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Car theft by key fob hack

ThinkFast

ThinkFast

Live Long
Joined
Apr 10, 2007
Location
San RiffRaph
Moto(s)
2012 BMW R1200GS
Name
Tom
On NextDoor I just read about someone’s Audi being stolen off their driveway a couple blocks from where I live. The owner suspects it was done by a key fob hack where the thieves stand next to the owner in a store and have a device that amplifies and sniffs the fob code which is then relayed to a partner near the car with a receiver/emulator that gives them access to the car.

You can buy Faraday fob cases on Amazon to protect against this. Anyone hear about this? Turns out it’s been around for a few years - this was first I’ve heard of it happening.
 
ThinkFast said:
On NextDoor I just read about someone’s Audi being stolen off their driveway a couple blocks from where I live. The owner suspects it was done by a key fob hack where the thieves stand next to the owner in a store and have a device that amplifies and sniffs the fob code which is then relayed to a partner near the car with a receiver/emulator that gives them access to the car.

You can buy Faraday fob cases on Amazon to protect against this. Anyone hear about this? Turns out it’s been around for a few years - this was first I’ve heard of it happening.
Click to expand...

Going to make a bet that the 'Faraday FOB' is a bit of snake oil. If something actually blocked the signal, then the FOB just wouldn't work. More likely, the FOB does nothing to actually block any signal.
 
Just ordered two for my new Audi Q5. Will see how they work and if I need one for the BMW S1000XR
 
I always thought it would be a good idea to have a hidden kill switch.
Of course I never bothered with the hassle of installing one.
Probably would just ignore using it not long after installation anyway.
 
ThinkFast said:
On NextDoor I just read about someone’s Audi being stolen off their driveway a couple blocks from where I live. The owner suspects it was done by a key fob hack where the thieves stand next to the owner in a store and have a device that amplifies and sniffs the fob code which is then relayed to a partner near the car with a receiver/emulator that gives them access to the car.

You can buy Faraday fob cases on Amazon to protect against this. Anyone hear about this? Turns out it’s been around for a few years - this was first I’ve heard of it happening.
Click to expand...

Yes, the vehicle I have now is the first I have owned without a mechanical ignition and ever since I got it this has been a concern of mine. That and dead batteries. I imagine pulling the fob transmission off of someone moving around in a store is very tricky, but probably possible.

:dunno


ScarySpikes said:
Going to make a bet that the 'Faraday FOB' is a bit of snake oil. If something actually blocked the signal, then the FOB just wouldn't work. More likely, the FOB does nothing to actually block any signal.
Click to expand...

*deleted for Holeshot*
 
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Blankpage said:
I always thought it would be a good idea to have a hidden kill switch.
Of course I never bothered with the hassle of installing one.
Probably would just ignore using it not long after installation anyway.
Click to expand...

I did a switch on my old '77 Blazer because they were so easy to steal. Put the switch on the negative side of the coil, can't be hot wired. Just be sure no one can see where you split the negative to the coil.
 
Audis have a fairly well known emergency spare key included with the original literature in the glovebox. Many owners are unaware of it, but thieves are. Smash window, open glovebox, use emergency key to take car

A friend has an Audi and lives in San Francisco. He has a note on the dashboard notifying passing shitbags that the emergency key has been removed. The car has been broken into 3 times last I heard, with the note in place

https://eftm.com/2016/02/warning-to-audi-owners-thieves-are-targeting-your-car-25336
 
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Hopefully someone steals my Range Rover using this method
 
ScarySpikes said:
Going to make a bet that the 'Faraday FOB' is a bit of snake oil. If something actually blocked the signal, then the FOB just wouldn't work. More likely, the FOB does nothing to actually block any signal.
Click to expand...

How much ya in for? Same deal...charitable?
 
Blankpage said:
I always thought it would be a good idea to have a hidden kill switch.
Of course I never bothered with the hassle of installing one.
Probably would just ignore using it not long after installation anyway.
Click to expand...

On one of my first RZ's (back when they were new) I put a toggle switch under the rear seat right next to the grab rail you'd use to lift it onto or off the rear stand.
I could switch the ignition off while I put the bike on the centerstand and you couldn't tell I was doing anything.

Certainly wouldn't prevent someone from simply tossing the bike into a truck bed but I was confident no one was gonna hot wire or bypass the ignition.


Similar hidden switch in an old Blazer I had, too.
 
Abacinator said:
More likely is that people think it works because fob skimming isn't something that happens very often
Click to expand...

I mean, couldn't you easily just test it out by walking up to the car with the signal blocking holder and confirm the car won't open? Seems easy enough. If the car won't open, no one can steal the signal.

Of course, if you removed it to use the fob you'd be vulnerable if someone was in close proximity.
 
good discussion.

ScarySpikes said:
Going to make a bet that the 'Faraday FOB' is a bit of snake oil. If something actually blocked the signal, then the FOB just wouldn't work. More likely, the FOB does nothing to actually block any signal.
Click to expand...

... you ... take it out.

Abacinator said:
More likely is that people think it works because fob skimming isn't something that happens very often
Click to expand...

i think b/c it's a big country, and there are a ton of A4s and BMwrs... compared to other places where those stick out more. and possibly 1-2 more reasons.
 
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