Keyless Entry is a Car-Thief's Dream: Is Yours on the List?
Car thieves have gone high-tech. In 2025, the same keyless entry systems that make life convenient for drivers have become a goldmine for criminals. Armed with cheap relay devices and a bit of know-how, thieves can capture and amplify your fob's signal-even if it's inside your house-and drive away in seconds.
Recent academic research confirms: remote keyless entry is now a main attack vector, and most automakers haven't kept up with the threat. Attacks like relay, replay, and even cryptanalytic hacks let criminals bypass security on everything from family sedans to luxury EVs.
Relay Attacks: Thieves use radio amplifiers to trick your car into thinking the key is nearby-even if it's inside your home.Replay/Jamming: Attackers block your unlock signal, record it, and use it later to open your car.Cryptanalytic Attacks: Hackers can clone keys by intercepting and analyzing the digital handshake between car and fob.
The U.S. car theft landscape is dominated by models with weak immobilizer systems, especially older Hyundais and Kias, but modern keyless entry vulnerabilities-including those in Tesla and other brands-are a growing concern. Here are the US' 2024 Top 10 Most Stolen from keyless entry attacks.
Tesla Model 3 and Model Y have been proven susceptible to Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) relay attacks, allowing thieves to unlock and drive away in seconds if advanced security features (like PIN-to-drive) are not enabled.While not among the top 10 most stolen cars by volume, Tesla's vulnerability is notable because the attack exploits the convenience of phone-as-key and BLE fobs, similar to attacks on other brands using BLE for entry/start.PIN-to-drive: This Tesla feature can thwart drive-away thefts, but it must be manually enabled by the owner.
Hyundai and Kia (pre-2022/2023): Most vulnerable overall due to lack of immobilizers; relay and physical attacks are both common.American pickups (Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-150): Targeted for parts and theft, with keyless entry increasing risk in newer trims.Other keyless models (Toyota Camry, Dodge Charger, Honda Accord/Civic): Newer trims with push-button start are susceptible to relay attacks, though immobilizers are generally present.Tesla and other BLE/NFC-based vehicles: Vulnerable to advanced relay attacks, especially if owners do not use additional security features.
Despite years of warnings, most manufacturers have stuck with outdated cryptography and unidirectional signals. "Security by obscurity" (hoping hackers won't find the flaws) still rules, even as researchers and thieves race to outsmart each other. The result: a boom in thefts, and a booming business for aftermarket Faraday pouches that block radio signals-because your $60,000 SUV apparently needs a $10 shield the maker won't fork out for.
Some researchers are pushing for smarter solutions: adaptive frequency-hopping, two-way authentication protocols, and dynamic cryptographic keys. These upgrades would make it much harder for thieves to intercept or spoof signals. But until automakers make these standard, your car's digital handshake is a handshake with risk.
If your car unlocks with a wave or a ping, it's at risk. Until the industry catches up, use all available security features, and consider a Faraday pouch or steering lock. Convenience shouldn't mean handing your keys to a thief.
Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Better EV Stock: Ford vs. Tesla
Robotaxis aren't an optional extra for the car industry; they are the future of mobility. One company stands best placed to deliver affordable electric vehicles. The two companies could potentially become partners. These 10 stocks could mint the next wave of millionaires › -The comparison between Ford (NYSE: F) and Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) is valuable and valid because it speaks to where the auto industry is headed and highlights the relative position of each company as it moves toward electric vehicles and robotaxis. Whether it's a legacy automaker (Ford) or a dedicated battery electric vehicle company(Tesla), the key opportunities and challenges are the same. So, which company is better placed to thrive in the future? Tesla's launch of its full-self-driving (FSD) robotaxi is sometimes seen as a tactical move as its electric vehicle (EV) sales and market share come under pressure in 2025, but nothing could be further from the truth. The reality is that major automakers, including Ford, and leading technology companies have invested billions in robotaxis and autonomous driving, and it's an integral part of the future of the auto industry. The reason behind the investment is a recognition that robotaxis have huge profit potential, not least because they offer a long stream of recurring income from ride-per-mile revenue. Another reality is that EVs are not cheap, and if they are the future of the auto industry, automakers need to make them more affordable. They also need to offer robotaxis to make mobility more affordable. However, don't take my word for it. Here's Ford's CEO Jim Farley in 2019 on autonomous driving and robotaxis: "The self-driving system is incredibly important to develop, but it's just one part of building a safe and scalable self-driving service that consumers can trust." Farley went on to outline a timeline for a "commercial self-driving service" in 2021, which Ford would fail to achieve. As for affordable EVs, last year, Farley reiterated the need to offer smaller and more affordable EVs to achieve profitability as an EV maker. The two things