What The Tech: Ways to protect your vehicle key fob from thieves
BY JAMEY TUCKER, Consumer Tech Reporter
You may have seen social media posts showing thieves getting into locked cars without
smashing a window, picking a lock or stealing the owner’s keys. It sounds like a hoax, but it isn’t.
Thieves are using electronic devices to take advantage of the wireless technology used by
some keyless-entry vehicles. One technique is known as a relay attack, and it can allow
thieves to unlock a vehicle without setting off the alarm. Recent cases have been reported
around the country.
How a Key Fob Relay Attack Works
Many newer vehicles allow you to unlock the doors simply by walking up to the car with the key
fob in your pocket or purse. The vehicle and key communicate wirelessly to determine whether the authorized key is nearby.
In a relay attack, thieves use electronic equipment to extend that communication over a much
greater distance. One thief may stand near a house, apartment, restaurant or other location where the owner’s key fob is located. Another thief stands near the vehicle. Their equipment relays the signal between the car and the real key fob.
The car can then be tricked into believing the authorized key is right beside it, allowing the thief
to unlock the doors. On some vehicles, thieves may also be able to start the engine and drive
away. Unlike a traditional break-in, there may be no broken glass or obvious damage.
Can You Stop a Relay Attack?
The answer depends partly on the vehicle. Some manufacturers allow drivers to disable passive keyless entry or put the key fob into a sleep mode when it isn’t being used. Some newer vehicles also use technology designed to determine more accurately how far the key really is from the vehicle.
Check your owner’s manual or ask the dealership whether your vehicle has those options. Simply locking the vehicle a different way may help on certain models, but it isn’t a universal solution. I tested several locking methods on my own vehicle and found that they didn’t prevent the keyless system from operating.
Try a Faraday Pouch
One of the simplest defenses is a Faraday pouch.
These inexpensive signal-blocking pouches are designed to prevent the key fob from
communicating wirelessly while it is inside. Police agencies continue to recommend them as one way to reduce the risk of keyless relay theft.
There’s an easy way to test one. Put your key fob inside the pouch, close it completely and walk up to your vehicle. Try opening the door. If the car still recognizes the key, the pouch isn’t blocking the signal effectively. Don’t forget about your spare key. If it uses the same wireless system, it should also be protected.
Keep Keys Away From Doors and Windows
Another simple precaution is to avoid leaving key fobs close to the front door, garage door or an
exterior wall. Police advise keeping keys farther inside the home and out of sight because relay equipment may be able to reach a fob located inside.
For additional protection, consider an old-fashioned security device such as a steering-wheel
lock. It won’t stop someone from electronically unlocking the doors, but it can make stealing the
vehicle much more difficult. And remember that a Faraday pouch only protects against relay attacks. It does not prevent every type of modern vehicle theft.
The takeaway: if you see videos claiming thieves can quietly unlock certain keyless vehicles
without breaking a window, don’t automatically dismiss them as fake. The technology is real.
And a $15 signal-blocking pouch may be one of the simplest ways to make that particular attack
much harder.
