Many modern cars are equipped with a keyless entry system that makes life a little easier for car owners, allowing you to open doors without using a key and start the car engine with ease. However, this technology worsens the security of transport, when attackers, using special repeaters and signal amplification devices, easily open the car and steal vehicles without any physical and mechanical impact on the car.
Hijack technology car
If in the past the main element of car protection was its locks and keys, which could not be picked up, which prevented the opening of the car and theft of vehicles, today various automatic devices, which control the operation of the engine, preventing it from breaking and stealing vehicles.
The first keyless entry systems appeared on Mercedes cars, and soon became popular with customers, and many automakers have mastered this technology, equipping their cars with such convenient devices. In fact, such a system is a mobile tag, inside of which there is a microchip that transmits signals wirelessly to the unit built into the car.
The system recognizes data and signals from the key fob, independently unlocks the doors in the car, and the car owner does not have to use the keys to start the car engine. All that is required is just to press the appropriate button and the engine will start.
Car manufacturers have taken care of necessary security such a keyless entry system, so the high-frequency signal is transmitted encrypted, and it can be extremely difficult to hack or pick it up. However, the trouble came from where it was completely expected. No one is going to crack the control code, and there is no need to steal such key fobs. All that is needed is only a special repeater device that amplifies the signal from the native tag, which allows you to open the car and steal the car.
Thanks to such a repeater, the action of a radio-frequency key fob with a tag can reach 200-300 meters or more. Accordingly, in order to open the car, attackers need to be with a repeater in close proximity to the car owner and amplify the signal strength from the tag. At this time, the second robber simply opens the car, starts the engine with the button and leaves home. If 30 minutes or more pass before the theft is discovered, then, with a high degree of probability, such a stolen car will already be in the sump, where it will spend a month or be dismantled for parts the very next day.
The technology of stealing such cars equipped with keyless entry has been worked out by criminals today, so all cars with this option are at risk. Is it any wonder that many Insurance companies when they conclude an auto hull agreement, they either set a multiplying factor for such cars, or refuse to conclude a deal for drivers at all, since the risk of vehicle theft will be extremely high.
Until recently, repeater devices used did not differ compact size, which made it possible to provide some transport security. However, today, with the development of radio electronics, it has been possible to construct compact and powerful devices that are widely used by criminals to steal such cars. Car manufacturers have not been able to solve this problem in any way. As a result, you either have to order a car with such technology at your own peril and risk, or choose a vehicle without keyless access.
Ways to protect car owners
Effective protection car theft will be invariably integrated. The car owner needs to install a reliable alarm, it will not be superfluous to use various mechanical locks on the steering wheel and gearbox, tags and satellite tracking systems are also often installed. All this allows you to slightly increase the safety of transport, preventing theft. However, it will be impossible to completely protect your car from theft.
For every action of the car owner, the attackers are preparing their response steps. For example, a signal from satellite systems tracking jammed special devices, which are extremely effective, rendering such costly protective devices. The same applies to various mechanical locks, which are sawn and opened with the help of master keys. An expensive alarm signal can be scanned and subsequently hacked, which will allow you to open the car and steal the vehicle.
Car owners who use cars equipped with such a keyless entry system can only be advised to deactivate this system by opening and closing the car exclusively from the alarm key fob or mechanical key. To do this, you will need to remove the battery from the wireless tag, which will completely turn it off, thereby increasing the safety of the transport.
You can partially protect the car from theft and theft by concluding a motor hull insurance contract. In the event of a car being stolen, with such an insurance policy, the car owner will be able to receive a monetary compensation for the stolen vehicle, which will allow him to subsequently buy a car of the same value. Most auto experts are inclined to believe that such insurance in Russia today is the only effective way to protect yourself from financial losses when a car is stolen. Behind last years the cost of a car hull has slightly decreased, which allows each car owner to purchase such a policy, reliably protecting his car from theft, and if he is damaged in an accident, he will be able to receive a monetary compensation even if he is the culprit of the accident.
conclusions
Keyless entry- this is a rather interesting option that somewhat simplifies the use of the car. However, you must be aware that attackers can steal a car using the full capabilities of this technology. To protect the transport, it is necessary to use various alarms and security systems. Ideally, the car owner will need to insure the car, which will allow him to receive a solid monetary compensation from the insurance company in cases of theft.
