Does storing your car keys in a microwave prevent theft?

Usually, storing car keys in a kitchen may mean hanging them on a key holder or placing them in a dish.
But a recent increase of motorists storing their car keys in a microwave has led to experts to express their concern.
Yes, the trusty microwave has seen an increase in key storage overnight as it appears it's not only used for a quick re-heat of a midnight snack.
Why do people store car keys in the microwave?
Ofcom states that it's all down to the latest methods that crafty thieves are taking advantage of with keyless fobs.
'These keyless fobs use radio frequencies to communicate with your car, allowing it to unlock and start it when you have it in your possession,' Ofcom says.
'Sadly for car owners, thieves are sometimes able to use bits of tech that capture and amplify these frequencies in a way that helps them to gain access to your car.
'And if they can get near enough to the fob, for example by lurking close to your home or in your driveway, they can do this while it is inside your house – where you might think it's safe.'
Does putting car keys in the microwave block signal?
Because a microwave uses high-power radio waves to heat food, these can block the signal between your keys and car – but they're not the most ideal or safe solution.
We spoke to experts from car leasing deals site LeaseLoco, who have been hearing about a rise in this peculiar trend.
John Wilmot, CEO and founder of LeaseLoco, said: 'Thieves are becoming increasingly savvy when it comes to keyless car theft.
'Many modern cars use radio frequency signals to communicate with key fobs, which means criminals can use relay devices to capture and amplify these signals - even when the key is inside your home - to unlock and steal your vehicle.
'While it's true that microwaves are designed to block electromagnetic signals, using one as a storage place for your car keys is far from practical - and potentially dangerous.
'Microwaves are not a safe or recommended alternative to a proper signal-blocking solution.'
What happens if you accidentally microwave your car keys?
It's easily done – you're in a rush and accidentally catch the timer on your microwave, or worse still, microwave a ready meal with your keys already inside.
Mr Wilmot continued: 'If you forget the keys are inside and accidentally turn it on, you risk seriously damaging the fob's delicate electronics.
Recommended reading:
'That could mean short circuits, melted components, or total failure, and repairs or replacements can run into the hundreds.
'Worse still, microwaving a key fob introduces a real fire hazard. The metal components inside could spark, potentially causing smoke, flames, or even damage to your microwave and home.
'The safer, more reliable option is a purpose-made RFID-blocking pouch or Faraday box. These are specifically designed to block key signals and protect your car from relay theft, without the risk of frying your keys!'

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Daily Record

15 hours ago

• Daily Record

Motorists warned of 5 new driving scams costing Brits thousands

Fraudsters are using 5 new tactics to trick drivers out of money. Motorists are being warned to be aware of new scams targeting British drivers. Fraudsters are costing motorists thousands of pounds with five new key tactics. From tampered QR codes on parking meters to convincing fake DVLA messages - drivers are being urged stay vigilant or risk losing their hard-earned cash. In 2024, scam reports to the DVLA soared to nearly 20,000, prompting motoring experts at LeaseLoco to make drivers aware of how to spot suspicious activity and avoid being caught out. ‌ While younger drivers aged 25-34 are the most common victims of vehicle-related scams like used car fraud and bogus insurance deals, older motorists are increasingly being targeted too - with fraudsters preying on their uncertainty around online payments to issue fake parking fines. ‌ John Wilmot, CEO of car lease comparison website LeaseLoco, said: 'Unfortunately driving-related scams are really common and they work well for fraudsters because they can create a sense of urgency. 'A lot of these scams will urge you to quickly pay a fee to avoid facing bigger fines. When we see something like this we often rush to get the payment done rather than stopping and checking the legitimacy of the message or letter. 'The good news is there are ways to spot these scams which can prevent you from losing any money. 2025 scams driver should to be aware of QR codes on parking meters ‌ Scammers are placing QR code stickers onto parking meters in the hopes of tricking motorists to scan the QR code and 'pay' for their parking. To avoid being caught out, stick to using official car parking apps such as RingGo and PayByPhone. It's also worth noting that most councils won't use QR codes for payment, but will instead tend to provide a machine or stick to apps. DVLA messages Fake DVLA messages often state that your license needs updating or that your car tax has failed, forcing you to hand over sensitive information. It's important to remember that the DVLA will never ask for money or personal information via email or text. Never click on any links within these messages and only access the DVLA website through ‌ Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. PCN fines Scammers may send fake parking charge notices to your house by post, urging you to pay a fake parking charge before the fine increases. A real PCN notice will have the date, time and location of your alleged violation. If you're still unsure whether your letter is real or not you can contact the council's parking department to check if the fine is genuine. ‌ Used car sales Be wary of any car deals that look too good to be true on online marketplaces. In 2023, nearly half a million pounds was reported as lost to Facebook car scams. Scammers will often post a fake ad for a car at a very low price and ask people interested for an upfront payment via bank transfer. They avoid having anyone come and see the car in person by claiming to be abroad too. When purchasing a used car, never make a payment before seeing the car in person and check the vehicle history on the government website. Toll or congestion charge messages Drivers can receive messages claiming they owe money for crossing a toll or congestion zone followed by a 'pay now' link. Before opening any links, remember that any genuine toll notifications will come from or other verified operators such as TfL, M6 Toll and Dart Charge for Dartford Crossing.

