BMW 'powerless' to stop car hack thefts

TheChamp

TheChamp

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In e-mails to a customer seen by the UK's Daily Mail, the German giant acknowledged its latest keyless models are vulnerable to thieves using gadgets widely available online. However, it insisted it cannot accept any responsibility for this. The Mail has highlighted a surge in thefts using ‘relay boxes’ to extend the signal from owners’ key fobs to steal vehicles outside their homes.

BMW admitted its ‘comfort access’ cars can be stolen in this way but said that while such thefts were "extremely regrettable… we cannot take responsibility". It insisted they were an "act involving the highest level of criminal energy", adding that "BMW is powerless against criminal mechanism". The comments were made to a customer from Surrey whose keyless car was stolen from his driveway.

West Midlands police and crime commissioner David Jamieson said: "BMW’s attitude towards this driver is arrogant and outrageous."

https://www.iol.co.za/motoring/industry-news/bmw-powerless-to-stop-car-hack-thefts-14711008
 
gregmcc said:
Powerless?! If they designed the system properly there wouldn't be any issues.
Click to expand...

I'd love to know how one can design a system (keyless entry that does not require you to press a button, god forbid having to press a button) that is secure, maybe you have more knowledge?

Encryption won't help, they are just boosting the legit encrypted signals range.
 
Audi have or had a similar issues. There's video on YouTube showing thieves stealing one of the RS models right here in SA. The video shows them breaking in, the alarm goes off but then after they tinker with a laptop or something it stops and a few secs later they start and drive away.
 
R13... said:
Audi have or had a similar issues. There's video on YouTube showing thieves stealing one of the RS models right here in SA. The video shows them breaking in, the alarm goes off but then after they tinker with a laptop or something it stops and a few secs later they start and drive away.
Click to expand...

Nah, if they had to physically break into the car it was not a keyless/press-a-button-less entry system, rather an OBD2 system hacking thing.

In this case they just point a antenna at the key, and boost it's signal to the car and the car thinks the key is present and opens up. Easy peasy. Saw a vid of it, let me find.
 
supersunbird said:
I'd love to know how one can design a system (keyless entry that does not require you to press a button, god forbid having to press a button) that is secure, maybe you have more knowledge?

Encryption won't help, they are just boosting the legit encrypted signals range.
Click to expand...


The relay box works by exploiting a vulnerability. They need to redesign the system to remove this vulnerability.

Possibly could use frequency hopping technology so the relax box can't boost the signal.
 
Its the risk you take when wanting to trust everything to the software.There is always a way, someone programmed it, someone can take it apart and exploit it.
 
"Use a steering wheel lock to deter ne'er-do-wells..."

...yeah right, it is a schlepp and hassle to put on, to start with.

Glad my 'Rolla's got the old style mechanical locks, none of this poncy remote control central locking thing.
 
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