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From BMW to Peugeot, these are the makes and models of cars MOST AT RISK of being violated into by car thieves hacking keyless cars
Vehicles from thirty manufacturers were unlocked and embarked using a ordinary hack by the German AA
DOZENS of car models could be at risk of being cracked into by thieves hacking keyless cars, The Sun Online can expose.
Vehicles from thirty manufacturers, ranging from BMW to Peugeot, were unlocked and commenced using a plain hack in German tests.
Tests by the ADAC – the German AA – tricked the keyless sensor technology into thinking that the vehicle's holder is nearby with the fob.
BMW 740, Ford Concentrate RS, Toyota's Prius and VW Golf seven GTD are among the car's affected.
Paige Foster, 23, was shocked to detect her £35,000 car had vanished from outside her front door in Grays, Essex, last week.
The Mercedes C220 is one of the cars that German researchers were able to hack.
The only vehicle that the researchers failed to unlock was BMW's i3.
But they were able to begin the engine.
The Subaru Levorg and the Suzuki SX4 S-Cross, Baleno and Vitara models were unlocked during the tests in Germany.
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However, Suzuki's UK spec vehicles have an extra electronic immobiliser controller, while Subaru cars in this country are fitted with standard alarms that guard against this high-tech hack.
ADAC researchers say the the device used for the tests costs just £80.
A spokesman for the fattest motoring club in Europe said “The radio connection inbetween keys and car can lightly be extended over one hundred metres, regardless of whether the original key is, for example, at home or in the pocket of the proprietor.”
They built two radio devices – an amplifier that must be placed near the victim's keys, and a receiver that needs to be left near the car.
The radio near the car acts as the key and causes the car to unlock.
The device can work up to ninety metres away.
An ADAC spokesman told The Sun Online: ” We are exposing this IT problem at more and more brands across different manufacturers.
“Thefts have been using these loopholes presumably for years, without car manufacturers providing an effective solution – which shows that the automotive industry still has very much to catch up to other sectors of the economy with regards to IT security.
“All the more since keyless systems are also available for petite and medium-sized cars and suggested partly as standard configuration, manufacturers are called upon to effectively protect vehicle electronics.”
Drivers of cars that use keyless technology have resorted to storing it in a freezer or a “Faraday box” to block the electronic signals.
A spokesman for the Volkswagen group, which includes VW, Seat and Audi, said: “The Volkswagen Group takes the illegal use of radio path lengthening systems very gravely.
Has your car been stolen by high-tech thieves? Call The Sun Online newsdesk on two hundred seven 782 four thousand three hundred sixty eight or email [email protected]
“We are continually working on improving safety systems in order to hinder or prevent such manipulation, and are in regular contact with the authorities on this matter.
“Please understand that we are incapable to comment on the technical details of theft protection measures, because such information could be used by third parties to the detriment of our customers.”
A Hyundai spokesman said: “Hyundai Motor’s keyless system serves with all current security standards and regulations.
“The Company is permanently developing it systems further to close any security gaps.”
A Vauxhall spokesman said: ” Vauxhall takes the safety and security of its customers very gravely. “While researchers have shown complicated and fairly unrealistic vehicle theft attempts such as the relay attack under very managed conditions, we are not aware of any real world cases of such attacks on Vauxhall vehicles.
“Vauxhall has numerous existing protections in place and proceeds to add security protections as fresh threats are identified.”
A Mazda spokesman said: “Mazda is aware of the problem of car theft by keyless-entry hacks and is continually studying countermeasures.
“Albeit we cannot disclose any specifics at the present point in time, Mazda is committed to protecting the safety and assets of our customers and will proceed developing technologies to combat the permanently evolving problem of car theft.”
A BMW spokesman said: “The theft protection measures taken by car makers are very effective.
“The automotive industry is permanently updating these measures in order to also render fresh forms of attacks on vehicles ineffective.
“To this end, the industry is working closely with police authorities.”
A Mercedes-Benz spokesman said after the Essex car theft: “All Mercedes-Benz vehicles have extensive security and anti-theft protection systems.
“Data security, data protection and anti-theft protection are significant elements in our research and development activities.
“The development of protection and safety mechanisms is continued over the entire life cycle of a vehicle.
“When enhancing our protective mechanisms we take into account the latest skill about criminal methods and about attacks on security systems.
“We also suggest our customers the option of deactivating the radio signal with two clicks of the key in order to prevent manhandle.”
Volvo, Honda, Peugeot, Kia, Citroen and Nissan declined to comment.
The Sun Online has contacted the other manufacturers affected.
