Key Cloning, Keyless Theft & Relay Attacks

When people call up about security to the vehicles whether it be a quad bike, a car, vans even Heavy Goods vehicles we often (not always) advise on a decent immobiliser. But why, when they have just purchased one from a well known national garage and they said it has a thatcham approved or factory immobiliser? Thefts of motor vehicles are getting ever more common now, with the methods of entry now being non-destructive, whereas many years back there were such attacks like hotwiring to name one which were very destructive. Thieves can now gain entry and take a car in under a minute and sometimes make it look like they have got a key its made to look that easy.

Chop shops across the UK are getting as common as chip shops, especially through this pandemic… crime is rising statistics show. Police are warning against opportunist thieves looking to steal vehicles to replace auto parts because of manufacturers shutting down and there being a shortage in the supply chain. Vehicles stolen by chop shops are often left for days to check its not being tracked, before its taken to the garage where its ID is changed and/or its high value parts are then sold on. With restrictions in place, people deep cleaning there vehicles whilst off work in the pandemic and not using the vehicles half as much if not at all.. people were getting out of habit of checking and locking doors also making sure there keys were away and out of sight.

92% of the vehicles recovered last year were stolen without the thieves having possession of the keys a common method we call Key Cloning attack.

Okay, so what is key cloning? Key cloning also known as keyless car theft and relay attacks happens where the signal given off by the original keys/remote is picked up, often by one thief walking around the perimeter of the property while the other thief is stood near the vehicle waiting t receive the signal. This is the reason factory fit immobilisers are getting overridden whereas aftermarket ones can not be attacked the same way, a faraday case are priceless also for this attack a simple £15 case may be the difference between keeping or losing the vehicle.. but the we are back to this switching off and not double checking we are locking or using such devices during the lockdown period.

Our immobilisers start from £240 including vat fitted on site – here’s a few cost saving thing you can do instead of or as well as the immobilisers

• Wheel protection – Put a steering wheel lock on or a allow wheel lock
• Have you a garage? Use it!
• Keep valuable out of sight, this may stop peering eyes
• Is it locked? Rather then waiting until you are at your front door then pressing and waiting for the hazards to flash.. why not lock it the try the handle?
• Why not budget for security like you budget for the vehicle itself? Thats just as important and very little people factor this into the cost of buying a new vehicle

If you would like any further information on thefts like relay attacks, why not call or message us for more in-depth advice.