How to avoid keyless entry car theft using a signal-blocking Faraday pouch

Car security challenges are always going to be a concern no matter where you live. Whether you’re living in a busy city or a quiet countryside village, cars are always vulnerable and if a crook wants to get access to your vehicle, they can do so whether by force or brains.

Recently, cars have started to become more convenient and advanced with the help of technology. We can now open our cars without ever needing a key, and as long as we install certain types of software or use certain types of technology, we can actually open our cars just by being near it. This is actually a fairly common type of technology in new vehicles, but it’s also a vulnerable one.

How does keyless car entry work?

Keyless car entry works by emitting short-range radio waves. You typically need to be within 5 to 20 metres of your car, then your designated device will unlock the vehicle. In most cases, you’ll need to press a button for the car to unlock, but the technology in your car can be so advanced that the moment it detects you, it will automatically adjust seats, turn on the heating and make your vehicle more comfortable for you to use.

It’s a very simple idea, but it’s a brilliantly convenient piece of technology that has greatly enhanced our driving lives. However, it doesn’t come without faults.

Keyless car entry theft

Unfortunately, criminals will always find ways to break into your vehicle even if they need to make new tools. A long time ago, breaking into a vehicle by shattering the glass or stealing the key were considered the only ways to steal a car, but nowadays, thieves are far more technologically advanced and elegant.

Since your keys or device are emitting short-range radio waves, criminals can actually manipulative these radio waves to open your car without being anywhere near you. For instance, if your car is parked in your driveway and you’re at home, criminals can stand next to your car with an amplifier and a relay transmitter to “copy” the signals emitted by your keys. This effectively turns the transmitter they have into the key to unlock your car, and it’s something they can easily purchase off the internet.

Avoiding keyless entry theft

One of the best ways to avoid this type of theft is to use a signal-blocking Faraday pouch. How they work is simple; by placing your keys in this pouch, the materials it is made from will actively block radio signals, meaning that unless the keys are taken out of the pouch, the radio waves will not be emitted and can therefore not be amplified or relayed by the criminals.

Not all of these pouches will work, so it’s a good idea to buy Faraday pouches that are proven to block these radio signals. It’s important to test the pouch as well to ensure you have purchased a legitimate one and not a fake. Contact us today to find out more.

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