The Sun

4 days ago

• The Sun

The secret settings to ‘scam-proof' your phone, stop crooks stealing your private photos & £1000s from your bank account

THOUSANDS of pounds gone in seconds, your private pics in the hands of strangers, and your loved ones ripped off too – these are just a few of the nightmare consequences of a smartphone scam. I've spent years writing about how to dodge increasingly convincing online cons that cost Brits millions a year - and it only takes a few seconds to avoid disaster by changing settings on your iPhone or Android. Online scams are big business and a recent Ofcom report warned that almost half of Brits have been drawn in by clever scammers. A quarter of those had lost money, with a fifth losing at least £1,000. They can come over the phone, text, or email, or through websites and apps. They may rush you into making an investment, trick you into thinking you're chatting with a loved one, or hoodwink you with the promise of a prize, tech support, or a refund. Now, crooks are even using AI to dish out more convincing scams faster than ever, so it's important you have the absolute best phone settings to avoid being another victim parted from their savings. Here are the iPhone and Android tricks you need to activate immediately to keep yourself and you cash safe. IPHONE TRICK #1 – SILENCE UNKNOWN NUMBERS Cold calls are a classic way for crooks to target you with a scam. So go to Settings > Apps > Phone > Calls > Silence Unknown Callers, then turn it on. This will send any calls from unknown callers straight to voicemail. If it's important, they'll leave a voicemail. You can also read transcriptions of your voicemail in real time if you've got iOS 17 or later (go to Settings > General > Software Update to check). IPHONE TRICK #2 – CALL SCREENING This one isn't out yet, but it'll land on your iPhone with the imminent iOS 26 update (likely in September). Make sure to install that (in Settings > General > Software Update), and then a robot will answer your phone calls for you. 16 It'll ask their name and reason for calling, and write out the answer in real-time on your screen. Then you can decide whether to answer or if it sounds like a scam. This also prevents scammers from being able to hear your voice and cloning it for future cons. IPHONE TRICK #3 – LOCKDOWN MODE One extreme option is to turn on Lockdown Mode – but only do this if you think you're definitely being targeted by scammers. It'll block most message attachment types, as well as links and link previews, as well as incoming FaceTime calls from unknown numbers. 16 You'll also be prevented from automatically connecting to unsafe "non-secure" WiFi networks – and you'll be blocked from adding configuration profiles that let other people change settings on your phone. Your iPhone won't work to its full potential with Lockdown Mode on, so keep that in mind: this is only for extreme cases. To switch it on, just go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Lockdown Mode > Turn On Lockdown Mode > Turn On Lockdown Mode, then follow the steps to restart your phone. IPHONE TRICK #4 – AUTHENTICATOR If you've accidentally given up your password, it's not the end of the world – as long as your online accounts also require a special authentication code to log in. You've probably had these coming via SMS, but you can also get them via an app. Authenticator codes from an app are far safer than the ones that come over text, because SMS messages are more easily hacked. And your iPhone has an authenticator code generator built in as standard. Go into the account settings for an app, then choose the option to add two-factor verification. Then scan the code with your iPhone camera, and Apple's iCloud Keychain will suggest adding it to your account. Then when you sign in, iCloud Keychain will automatically fill in the code for you. You can also manually add it by going into the Passwords app, and looking under the Codes tab. Then if you ever accidentally give up your password to an account, crooks still won't be able to log in. IPHONE TRICK #5 – CALL BLOCKING There are lots of apps that maintain giant lists of phone numbers that are known to be spam or scams. And your iPhone can use these apps to automatically block calls from these numbers. First, go to the Apple App Store in the UK, and download some call identification apps, like Truecaller or Whoscall. Then go to Settings > Apps > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification. This will only appear if you've installed some ID apps. 16 16 Now, choose Silence Junk Callers, which will silence calls identified by your phone network as potential spam or fraud. This option may not appear if your phone network hasn't activated it. Then activate any Call Identification apps that you've installed. ANDROID TRICK #1 – SCAM DETECTION Millions of Android phones now have a feature called Scam Detection inside Google Messages. Make sure to update to the latest version of Android. Then when you're receiving texts, AI on your phone will scan your texts to look for "suspicious" signs that you're being scammed. It only works on conversations with non-contacts, and your texts won't be send to Google (unless you report the conversation). You'll see it working if a big red alert pops up that says "Likely Scam" – and then you'll be able report and block the sender. ANDROID TRICK #2 – APP SCANNER Dodgy apps are another way criminals will try to scam you. These apps might even seem legitimate, but they're actually silently harvesting your info or money in the background. Google automatically scans the apps you download from its Play Store – but often the most dangerous apps come are ones that you've installed from elsewhere. Go to the Google Play Store > Profile > Play Protect > Settings > Improve Harmful App Detection and turn it on. This will let Google scan apps that you've downloaded from outside of its own Play Store, potentially spotting scam apps that you've installed. Then you'll get the warnings and can delete them from your phone. ANOTHER SAFETY TRICK – CALL YOUR FAMILY! The Sun's tech editor Sean Keach has another useful scam-busting trick that requires no changes to settings at all... One of the most devastating scams out there right now is the "Hi mum" con. This sees crooks texting parents or their kids posing as the other – saying they're reaching out from a new number and need help. It'll start innocently, but they'll quickly ask for cash for an urgent bill, taxi, or fine. Brits have lost thousands in one go to this brutal con. So call your loved ones today and set up a safe word or phrase. That way, if any of you asks the other for money, you'll be able to verify the request with a safe word. Don't pick something obvious like a place or birthday – and certainly don't write it down anywhere online or on your devices. This is the easiest way to avoid being caught up in a "Hi mum" scam, so don't delay – call your family today. ANDROID TRICK #3 – CALL BLOCKING One option is to outright block calls from unknown numbers. Just go to Phone > More > Settings > Blocked Numbers > Unknown, which blocks calls from private or unidentified numbers. You'll still get calls from phone numbers not stored in your contacts though. And like iPhone, you can also use spam-busting apps to identify scam callers too. Just download an app like Hiya or Truecaller, both of which maintain giant lists of known spammers and scammers. That way, you can easily avoid dodgy calls. ANDROID TRICK #4 – AUTHENTICATOR Like with iPhone, Android phones also have a way to serve up log-in codes. These give you an extra layer of protection on top of your password – and they're safer than the ones you get via text. On Android, the standard option is the Google Authenticator app. It's totally free and will generate log-in codes for apps and websites whenever you need them. That way, even if you accidentally give your password to a scammer, you'll still be protected. ANDROID TRICK #5 – ADVANCED PROTECTION MODE The iPhone's Lockdown Mode doesn't exist on Android – but there's something very similar called Advanced Protection Mode. You'll need to update to the latest Android 16 software (just go to Settings > System > Software Update and follow the instructions). 16 It's designed for VIPs who might be targeted by crooks – like celebs or politicians – but anyone can use it for free. If you toggle the button on, it'll activate a long list of hardcore security features to help you dodge scams and boost your security. That includes preventing your phone from being hacked by a physical cable, using AI to detect scam calls live as they're happening, saving you from unsafe Wi-Fi, and blocking you from unsafe websites and apps. You'll find it in Settings > Google > Personal & Device Safety > Advanced Protection > Device Protection. 16

