With cars getting more advanced by the day, it can feel like these unique features are getting us closer to the future. But are these smart car advancements really keeping our best interests in mind?
…New tech involved in vehicle thefts might say otherwise.
Smart Car Vehicle Thefts Are On The Rise…
After the pandemic, vehicle thefts have skyrocketed. In the U.S. car thefts are up 105% from 2019 and England is facing its highest rates of car theft in the last decade.
And it’s not just any vehicles getting stolen…
Owners of keyless vehicles are twice as likely to make a theft claim according to insurance company Aviva.
IN FACT, SMART CAR OWNERS HAVE REPORTED HAVING THEIR CARS STOLEN IN LESS THAN 20 SECONDS.
To make things more complicated these particular thefts require no forced entry and criminals don’t even need a key to get in.
Certain safety exploits in targeted vehicles make thefts a much simpler and easier ordeal.
Now, rather than break a window and hotwire vehicles like we see in the movies…
Grand theft auto can be done with more stealth and technological advancement than ever before.
Online, organized crime groups are selling devices known as emulators…
Tools that are disguised as hand-held game devices.
These devices essentially mimic smart keys and allow vehicle doors to be opened and engines to be turned on with virtually no difficulty.
This technology is targeting several popular and dangerously common car brands:
- Hyundai
- Toyota
- Lexus
- Kia
So how exactly does this new tech target smart cars?
What’s Causing The Thefts?
The rise in carjacking is mostly attributed to the easy workarounds found in the security of keyless vehicles.
A former officer with the West Yorkshire Police, Ben Pearson…
Stated that most of the thefts he’d seen during his last year on the force were dealing with keyless smart cars. His concern is over how easy these crimes can be.
“IT’S AMAZING THAT YOU DON’T NEED ANY TRAINING AND YOU CAN STEAL SOMEONE’S CAR IN SECONDS”
When it comes to emulators, they work by mimicking the key of the vehicle they’re targeting. Essentially, the devices intercept a signal from the car, which detects the presence of the real key…
Then the device bounces the signal back, allowing entry into the vehicle.
But this isn’t the only advanced method of smart car theft…
Another popular method is known as a Relay Attack. This technique is used to extend the range of signal that the car key is broadcasting…
Allowing for the car to be unlocked and driven.
To demonstrate just how easy it is to break into one of these high-tech vehicles…
Ken Tindell, a vehicle technology specialist showcased that assailants could hack into a smart car’s operating system…
JUST BY MANIPULATING THE WIRING BEHIND HEADLIGHTS.
This exploit also allows for the car to be easily broken into.
It seems like there are simply endless possibilities when it comes to carjacking the supposed “cars of the future”…
So what are these companies doing to stop these thefts in their tracks?
Is This An Uphill Battle For Smart Car Companies?
According to Hyundai, one of the car companies most frequently targeted for thefts…
“THIS IS AN INDUSTRY-WIDE ISSUE”
Many companies have stated that they’re prioritizing patching the issues…
Yet they’re facing backlash for not acting quickly enough and for not doing more to protect the vehicles in the first place.
As stated by Nick Freeman, Motoring Lawyer…
“THE MOTORING INDUSTRY HAS BEEN NEGLIGENT. IT HAS FAILED TO PRIORITISE SECURITY AND MOTORISTS ARE PAYING THE PRICE.”
Safe to say, consumers are less than pleased at the moment…
Especially regarding smart cars and EVs.
Beyond recent car thefts, other companies have also been under fire. In this past Superbowl, an Ad aired calling for a Tesla boycott. The reasoning? Dangerous self-driving technology.
Regardless of whether car thefts increase, one thing is for certain…
These car companies are going to have to do some major damage control to get potential customers to place their trust in them once again.
Be Great,
GCTV Staff
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