Cars opening with fob

tretorn · 06-02-2019 4:26pm #1

I have noticed a lot of the new cars dont have the traditional key into ignition turn on mode. Some have a fob that opens the car but it needs to be in the car before you press a button to start the car.

Which, the consumer magazine have tested the security of these fobs and criminals seemingly can use a relay box to extend the range of the fob and then get into the cars and drive them away.

Has anyone had a car stolen here and if so was it be this relay method. its looking like all car manufacturers will be switching to fobs and other keyless entry but is this a big security risk.

I am asking because I have the choice of a traditional key but if I go for extras which come in a package I have to take the fob option as part of the package.

Avatar MIA · 06-02-2019 4:31pm

tretorn wrote: »

I have noticed a lot of the new cars dont have the traditional key into ignition turn on mode. Some have a fob that opens the car but it needs to be in the car before you press a button to start the car.

Which, the consumer magazine have tested the security of these fobs and criminals seemingly can use a relay box to extend the range of the fob and then get into the cars and drive them away.

Has anyone had a car stolen here and if so was it be this relay method. its looking like all car manufacturers will be switching to fobs and other keyless entry but is this a big security risk.

I am asking because I have the choice of a traditional key but if I go for extras which come in a package I have to take the fob option as part of the package.

I use a Faraday pouch to keep my key in. Sometimes I forget

Toyotafanboi · 06-02-2019 4:41pm

Sure, it's possible and yes it definitely happens.

The chances of it happening to you if you have a desirable car to steal are still slim, I wouldn't not get keyless on account of it and if you are getting keyless on a Focus or something, I dare say it doesn't heighten the odds of theft at all.

I would say there is by no means a spate of keyless entry cars going missing. They probably do go missing slightly more than traditionally keyed cars (which still go missing), which isn't that often.

tretorn · 06-02-2019 4:52pm

What is a faraday pouch and where would you get one.

What is the benefit to the consumer with the fob, if you need the fob to be in the car to start it why not just supply the traditional key.

GIMP · 06-02-2019 4:54pm

Its more common than the posters here are advising.

I have had cases of two cars stolen from a house, both were keyless entry.

Personally I would opt for the more traditional fob

Toyotafanboi · 06-02-2019 5:03pm

tretorn wrote: »

What is a faraday pouch and where would you get one.

What is the benefit to the consumer with the fob, if you need the fob to be in the car to start it why not just supply the traditional key.

The benefit is convenience.

You can approach the locked car without taking the fob out of your pocket and it will unlock the car when you pull the handle and then when you sit in you can still leave the fob in your pocket and just press start. It saves faffing around with keys.

tretorn · 06-02-2019 5:38pm

Thanks GIMP, do you mean the traditional key.

The car comes with a fob and you need to unlock the car by pressing this fob. The fob has to be within two feet of the button you press to start the car but seemingly a relay box can extend this distance and then thief is inside the car and maybe can then start the car.

If I go for the key fob and ignition I cant avail of extras which come in a bundle. I will sleep on it and decide tomorrow.

Squidgy Black · 06-02-2019 5:46pm

tretorn wrote: »

Thanks GIMP, do you mean the traditional key.

The car comes with a fob and you need to unlock the car by pressing this fob. The fob has to be within two feet of the button you press to start the car but seemingly a relay box can extend this distance and then thief is inside the car and maybe can then start the car.

If I go for the key fob and ignition I cant avail of extras which come in a bundle. I will sleep on it and decide tomorrow.

Generally relay boxes will only work for cars with keyless entry (where doors open automatically as soon as you're within a certain range), not a fob where you have to press the button. What a relay box does is amplifies the signal from the key. So with a fob you have to press, the only way a relay box would work is if they press the button from inside the house, or be in close proximity to record the frequency sent from your key when you press it.

The system you're talking about is not so much keyless entry (as you have to press a button to emit the signal, like a lot of current remote locking cars) but rather keyless ignition.

JohnxF · 06-02-2019 5:56pm

Yep, I had a new Leaf stolen last year without them needing the keys. They used a signal booster to make the car think the key was beside it, unlocked the doors via the little button on the door handle, started it up and away.

For the Leaf you needed to press a button on the key fob to unlock the doors, but pressing the little button on the door handle if the key was nearby also unlocked the car. So now I keep my keys in a faraday bag (see below - available in Halfords, etc - search RFID blockers) and I disabled the door unlock button (which you can do in the Leaf system menus).

https://www.halfords.ie/motoring/car-security/vehicle-security/simply-rfid-key-phone-blocker

Avatar MIA · 06-02-2019 11:13pm

tretorn wrote: »

What is a faraday pouch and where would you get one.

Halford's. I got mine online. It stops the signal from exiting the pouch.

anewme · 06-02-2019 11:15pm

I wrap my keys in tinfoil and keep them in a tin biscuit box. All good so far.

Avatar MIA · 06-02-2019 11:18pm

anewme wrote: »

I wrap my keys in tinfoil...

Tin foil hat wearers vindicated 😁

Wildly Boaring · 06-02-2019 11:21pm

Keyless entry plus keyless start is the issue.

If it's a button on key to open this is safe.

If I recall there was a recent study and only about 4 or 5 cars with keyless entry and start passed. All rest were able to be stolen with repeater.

AmberGold · 06-02-2019 11:24pm

I had a Ghost installed, you have to tap a few dash buttons in sequence (any can be programmed, air con, radio etc) before car will start. You can leave the keys wherever you want (I do so they won’t go looking for the keys to our other car) even in the car, the car won’t start without the combination of buttons being pressed first.

Signal scanners, interceptors or having the keys in hand will not start the car.

A cheap solution as the scrotes become more cunning & fearless.

tretorn · 06-02-2019 11:40pm

Thanks everyone for your help.

I see the Gardai found a chop shop in Monaghan today, stolen cars already to be taken apart, some of the cars even still had child seats in them.

Scoundrels.

anewme · 07-02-2019 12:13am

Avatar MIA wrote: »

Tin foil hat wearers vindicated ðŸ˜

Don’t care if it works.

bazz26 · 07-02-2019 12:39am

You can buy mobile phone signal blocker pouches on ebay for small money. Stick your key fob in that at night and it will do the job.

Cars opening with fob

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