Here’s Why You Should Probably Wrap Your Car Keys In Tin Foil

By Jonathan O`Callaghan

As technology evolves, so does thievery. And while that wireless key fob might make getting into your car pretty easy, it turns out it’s quite easy to hack.

With an unprotected fob, thieves can intercept the signal from the fob to a car with a special receiver, known as a “relay attack”. They can then use this to enter the car and even turn on the ignition. But there’s a simple solution, as it appears just wrapping your fob in foil prevents the signals from being transmitted.

“Although it’s not ideal, it is the most inexpensive way,” Holly Hubert, a cybersecurity expert, told the Detroit Free Press. “The cyber threat is so dynamic and ever changing, it’s hard for consumers to keep up.”

According to Wired, the attack tricks the car and your key into thinking they’re in close proximity of each other. “One hacker holds a device a few feet from the victim’s key, while a thief holds the other near the target car,” they said. “The device near the car spoofs a signal from the key.”

While it appears that ordinary foil will do the trick, Hubert suggests purchasing a Faraday bag, a small bag lined with metallic material to prevent signals from going in or out. You can use them for other devices too, like phones or tablets.

 

Read more: Here’s Why You Should Probably Wrap Your Car Keys In Tin Foil

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