Rides - Keyless Car Entry Systems Easily Hacked

You probably could have guessed this for yourself, but keyless car entry systems aren't particularly secure. A group of researchers found that such such keyless systems could be hacked to unlock and start a car with as little as $50 in equipment and some relatively basic know-how. The group tested ten vehicles from eight different manufacturers and with little effort successfully drove each of them away. The keyless fobs work by sending low-powered wireless signals (that generally can cover short distances) to the vehicle. But the researchers managed to intercept those signals and extend the range, tricking the vehicles into unlocking and starting their engines without the keyfob being nearby.

The only requirement is that a potential crook needs to get within eight meters of the keyfob in order to pick up the signal with an antenna and relay it back to an accomplice with a second antenna near the target vehicle. Eight meters is more than enough room to avoid arousing suspicion when following a target through a parking lot or store. Thieves could even potentially snatch a vehicle from a driveway if the keys are placed close enough to a window. Check out MIT's technology review for more on how the researchers pulled it off.