Security Questions about our Cars

[AngelDeath]

Greets all, Hope everyone is doing well.

I had some questions for discussion and/or answers about our cars and throwing some ideas around.

2 nights ago there was a report on the news about a woman who had bought her dream car a rare purple Dodge charger and she normally would block it in but this day she was running late a forgot. Well on the security camera you can see these guys break the driver side window in her driveway and then hop in and apparently by attaching a unit to the ODB-II port they were able to replicate a key to start and drive off the car. this kind of unnerved me since the whole thing happened at 7AM in a neighborhood.

I know we have a GPS shark fin on the top of our car, but being that the cable is right under the back deck (Unless I am wrong, which is dumb to have it that apparently easy to remove) removing or cutting it to prevent tracking (even though its not real time tracking) would make the app useless. For this reason I have added hidden safe guards in my car, but I was wondering if anyone else has added any or have ideas they want to throw around? Between being able to unlock garage doors, dupe keys etc I thought this would be a good discussion to have in this day and age to get ahead of these assholes.

One of the things I was going to look into is a real time GPS unit hidden in the car that is not as obvious as the one Ford put in, and also I was wondering if anyone knows if duping a key using the ODB-II port is a possibility with our cars as well, or if Dodge just has an exploit that someone found?

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[robvas]

They aren't stealing Mustangs as easy as Dodges. You're good.

 

[Inthehighdesert]

I hadn't seen any issues with the Ford cars and this. There's been quite a bit of stuff going on with the Doge cars though. Especially the chargers and challengers. Where I'm at it's not usually a concern. If I was in a prone area I'm not sure I wouldn't install an old fashion kill switch. Very simple.

 

[Skye]

Last report I saw, New Jersey was the motor vehicle theft capital of the US. The proximity of the Newark ports, lax export security, ready overseas buyers and a sophisticated crime network make the location a car theft mecca. A car like hers, it could have been inside a shipping container in an hour or two after boosting it.

I suspect the thieves were already aware of the car and its location, that it was not a chance encounter. The time they did have allowed them to learn her routine, habits and prepare their electronics.

I found the news story and watched the security footage. I'm still confused by something.

The car appears to be locked. They broke a window to gain physical access. Did the car alarm sound? Maybe it did. Most people would not confront the thieves, but document everything they could about the assailants. Or maybe she thought it was a neighbors car alarming. Maybe they had cloned a fob from a previous signal capture, but it didn't work as expected.

Once inside, it was game over. They're physically inside the car and its network. Using software akin to the Ford Diagnostic and Repair System or tuning/hacking software, they could defeat the alarm, present themselves as the owner and start the car. The entire thing could have been scripted in software.

Regarding tracking, you are correct. The more sophisticated thieves and thefts, they know how the car can be found. Once a mile or so away, they stop, yank the cable to the antenna, pull a fuse or something of the sort and move on.

Apple air tags and the like are popular, but they can be found. Someone can irradiate an RF tag to have it transmit, or they could use a passive receiver and locate it. Like searching for bugs or any other wireless signal. They can be worthwhile, and can narrow the location. But things will move quickly and there will not be much time.

Attached is a short video, of a thief taking a Land Rover. Stole it like a ninja.

Most vehicle thefts in my area are crimes of opportunity.

- Kias and Hyundais are a favorite, to be used in another crime later; people might as well leave them unlocked with the keys inside

- Winter is a popular month. People start their cars or trucks and walk back inside real quick while it's warming up. If you cruise through a neighborhood between 7-8 in the morning, odds are good you'll find one

- Airports are another hot spot. New or like new cars, waiting to be stolen. Late a night, giving someone plenty of time to breach it and drive off with it

Some good countermeasures:

- Keep the car in a garage, locked, when not in use

- Use faraday pouches for all fobs

- Vary routines and routes

- Keep a low, preferably absent, social media profile

 

[svttim]

Have seen a couple stolen. The first one was in the garage. Keys were in the house. Thief scanned the Key from the street and stole the car as the lady was chasing him. RFID pouches for my 350R

 

[AngelDeath]

Apple air tags and the like are popular, but they can be found. Someone can irradiate an RF tag to have it transmit, or they could use a passive receiver and locate it. Like searching for bugs or any other wireless signal. They can be worthwhile, and can narrow the location. But things will move quickly and there will not be much time.

