyless car using simple, everyday gadgets that can be bought for less than PHP1,000. What thieves do is use a signal amplifier to clone your key fob's radio signals, and send it to a transmitter placed near your car. This fools your car into thinking that the thieves' transmitter is the real key that's being used to open your vehicle, so it opens the car doors and welcomes the unscrupulous crooks with open arms.

Your key fob is constantly sending out radio signals. This can be picked up by a nearby radio device, which can be cloned by a signal amplifier. The thieves can send this to transmitter close to your vehicle, and use those cloned signals to open it easily.

Here's a good example of what we're talking about:

https://youtu.be/0Colc77VjzU

How to protect yourself from "Key Fob" theft

So how do you protect yourself from these car hacks? Here are some tips you can do:

Tip #1 Deactivate your keyless fobs.

Most keyless fobs come with deactivating features. If not, ask your dealer how to deactivate them.

Tip #2 Disable keyless entry features.

It's safer to disable your car's keyless features. You can do this by consulting your manual;  if not, ask your car dealer how to do it.

Tip #3 Invest in a Faraday bag.

A Faraday bag is a type of signal blocking pouch--and make sure to place your key in it all  the times. This will stop the fob's signals from transmitting outside.

Similarly, a metal case can also be effective in blocking out signals. And a quirky alternative  you might want to try is your fridge or microwave as well.  Just don't forget they're there when you decide to heat your leftovers.

Tip #4 Keep keys around 16 feet away from front windows and doors.

Invest in a steering wheel lock. That way, it will still be difficult to drive your car away even if the thieves could  get inside your vehicle. According to the police, cars fitted with steering wheel locks are the least likely to be stolen.