The keyless entry system is becoming more and more widespread, and today even medium-sized cars are being installed. price range. Keyless entry is a special technology for identifying the owner of a car. The essence of the method is to block the car after its owner leaves and moves away from it at a certain distance. Approaching the driver automatically removes all locks.
How wireless access works
In essence, a system that provides access to a car without a standard key is special kind immobilizer using smart key technology. The principle of operation of the whole system is quite simple:
Currently, keyless entry into the car is increasingly combined with additional features, for example, by starting the engine when the driver approaches. Most often, cars regular system keyless entry do not have a conventional ignition key at all - it is replaced by a dash-mounted start button.
Keyless Entry Features
The keyless go system has quite serious capabilities and can be upgraded depending on the specific requests of the car owner. Among its main features are the following:
- one-step interface for easy management;
- the starter can be started without engaging the ignition mechanism;
- the ability to lock not only the doors, but also the steering;
- the ability to obtain information about the state of the car in real time;
- built-in immobilizer;
- remote control warning mode.
The keyless entry and start system may look different for different car manufacturers, although the same principle of operation will be used. The main difficulty in creating such a system was to provide technical feasibility ensuring an adequate level of security. The unit, located in the cabin, had to respond only to the native radio signal coming from the smart card chip or key.
To exclude the possibility of intercepting the code, for which complex technical devices, cryptoprotection was used, and later a floating code was developed. It implies a huge number of code options, the generation of which occurs randomly from the available options. Even if the used code is successfully captured, the next time it is no longer valid, because the next one will be generated.
Advantages and disadvantages of a keyless car access system
The presence of keyless access to a car has pros and cons, and it is up to the owner to decide whether or not to have such a system in his car. Benefits include things like:
- high level protection provided by modern keyless systems go;
- there is no need to constantly get the keys - it is enough to have a key fob or a smart card that you can carry in your wallet;
- opportunity auto start engine when approaching a car;
- integration with multimedia system or a system of settings for individual parameters of the position of the steering wheel, seats or mirrors, increases comfort for the driver.
Currently, key fobs are also undergoing significant modernization. So, by Jaguar a system of keyless entry into a car was released, where the chip is mounted in a wrist bracelet made in a waterproof case. It’s not easy to lose one, and you don’t have to think about where to put your car keys, for example, when traveling to the beach.
In the event that the car does not have such a system in the list of standard equipment, it is quite possible to install it yourself. A standard keyless entry system kit, with instructions in Russian, will cost about 15 thousand. It includes two key fobs, two antennas and control units. The ability to work as a security alarm provides a shock sensor. Installation is simple and can be done in a few hours.
Among the shortcomings of the system, it can be noted that despite the floating code, there is still the possibility of intercepting it, and, accordingly, stealing the vehicle. It’s not worth talking specifically about how cars with keyless entry are stolen, but you can reassure drivers a little - such equipment for intercepting a signal costs several tens of thousands of euros, and it is usually configured for a specific brand. To reduce the probability of reading the code, it is possible to reduce the range of the key fob / card. So, if you set the system to operate within a radius of 20-30 cm from the car, it will become almost impossible to intercept the signal. One of the tricks for reading protection is described in the video:
In the car and the engine start / stop button are very convenient things, despite the fact that they have a number of serious safety flaws. Earlier, speaking of this, it was implied that vehicles equipped with similar systems, extremely easy to steal. It is enough for a hijacker to have the necessary IT equipment with him, and any car equipped with a keyless transmitter falls into the risk zone. As it turned out, motorists risk not only their property, but also their lives.
The investigation that became the basis of the New York Times article found that the engine starting system could be responsible for the deaths of dozens of people due to its "non-intuitive" design. How can this be, and what does it mean?
The problem is this: people (at least 28 dead since 2006 and 45 injured in the US) have suffered because they didn't understand how the keyless entry system works. In other words, the victims left cars with the engine running in the closed garages of private houses, which led to the filling of premises with carbon monoxide and the death of residents.
One can, of course, wonder: how could the owner not notice that he did not turn off the engine in his car? There is an answer to this too: the engines of the majority modern cars they work surprisingly quietly, and inattentive motorists simply did not notice the deadly situation.
The Society of Transportation Engineers (SAE) in the States recognized this problem in 2011, urging automakers to provide "an external audible or visual alert" if the vehicle remains running after all doors are closed but the key is not in the vehicle.