They can be found if you:

1) Leave the speaker intact for it to sound off
2) If you put in an obvious location.

Apple can tell you its here, but unless you know what your looking for as to what its in it will still geo-locate for a period of time, and I would figure a 2nd GPS unit hidden in or under the car isnt going to be found that quickly or so I would hope.

And yes that was the same thing I was thinking why didnt the alarm go off unless it did and we just didnt hear it in the video, but that also bring me to the point of our cars, what does the GT500 have as an alarm and when does it go off, as far as I know my 2015 Cali special had glass sensor, your head passing the window barrier sensor (When the window is open and you stick your head or arm into the car) and a couple of other things, as far as I know the GT500 doesn't have the glass break sensor or the window barrier sensor. I dont live in an area that this happens often, but it does beg the question especially with the cloning of the key as the report didnt mention anything about a spare fob or such, my guess is that they cloned a key once in the car, which is what brought my question primarily to the forum.

 

[Tw00sh]

I read a post on Facebook, and someone had their GT500 CFTP stolen while in a movie theater. So, it is happening.

I have a LoJack system on my car, but not sure how well that will work if they actually take it. My exhaust is not stock, so if they start it up in the middle of the night, me and my whole street is going to know.

Also, I do not want it back after they take it out for joy rides.

 

[Evolvd]

Use an immobilizer like a Revelco or similar object. So even if they clone the fob they still can’t start the car.

 

[Inthehighdesert]

There is another possibility with that. Not saying it was but it wouldn’t surprise me these days.

I read a post on Facebook, and someone had their GT500 CFTP stolen while in a movie theater. So, it is happening.

I have a LoJack system on my car, but not sure how well that will work if they actually take it. My exhaust is not stock, so if they start it up in the middle of the night, me and my whole street is going to know.

Also, I do not want it back after they take it out for joy rides.

 

[S550HPP]

Slip a business card /other to cover windshield VIN. With that exposed anyone can get in within couple min where they can access the OBD start the car and drive away.

 

[AngelDeath]

I read a post on Facebook, and someone had their GT500 CFTP stolen while in a movie theater. So, it is happening.

These cases can easily be a quick tow & go, your in the movie theater, anyone outside is just going to think your car is being repo-ed.

 

[SCP440]

If a thief wants your car no amount of security is going to stop them, worse case they come with a truck and drag it on . Make sure you are well insured and never leave the keys easy to find stored in a RFID pouch.

 

[The Demon]

Any recommended RFID pouches that fit our fobs nicely?

 

[Skye]

Any recommended RFID pouches that fit our fobs nicely?

I've been using a pouch from SLNT. The fob fits, with just a bit left over for physical keys (a few). SLNT makes anything from a fob pouch to a backpack. Well made.

https://slnt.com/collections/faraday-bags-for-keys

I bought mine three years ago. Then, they had multiple color options available. Now, not so much.

There could be other vendors with products just as good or better.

 

[sk47]

Any recommended RFID pouches that fit our fobs nicely?

Hello; Have not tried this with a key fob, but it did block a cell phone. I cleaned the bag my coffee came in. Put my cell phone in it and tried to call it. Did not get the call.
If you try such with a key fob maybe put the fob in the bag and walk up to the car and or sit in it. Then try to start or operate some system. I may be wrong but suspect if you walk up to a car which has a key fob system the doors will unlock as you approach. If such is correct the fob in a coffee bag ought not let such happen.
Likely is there are other such bags to try.

I bought some RFID blocking holders in which I slide credit cards with chips to do the same thing.

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