Keyless Entry thefts....

wymondham

With the industry hell bent on promoting keyless entry theft, what can be done to stop it?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47023003

How about removing a few stars on NCAP for models that can be broken into?

wongataa

wymondham wrote: »

With the industry hell bent on promoting keyless entry theft, what can be done to stop it?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47023003

How about removing a few stars on NCAP for models that can be broken into?

I'm not sure that reducing the safety rating is the way to go. Just because a car is easy to steal it doesn't affect how well it protects the occupants in a crash.

PasturesNew

wymondham wrote: »

How about removing a few stars on NCAP for models that can be broken into?

I don't even know what that means.

If I buy a car it's because I like the look of it/it is suitable for the sort I driving I want to do .... and it's a nice colour

AdrianC

wymondham wrote: »

With the industry hell bent on promoting keyless entry theft

The industry isn't "promoting theft".

...what can be done to stop it?

Don't buy keyless-entry cars.
If you really must, then keep your keys in a RFID-blocking pouch.

How about removing a few stars on NCAP for models that can be broken into?

What's it got to do with collision safety?

wymondham

AdrianC,

The industry continues to supply vehicles with proven insecure means of entry, thus continue to promote it...

many models come with keyless with no option, plus what about the ones who already have these who purchased in good faith before the vulnerability became known? Its not up to the driver to put their keys in pouches to stop this, its up to the manufacturers to correct a design flaw. I think a recall is a suitable means of correcting the issue?

Yes I know NCAP is a safety system, but its the only reference I can think of that drivers refer to before buying cars?

AdrianC

wymondham wrote: »

The industry continues to supply vehicles with proven insecure means of entry, thus continue to promote it...

They continue to sell them because that's what customers demand. No other reason.

many models come with keyless with no option

So don't buy those models.

plus what about the ones who already have these who purchased in good faith before the vulnerability became known?

Notice the date on these mainstream press articles...
https://www.driving.co.uk/car-clinic/six-ways-thieves-can-break-into-a-car-and-how-to-prevent-it/
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2014/oct/27/thieves-range-rover-keyless-locking

Now note the dates on these more specialist articles...
https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/keyless-cars-vulnerable-to-hack-theft/
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/422298/car-theft-by-antenna/

Are the manufacturers lax? Perhaps. But the remedy is in consumers' hands. Yet they actively prefer the less secure design for one simple reason - they're too sodding lazy to press a button and turn a key.

Its not up to the driver to put their keys in pouches to stop this, its up to the manufacturers to correct a design flaw.

You can whinge all you like, but there are two very simple remedies available - one pre-purchase, one post-purchase.
The pre-purchase one is either free or actively cheaper.
The post-purchase one is trivially cheap. Here's a two-pack for just over a fiver.

If you can't be bothered to take one of those two options, then it's your loss. Quite literally.

Yes I know NCAP is a safety system, but its the only reference I can think of that drivers refer to before buying cars?

More fool them, then.

Gloomendoom

wymondham wrote: »

AdrianC,

The industry continues to supply vehicles with proven insecure means of entry, thus continue to promote it...

many models come with keyless with no option, plus what about the ones who already have these who purchased in good faith before the vulnerability became known? Its not up to the driver to put their keys in pouches to stop this, its up to the manufacturers to correct a design flaw. I think a recall is a suitable means of correcting the issue?

Either that or just keep the fob in a tin as far away from the front door as possible..

dogshome

Nothing wrong with keyless Entry & Start, except that the the fob is broadcasting 24/7/365 - Why the blazes does it not have a simple ON/OFF Switch ?

DoaM

dogshome wrote: »

Why the blazes does it not have a simple ON/OFF Switch ?

Because people will operate said switch (either deliberately or accidentally) and will then complain that "the key's not working any more".

George_Michael

wymondham wrote: »

Its not up to the driver to put their keys in pouches to stop this, its up to the manufacturers to correct a design flaw.

What about personal responsibility?
If someone knows their car is vulnerable, why shouldn't it be up to them to do what is reasonable to protect what may be the most expensive item they own?

Regarding the problems with tumble driers catching fire.
Would you also state that it's not up to the owners of suspect machines to keep a close eye on them whilst being used as it's up to the manufacturer to correct the design flaw with the appliance?

Johno100

AdrianC wrote: »

The industry isn't "promoting theft".

But they are doing very little to prevent it.

AdrianC wrote: »

Don't buy keyless-entry cars.
If you really must, then keep your keys in a RFID-blocking pouch.

You can have your car keys with you a hundred miles away it wont make a bit of difference if the thieves can pop a window, plug into the OBD port and reprogramme a key in less than a minute.

Anyway my suggestions for the industry.

- Add a pin code to the ECU software in the same way they do on your cars radio to prevent the above reprogramming.

- Physical security for the OBD port, or place it in a much more inaccessible position in the vehicle.

- Not the manufacturers but the insurance industry as well. These thefts aren't opportunistic or by joy riders. Many of the vehicles are been stolen to order, stripped down and the parts used to repair written off vehicles that have been bought cheap by operators of back street 'garages'. A lot more care needs to be taken by the insurance industry as to what happens to written off vehicles so they aren't fueling this form of crime.