Thousands Of Cars Stolen Using Hi-Tech Gadgets

[Adrian@TORQEN]

Tens of thousands of cars are being stolen or broken into every year by thieves using electronic hacking equipment, a Sky News investigation has found.

 

Last year half of all car thefts and vehicle break-ins in London alone were carried out without the use of force, according to the Metropolitan Police.

 

Instead criminals are believed to have used hi-tech devices originally designed for locksmiths to gain access to vehicles.

 

Commonly, the thieves use easily obtainable equipment that can intercept the signals from key fobs to get into cars or that plug into a car's on-board computers remotely.

 

Modern cars contain about 50 low-powered computers which criminals have learnt to take advantage of to steal vehicles in as little as 10 seconds without causing any damage.

 

Sky News has established that the devices can be bought cheaply online, from websites based mainly in Bulgaria. Video tutorials posted online can teach criminals how to gain access to popular models.

 

 

The problem was first exposed several years ago in certain models. But now police are warning that all modern makes are potentially vulnerable.

 

And for the first time, the Met has disclosed the growing nature of the threat. About 21,000 cars were stolen in the capital last year, according to the latest figures. A further 68,000 were broken into.

 

"Recent analysis of crime data suggests that almost half the total number of vehicles stolen in London are taken using this method, which can affect all manufacturers," the force said in a statement to Sky News.

 

"High-end vehicles are becoming more and more sophisticated. In turn so are criminals.

 

"Some organised criminals have access to technology that avoids the need to (physically break in). Vehicles are becoming more technologically advanced and the criminals are becoming more savvy towards that technology and they will develop."

 

The Met said it was working with manufacturers to protect drivers from having their cars stolen or broken into.

 

Car crime has fallen in recent years as manufacturers create even more secure vehicles.

 

But in countries closer to Bulgaria, like Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands, the crime rate has started to rise after years of decrease.

 

"We have every reason to believe that other European countries will be following suit this year and next," Mike Parris, head of the secure car division at SBD security, told Sky News.

 

"It is getting worse," he added. "The tools are becoming much more readily available. The price of them is falling. And they're operating much more quickly - you can re-program a key in a matter of seconds.

 

"All vehicle manufacturers are aware of the problem. It's fair to say some are doing more than others.

 

"Car manufacturers are acutely aware of the need to constantly make their vehicles more secure because they know criminals will adapt and develop."

 

The Met advises car owners to leave their cars in well-lit areas, to consider using steering, gear shift and pedal locks, as well as tracking devices.

 

One website found to be selling the devices did not respond to a request to comment from Sky News. Its homepage says: "All devices are sold for official use only!!! If you use them for any illegal purposes, this is your own responsibility!!!"

 

http://news.sky.com/...hi-tech-gadgets

[WhackyWill]

This is not a new problem, "grabbers" have been around a long time.

[BulletMagnet]

Perhaps car manufacturers need to look into integrating biometrics as part of the security system.

If biometrics are possible on mobile phones, then I am sure it's possible on cars.

Like a fingerprint scanner for doors and/or engine start button. Limit the number of people to the ones can drive in the household

Edited May 8, 2014 by BulletMagnet

[Flex]

I had a laptop stolen from my boot years ago, thought I was going crazy, police said they just scan your fob when you lock the car. Luckily I had taken out extended cover from PC world and got a new one.

 

Lost loads of porn though

[Randy_Baton]

Perhaps car manufacturers need to look into integrating biometrics as part of the security system.

If biometrics are possible on mobile phones, then I am sure it's possible on cars.

Like a fingerprint scanner for doors and/or engine start button. Limit the number of people to the ones can drive in the household

 

Sounds like a job for flyboy or cs2000

[AliveBoy]

Lost loads of porn though

 

Your car was broken into and your concern is the porn

[Grundy]

Lost loads of porn though

 

Your car was broken into and your concern is the porn

Priorities!

[RobPhoboS]

Actually this is something I've been thinking about as well.

Are there any effective things we can do to protect our cars ?

 

I was thinking something like this but I'm not really sure how effective they truly are ?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/4Tress-Professional-Silver-Steering-Lock/dp/B003JMXURQ/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1399542701&sr=8-6&keywords=steering+lock

[ChrisS]

What man can make...... Man can break.

 

 

I have a friend who has access to a Laptop that can open/close most cars. He has use of it for legitimate legal reasons.

[Flex]

What man can make...... Man can break.

 

 

I have a friend who has access to a Laptop that can open/close most cars. He has use of it for legitimate legal reasons.

 

A friend

[Kev T]

I always ues a steering wheel lock when i leave the Z in a public place, i have always thought that a visual deterrant is more effective.

[gangzoom]

There's a video on YouTube of a brand new RS4 been driven off someone's drive in under 2 minutes!!! The only thing broken was a window.

 

EU rules say manufactures have to give third parties access to the on board computers via the OBD port so your not tied to the main dealer for servicing.

 

Not really sure what you can do about it. The new electric cars even let you access the engine/heating controls wirelessly.....

