Keyless entry and keyless go, two innovations within the car industry that have raised some dust, to put it mildly.
Keyless entry and keyless go works with the help of a transponder, that you carry on you (in a pocket or a bag). The cars equipped with this technology do not work with a regular, but respond to the transponder. The keyless transponder sends information to the car, once it is within a certain reach of the car. This allows you to open and start the car, without using a key.
One of the advantages that a keyless system offers, is simply the convenience that comes with the system. There is no need to find your keys that happened to end up on the bottom of your purse, or when you’re carrying things that make it inconvenient to have to look for your keys. Also, the keyless system prevents certain mistakes that can be made when using a general key, such as locking the keys inside of the car or forgetting to lock the car. When the transponder is in your pocket and you walk away from the car, it locks itself.
This all sounds pretty convenient and modern, but as with many other technical innovations, hackers have found a way to take advantage of this technology. According to a study done by ADAC (General German Automobile Club), thieves can easily steal a car with a keyless system with the help of two devices, which can be built by the hackers themselves. If one of the hackers takes the one device and is near the signal of the transponder (which can for example be inside the house of the car owner), the signal of the transponder will be captured and extended. If a second hacker takes the other hacking device and stands next to the car, this device will pick up the signal of the transponder and the car can be opened and started. Another study done by researchers from the University of Birmingham, shows that by using equipment which does not cost more than £30, the signal can be received and copied from the original transponder. By doing this, the hackers can gain access to the car from that moment on.
Clear reasons for concern for everyone owning a car with a keyless system, as well as for the companies producing these cars. What do you think, is the future of keyless cars destroyed due to these hackers? Would you see yourself buying a car with a keyless system, or does this news make you stay away?
References:
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/aug/12/cars-risk-keyless-entry-system-hacked-volkswagen
http://chroom.tpo.nl/2016/03/20/auto-is-veilig-zeker-als-keyless-entry/
http://www.autoweek.nl/video/keyless-go-keyless-gone-1/
https://www.adac.de/infotestrat/adac-im-einsatz/motorwelt/test_keyless.aspx
ttps://www.wired.com/2016/08/oh-good-new-hack-can-unlock-100-million-volkswagens/
Dear Lisette, thank you for your blog! I had absolutely no idea that this was possible, and my household owns a keyless car. I will immediately tell them that it can easily be hacked! However, I think this hacking will not mean the end of keyless cars, but rather gives an opportunity to improve the system. This news definitely makes me more carefull with the ”keys” of the car, and maybe there are some strategies to mitigate it? For example, in the Netherlands you have contactloos pinnen, but if you put your card in a special cover, you cannot use contactloos pinnen. Maybe there is a special cover to protect these keyless innovations, so hackers cannot get the signal? I will definitely look into that!