Theyre small, theyre convenient, and, according to security researchers, theyre extremely hackable.
The car key fob doesnt exactly have the greatest reputation when it comes to digital security.
But how, exactly, did the key fob end up being such a vulnerability?
Photo: Brian A Jackson (Shutterstock)
Then, in the 1990s, the key fob emerged.
This seemingly magic process was accomplished via a short-range radio transmitter integrated into the key fob.
The fob sends a signal to a receiver inside the vehicle that disarms the cars lock system.
Key fobs are part of what is technically known as the vehiclesremote keyless system, or RKS.
Different key fobs in different countries can operate at different radio frequencies.
Radio signals can be intercepted if theyre not protected.
The problem is that these defenses are not necessarily ironclad.
There are ways to trick them.
How easy is the car key fob hack, really, though?
It really just depends on the model of car and how hackable it is, he added.
The replay attack
The easiest attacks involve fobs that were designed without a pseudo-randomized code system.
The relay attack
The more complicated attack is known as the relay attack.
This attack takes aim at the admittedly more secure rolling code security system in the modern cars RKS.
The driver then gets in the vehicle and proceeds to their destination.
Kamkars attack was later built upon viathe Rollback attack, which debuted at one of 2022s Blackhat conferences.
Rollback streamlined certain parts of the exploit.
A very similar exploit to RollJam/Rollback, theRolling-PWN attack, was also publicized the same year.
What can you do?
Unfortunately, theres not much it’s possible for you to do about this.
Car cybersecurity sucks and until manufacturers decide that they care about these vulnerabilities, they will persist.
There are, in fact, many such products availableon Amazon.
But, again, this is of limited use.
Theyll definitely think youre weird, in fact.
Maybe its a small price to pay if youre convinced people are out to steal your car, though.
The choice is yours.
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