Some automakers listened and made the necessary changes. For example, GM installed automatic system shutdowns on their cars after the 2015 recall, Ford has had a similar system installed since 2013, it turns off the car after 30 minutes if it is not in the cabin.
Statistics also show that 50% of accidents that have occurred are associated with the use of Toyota cars and Lexus. This is reported by the Times newspaper. Perhaps the point is the popularity of these brands in the USA and the fact that most of the owners are adults or elderly people who have an algorithm for turning off the engine using a regular key on their subcortex.
Owners of modern cars have the opportunity to get into their car using keyless entry. As the name implies, with the help of this system, the car is made available to the owner without using a key, in the usual sense of that. So how does this system work? And how can you protect your car when it's so easy to access?
How did the idea come about?
The ability to introduce keyless entry into a car, thereby eliminating the key as a necessary accessory for a motorist, attracted automotive engineers And ordinary motorists more than fifty years ago. Those who are older should remember how back in the days of the USSR, car lovers tried to install on their own hands on domestic cars starter push button "START/STOP" instead of a conventional ignition switch.
Interesting to know! South African law allows the use of any degree of self-defense in cases of threat to the life or property of the owner. The same applies to cars. To protect the car from theft, you can place traps around it, use shockers and even flamethrowers.
But such tuning did not solve the problem. complete failure from car keys, but only reduced their number. After all whole line cars Soviet car industry could not be fully operated without two different keys: one opened driver's door and the trunk, the second one started the car.
Automotive manufacturers, unlike garage craftsmen, approached the problem more carefully. They tried to combine the ease of use of the system with the guarantee of the safety of the car, in cases of unauthorized entry by third parties or interested intruders. Of course, such systems were installed only on concept cars.
Then every automaker tried to jump out of his skin in order to solve the task as creatively as possible, and most importantly, conveniently and efficiently. Even an “intelligent system” was created - a system that included fingerprint scanners, face identification and more. But such devices were very complex and very expensive to put into practice. mass production. And only when they appeared reliable systems, identifying the radio signal with a floating key, which was transmitted over a closed channel, it turned out to design the desired. And so the system of keyless access to the car was born.
One of the first vehicles on which such equipment was installed was mercedes benz W220, which was produced in the mid-nineties of the last century. Only then were the engineers able to eliminate the main technical difficulties, thereby ensuring the effective functioning of the system throughout the entire operational life of the vehicle.
Interesting! Two negligent intruders from America stole a car, but left behind a twenty-kilometer trail of donuts that fell out of the trunk of a car. According to him, the police quickly found them.
How does a car keyless entry system work?
The principle of operation of this system is both simple, but at the same time complex in terms of technical implementation. In fact, this system still assumes the presence of a key, but it can be performed in various variations, and not in the usual understanding of the key as such. This key has a special the electronic unit. With its help, the owner interacts with the car at a short distance.
How does modern car keyless entry work? When the owner of the car approaches it at a certain distance, the electronics recognize the smart key code and remove the protection by opening the door locks. Once in the car, the driver will only need to press the start button and the engine will start. When the car owner leaves the car, moving a certain distance, the electronics loses the signal and automatically locks all doors, and also disconnects all electrical circuits.
As you already understood, the principle of operation of this intelligent system quite simple. And, of course, many readers familiar with the basics of electronics will wonder reasonable question regarding the appearance of such systems only twenty years ago, and not even earlier. The answer lies in the main technical challenge that prototyping developers faced a few decades ago - security. vehicle. The car must recognize only the owner's key, remaining inaccessible to other intruders.
The first experiments with such systems identified gaps in protection. The key signal could be easily intercepted and re-projected to the hijacker, who had a portable radio receiver and transmitter. It would be logical to equip the system with cryptoprotection, but then the code would be the same, which would also expose the car to the risk of theft.
The panacea for these troubles was the emergence of digital technologies and, subsequently, complex coding based on them. And so it appeared a system of interaction between a car and a smart key based on a floating code. In this interaction, a plural numeric value is sent. And on preliminary stage receiving a signal, an arbitrary code variant is generated from all available variants. That is, if the scammer even intercepts the sent code, he will not be able to use it, since in the next steps there will be an instant generation of new numerical values electronic code. Due to the multiplicity options, the chance that the attacker will "hit the sky with his finger" is reduced to zero.
