Many new car models have an amazing new feature: a keyless start system. With this feature you can open your car without sticking the key in the lock or pressing a button. The car uses sensors to connect to the car key and open the door. Once you’re sitting down, you can start the car by pressing a button. This sounds ideal, but clever car thieves have found a way to abuse the feature.
Car keys
Car keys that have the keyless start system work via a wireless connection. This signal only works when you’re within about two meters of your car; otherwise, it won’t connect. Unfortunately, clever thieves have found a way to hack this signal and enhance it. They don’t need any complicated technology for this these days: the devices needed to hack the signal can simply be bought at the store and they’re not that expensive.
Extender
Thieves use a type of signal enhancer or extender, to enhance the connection between your key and the car. You’ll have to be close by for this, but far enough so you can’t open the car yourself. An example would be that your car keys lie somewhere in your home while the car is parked out front, or you’re in the office and your car is in the parking lot. The thieves use the extender to enhance the signal between your key and the car so that the doors will open when you’re not around.
Prevention
You can use a couple of handy tricks to block the signal. The cheapest and easiest way is to wrap your car keys in a piece of aluminium foil before you put them in your bag or pocket. This will disrupt the signal. You can also buy a special metal wallet that will block the signal. Another tip you can try is putting your keys in the freezer when you’re at home! The freezer will block the signal as well. You’ll just need to remember that you put them there… Still not feeling at ease about this? You can also ask the car dealer to block the keyless feature. That way, no one can use it.
Read more: These are 5 things you can do with aluminium foil you didn’t know about!
Want to save this article for later? Pin it on Pinterest!
Source: Margriet | Image: Pexels