Scottish Sun

5 days ago

• Scottish Sun

Every driver in Britain warned of £5K fine THIS WEEKEND over common mistake – how to avoid penalty

Drivers could also face points on their license for the error BRAKES ON Every driver in Britain warned of £5K fine THIS WEEKEND over common mistake – how to avoid penalty BRITS are being warned that a simple driving mistake could cost them £5,000 over the weekend. The warning comes as the UK braces for a massive heatwave beginning today. Advertisement 3 An urgent warning has gone out to drivers ahead of the weekend Credit: Alamy 3 Wearing sandals whilst driving the car could lead to a hefty fine Credit: Getty 3 The news comes as the UK braces for a heatwave Credit: Alamy The Highway Code has determined what is appropriate on our roads, ever since it was first published in 1931. Rule 97 of the code states that motorists must be adequately prepared for their upcoming drive. This includes being dressed appropriately. In the summer months, millions of Brits swap their trainers for flip-flops but this could lead to you getting fined. Advertisement Any shoe which could limit your ability to put pressure on the pedals breaks the code and leaves you liable for a hefty fine. If you are found to be 'driving without due care and attention', you face an on-the-spot £100 fine. Three points could also be added to your license. If the matter escalates to court, you could face fines of up to £5000. Advertisement Speaking to the Express, John Wilmot, CEO and founder of LeaseLoco said: "It's easy to overlook how your choice of clothing or footwear can affect your driving, especially in hot weather, but even something as simple as a pair of flip-flops or a long skirt can reduce your control of a vehicle. "If this leads to an accident or you're stopped by police, you could face serious consequences. The Secret Behind Green Road Signs 🚦 'So we're urging all drivers to think practically before getting behind the wheel this spring and summer - your outfit shouldn't compromise your safety or anyone else's." The news comes after temperatures are set to soar over the week. Advertisement The country is bracing for highs of 29C today, with the East of England likely facing the hottest temperatures. In some areas, meteorologists have forecast highs of 33C and have said the heatwave will continue through to the end of the week. A heatwave is when temperatures exceed thresholds in a certain area for over three days. Across the north and west of the UK, this is 25C and in the Home Counties and London it is 28C. Advertisement