 

It wouldn't be long before the hackers figure out how to start/unlock something like a 80k Tesla S from the comfort of their sofa

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Edited May 8, 2014 by gangzoom

[WhackyWill]

There's a video on YouTube of a brand new RS4 been driven off someone's drive in under 2 minutes!!! The only thing broken was a window.

 

EU rules say manufactures have to give third parties access to the on board computers via the OBD port so your not tied to the main dealer for servicing.

 

Not really sure what you can do about it. The new electric cars even let you access the engine/heating controls wirelessly.....

 

It wouldn't be long before the hackers figure out how to start/unlock something like a 80k Tesla S from the comfort of their sofa

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

 

Looks like they already have...

 

My Tesla S was stolen

 

I had delivered my car to an Auto body Shop for a polish job. The same evening I logged on to the Tesla App on my phone and discovered to my astonishment that my car was in motion. First I thought that it was just transported to another site for the job, but it kept going, and at high speed. After about an hour I contacted the police and told them I suspected it might be stolen. I could all along follow the location and the speed at which it was moving. I had the police on the phone and could direct them to the exact spot where the car was. Finally they could tell me; we have your car under control. It turned out that the 17 year old son of the Auto body Shop had stolen it and taken a friend on a joyride. He didn’t even have a driver’s license. Luckily my S was undamaged and it has now been returned to me in a polished condition without cost. The Auto Shop owner was devastated and very embarrassed by the episode.

Edited May 8, 2014 by WhackyWill

[Paddy78]

To be fair, if someone wants to steal your car they're going to (Unless it's an opportunist)... whether that be by using the ODB port, kicking your door in and stealing the keys or kicking your door in and chopping your hand off to work the biometrics.

[JetSet]

To be fair, if someone wants to steal your car they're going to

 

Your'e right. A couple of stories I remember the first from the 1980's. While "Car Magazine" were covering The R.A.C rally they were also testing out a Ford Cosworth. They parked it up one night right outside the foyer of a large hotel in Newcastle and wedged it in using two other vehicles. In the morning it had gone and neither of the other 2 vehicles had moved an inch, probably used a forklift truck to get it out. Secondly, in the early 2000's a young hot hatch enthusiast decided to chain his car down using concrete blocks with thick iron rings on plus other alarms....still got nicked. Finally, from my own experience, my uncle had a 3 month old Rover SDI, his wife a new VW Polo, she parked hers in a locked garage, his Rover was parked on the drive behind the door. One morning his Rover had been moved onto the road outside his house, the Polo was gone

 

Pete

[Mack]

I think we will end up going back to requiring third party immobilisers just to get insured, the other option is to physically remove or block the OBD2 port.

 

Whosever what's really terrifying is what hackers have achieved by hacking a moving car.

 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2013/07/24/hackers-reveal-nasty-new-car-attacks-with-me-behind-the-wheel-video/

[clockwize]

Best advice is to park your 350Z next to another guys 370Z. Or park your 370Z next to a GT-R..

[Pinoy-R]

Unfortnately a very close friend had his BMW stolen early this morning, police supsect this was the method they used to drive it away. Ive just gone out and bought myself a steering lock just to be safe.

[Adrian@TORQEN]

Anyone knows is if one of these will fit the 370z?

 

 

http://www.amazon.co...uct/B003S51WII/

 

or perhaps recommend another version?

Edited May 8, 2014 by octet

[Steel Lynx]

I used to have one of these, http://www.disklokuk.co.uk/ but got rid of it when I got the Zed as I wasn't sure if it'd fit around the controls on the steering wheel. It says on the website it'll fit a 350Z though.

[Dynamic Turtle]

Unfortnately a very close friend had his BMW stolen early this morning, police supsect this was the method they used to drive it away. Ive just gone out and bought myself a steering lock just to be safe.

 

Without a key? I don't understand - I thought this device just opens the car and disable the alarm? Can they start the engine via the OBD?

[Dynamic Turtle]

I used to have one of these, http://www.disklokuk.co.uk/ but got rid of it when I got the Zed as I wasn't sure if it'd fit around the controls on the steering wheel. It says on the website it'll fit a 350Z though.

 

Hmm, Might have to use one to steal your car, Lynx. V nice

[Pinoy-R]

Unfortnately a very close friend had his BMW stolen early this morning, police supsect this was the method they used to drive it away. Ive just gone out and bought myself a steering lock just to be safe.

 

Without a key? I don't understand - I thought this device just opens the car and disable the alarm? Can they start the engine via the OBD?

 

I'm not sure the full details... but I know they didn't use the keys

[clockwize]

Yeah if you can access the obd port, you can program a key, I've read that they get the driver side window down (no idea how?) and connect to the obd port, without the alarm going off as the sensors in the car don't get triggered unless you move further in the car, they can program a key from outside if the cable is connected.. Not sure if they read some data from the port that gives them enough info to program a key or what.. Then they just unlock it and drive away

[Dynamic Turtle]

Well I kind of agree with some of the others here along the lines of "if they want it, they'll take it". And I'd much rather they found a non-invasive method such as the OBD one than coming into my house for the keys frankly.