Types of keyless systems
Before moving on to enumeration possible types of these systems, we want to note that their differences, first of all, lie in their form, and not in content. All smart keyless entry systems work on a similar principle. The only difference is the execution of the smart key itself and how it is used.
For example, some keyless systems on cars that rolled off the assembly line in the late 90s and early 2000s have an additional folding key that is used “at random”. Yes, the first time automotive manufacturers reinsured the owners against the possibility of an unforeseen failure in electronic system. Today there are no such options.
We have mentioned the smart key more than once in the article, but we did not really explain what it is. Today it can be a key fob or a smart card. In the first case, it can also serve as a remote start of the car. When the driver gets into his car, he pushes the smart key into the slot specially designed for him, activating the ignition system. Using a smart card is somewhat different. It does not need to be put anywhere, inserted, carried anywhere, etc., it is simply with the owner: in a pocket, in a purse, in a business card holder, wherever it is more convenient. Everything is simple here. It is enough to approach the car, and the doors will unlock themselves. You just have to sit behind the wheel and press the "START" button.
Interesting! One hijacker survived a serious shock. He illegally took possession of a van that belonged to some professional pranksters. When he got into the car and drove off, he noticed bloodied corpses. He was very frightened and went to the nearest police station. But in the van were only mannequins of people made up for Halloween.
An interesting performance of the smart key has been developed by Jaguar in its latest sports crossover F-pace. Here, a wristband acts as an identifier, which does not need batteries, and is made of waterproof material.
Of course, in terms of its convenience, this development is ahead of many, because the risk of losing a smart key is minimized. The bracelet sits firmly on the wrist, unlike the same key fob or card, which can simply be forgotten or lost somewhere. More likely, this decision will be "licked off" by other manufacturing companies. Maybe it will even be possible to integrate chips into wrist watch or even decorations, but this is only a matter of technological progress.
Advantages and disadvantages
Many motorists ask themselves how safe is keyless entry in a car and if it has obvious pros, then there must be cons. After all, there is such a pattern: the problems that arise with any device are directly proportional to the complexity of its technological implementation.
Recently, the climate in our country is joking with us in earnest. Therefore, it would be quite logical to think about how the keyless entry system will behave in extreme heat and prickly frosts. From experience service centers, you can safely refute the fears of car owners that arise on this occasion. The percentage of breakdowns of this system from the total number of all that occur in the car is very small.
As protection against theft, keyless system very reliable, but only if it is used in collaboration with others anti-theft systems. Although there is already a built-in immobilizer function, which is quite enough for basic protection of the car from theft.
But friends, don't be fooled. Difficulties with keyless access to the car can still arise. Firstly, if the smart key is lost, then you will not get into the car just like that, but this is not so bad. You won't even turn it on. Unlock and register new key it will be possible only in the official dealer center . It’s not even worth poking into garage workshops, it’s unlikely that anyone will undertake such a thing. You can, of course, make a duplicate when buying, but you should store it very carefully.
It is important to know! If you lose your key, rewrite the codes immediately. Someone who saw you getting into your car might recognize your smart key. You will have one more task. But already with an asterisk - find your car.
Keyless access to the car, development prospects
What is keyless access to a car, we explained in detail, but there is one more interesting assumption left. At first glance, you might think that there is nowhere to refine these systems, since at this stage they are perfect.
In some expensive models cars, smart keyless entry systems do not only what we talked about above, but also restore settings driver's seat, up to the inclusion of a favorite track when the owner gets into the car. But progress is constantly moving somewhere forward, and automotive companies working closely with suppliers of electronic components, exploring ways further development keyless systems.
One of the current and priority areas today is the integration of an intelligent system with smartphones. But here again a long-standing problem emerges - the danger of outside interference. also in soon there may be systems that recognize the owner's fingerprints. They will be integrated into the door handle.
But there are certain factors that can complicate the procedure for this identification: pollution car body or hands of the owner, extreme boost or lower temperatures, rain, etc. Therefore, if one is engaged in the development of identification systems, then according to more general visual or voice signs.
In addition, if all kinds of various “chips” are introduced into keyless access, then cars will cost prohibitive money. A striking example is the Audi A8 with a fingerprint detector on the door handles.
