Lurker_350
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #1
After seeing the stolen wheels thread, I started wondering about how secure Ford's keyless entry/start feature was. Did a little googling, and found the following:
http://www.itstactical.com/digicom/...cle-keyless-entry-system-and-what-you-can-do/
(above article includes a link to a journal paper)
http://jalopnik.com/thieving-teens-likely-used-17-gadget-to-break-into-ny-1698036188
and many other articles.....and since it is on the internet, it must be true.
The stories state that when you attempt to open the car by pulling on the door handle, the car sends out a low frequency short range signal (~5 - 10 ft) for authentication. The key fob receives this and then sends out a high frequency long range signal (~ 100 ft) confirming that it is the correct key, allowing the car to open, start, etc. Seems that criminals are able to measure and broadcast the low frequency signal so that while your keys are in your house, the key fob can receive the authorization request and then authenticate it - allowing your car to be opened and started.
Their recommendation is that if your keys are within a couple hundred feet of your car, to put them in a faraday cage (tinfoil, microwave, products being hocked by article writers, etc.). I know that at my house and workplace, my keys are usually within that range - though it will reside in a garage at night.
I guess this isn't a problem if the key fob is a long way off (parked at an airport garage during travel, race venue, etc.). Anyone else heard of this? Or is it a tin foil hat conspiracy?
http://www.itstactical.com/digicom/...cle-keyless-entry-system-and-what-you-can-do/
(above article includes a link to a journal paper)
http://jalopnik.com/thieving-teens-likely-used-17-gadget-to-break-into-ny-1698036188
and many other articles.....and since it is on the internet, it must be true.
The stories state that when you attempt to open the car by pulling on the door handle, the car sends out a low frequency short range signal (~5 - 10 ft) for authentication. The key fob receives this and then sends out a high frequency long range signal (~ 100 ft) confirming that it is the correct key, allowing the car to open, start, etc. Seems that criminals are able to measure and broadcast the low frequency signal so that while your keys are in your house, the key fob can receive the authorization request and then authenticate it - allowing your car to be opened and started.
Their recommendation is that if your keys are within a couple hundred feet of your car, to put them in a faraday cage (tinfoil, microwave, products being hocked by article writers, etc.). I know that at my house and workplace, my keys are usually within that range - though it will reside in a garage at night.
I guess this isn't a problem if the key fob is a long way off (parked at an airport garage during travel, race venue, etc.). Anyone else heard of this? Or is it a tin foil hat conspiracy?
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