Faraday bags, FOBs, car thefts... thoughts and suggestions? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: edy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2021, 03:11:06 pm
content: Hi everyone,I recently read some articles about the increasing popularity of car thefts due to the chip shortage. I believe most of the crimes are opportunistic in nature, usually targeting cars parked on driveways with thieves using a radio-laptop transmitter to trick a person's FOB into giving up the "jewels", subsequently unlocking the car and then once inside they are able to hook something up to the OBD port to reprogram the keys, start it and drive off (usually done in a matter of a few minutes). It seems that if they are unable to sense the keys and unlock it that way, the thieves will likely move on to an easier target down the street.My family has 2 cars: one is a 2011 Honda CR-V (I drive), the other a new Acura MDX (leased for Wife)...The CR-V has a key with a fob on the end, but it is the kind that you have to press buttons to open/close doors. The car doesn't detect you when you come close (no proximity detection). Are these targetable using the same radio hack or only when I open/close the doors (i.e. somebody would have to be nearby recording the radio signals when I press my buttons to "copy" my keys).The Acura has a key fob with proximity detection, meaning as I approach the car, if I have my key it will let me open the doors when I press on the handle or try to open the back hatch. This type of "proximity" detecting fob I assume is the type of key the thieves exploit using the drive-by. If the original key is close enough in the house to be signaled, the thieves can communicate with it and obtain information from it.Apparently a quick and easy way to reduce this one exploit method is to use Faraday bags. Does anyone have an experience with these... are any specific brands or types recommended over others, and is there anything to watch out for? I've seen some on Amazon ranging from $15-35 for a pair of bags. I don't know what is considered a fair price, over-priced, or unlikely to work. I guess an easy way to test it is to walk up to the car with the keys in the Faraday bag and see the proximity detection unlocks the car. Or if I have a way to feel and press the buttons on the fob from outside the bag, I can click on everything and see if something happens with the car.Obviously a determined car thief can make off with just about any vehicle. However, if an inexpensive pair of Faraday bags will make us a less convenient target, it may be worth a try. What other convenient options exist to dissuade a theft that won't be too cumbersome? For myself I don't care about using steering wheel locks, pulling fuses and doing all sorts of other crazy things to my old CR-V (which nobody will probably want anyways).... but I cannot expect my wife to go through this kind of trouble and therefore other than Faraday bags, I see no other easy option that she will likely want to comply with. Note... police seem to not put these types of car thefts as a priority as it is non-violent, and insurance covers the losses, and automakers also don't care to fortify their security either as people will typically buy the same brand of car to replace the one stolen.Thanks for your thoughts and suggestions.

author: jc101
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2021, 03:27:02 pm
content: I just put my key in an old biscuit tin, with the added benefit of having had the biscuits first. Also keys not at the front of the house either.

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2021, 03:40:57 pm
content: An Altoids tin, or similar, with an unpainted rim and inside lid edge, makes a fairly effective Faraday cage. Line it with copper foil tape with soldered seams and add a metal cloth covered conductive gasket inside the lid and its effectiveness will go up by orders of magnitude.https://makezine.com/2015/08/14/block-car-door-relay-hack-faraday-cage/

author: edy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2021, 04:12:20 pm
content: Thanks for the suggestions! I've got no problem making a "hacked" tin box for my own keys, but my wife will cringe at the thought of using something like this.I need to find something fashionable enough she will want to actually use. That's why I was looking at ready-made options. I just feel like some that are available online are more "fashion" then "function".

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2021, 05:42:18 pm
content: The fob with buttons is reasonably secure, no need for special precautions there.The troublesome one is the "proximity" fob.Only really two possibilities:Faraday bag.Disable the function (needs to be done in authorized shop).

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2021, 01:02:22 pm
content: Add a hidden switch to disable OBD2?