are strongly connected. You can't have robotaxi EVs if the vehicles aren't affordable. That's a point that resonated during a recent CNBC interview with Waymo, which has a robotaxi service already in place, yet co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana declined to outline a timeline for the company's profitability. Waymo's lack of profitability means its owner, Alphabet, is going to have to invest significant sums, at a loss, if it wants Waymo to build scale. That creates a huge opportunity for a company like Tesla that is just entering the market and potentially offers a much more commercial and scalable service. Tesla's advantage in scaling robotaxis lies in its ability to transform existing Tesla vehicles into robotaxis, as well as its capability to produce a dedicated robotaxi, the Cybercab. Unlike Waymo, Tesla doesn't need to partner with automakers to build scale. Moreover, Musk has disclosed that Tesla has been in discussions about licensing its FSD to other automakers -- another route to long-term profitability. I'll cut to the chase. If Tesla can make automated driving and robotaxis work, then there's only one winner here, and it's Tesla. First, Ford is a long way from having a profitable EV business. For example, its Model E segment lost $5.1 billion in 2024, and then $849 million in the first quarter of 2025. Ford sold 22,550 EVs in the first quarter, implying it lost almost $38,000 on every EV sold. Moreover, its EV models, the Mustang Mach-E, the F-150 Lightning, and the E-Transit, are far from being affordable EVs. In contrast, Tesla generated $7.1 billion in operating profit in 2024. Despite losing market share amid declining sales, it still dominated the U.S. market, holding 43.5% of the market in the first quarter of 2025. Ford was a distant second with 7.7%. Both Ford and Tesla are planning to release low-cost models in the future, but given Ford's ongoing losses, Tesla's profitability, and its ability to lower its average cost per car, down from above $38,000 in early 2023 to below $35,000 in late 2024, the latter looks far better positioned to do so sustainably. Ford backed off its robotaxi/FSD plans in 2022, following the shutdown of Argo AI by Ford and Volkswagen after years of heavy investment. The company had been created to develop the technology and received billions of dollars in investment from Ford and Volkswagen. For reference, General Motors has also ended robotaxi development. In contrast, Tesla is preparing for the official launch of its unsupervised FSD/robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, this month, and it may be live by the time you read this article. While the launch will be small and highly contained, it still marks the birth of Tesla's robotaxi offering. Musk believes Tesla will have a dedicated, low-cost robotaxi, the Cybercab, in volume production by 2026. Indeed, Ford may end up licensing FSD from Tesla, and to his great credit, Farley has indicated an openness to partnering on FSD. There is no guarantee that Tesla's robotaxi or FSD will be successful, and investors need to closely monitor events. Moreover, Musk has a history of being overly optimistic on such matters. That said, the major automakers have been and are still pursuing the idea of lower-cost EVs and robotaxis and automated driving, and currently, Tesla remains the best-positioned company to meet those aims. It's where the industry wants to be, and Tesla is in pole position. Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you'll want to hear this. On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a 'Double Down' stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you're worried you've already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it's too late. And the numbers speak for themselves: Nvidia: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009, you'd have $373,066!* Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you'd have $38,158!* Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you'd have $664,089!* Right now, we're issuing 'Double Down' alerts for three incredible companies, available when you join , and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon.*Stock Advisor returns as of June 9, 2025 Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Lee Samaha has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet and Tesla. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Better EV Stock: Ford vs. Tesla was originally published by The Motley Fool Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tesla's $56K India Gamble: Will the Model Y Sell in a Price-Sensitive Market?
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) is finally hitting the accelerator in India. After years of back-and-forth, the EV giant is opening its first showroom in Mumbai this July, followed by another in New Delhi. It's starting with the Model Yshipped straight from its Shanghai plantmarking the company's first official sales push into the world's third-largest car market. Internal documents and people familiar with the matter confirm that Tesla has also brought in Supercharger hardware, car accessories, and parts from the US, China, and the Netherlandslaying the groundwork for a broader rollout. This move follows Elon Musk's February meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and could signal the start of a long-term India strategy. But it won't be an easy ride. Each Model Y imported was declared at just under $32,000, but racked up over $25,000 in import duties due to India's 70% tariff on fully-built EVs. Final sticker price? North of $56,000 before tax and insurancenearly 50% more than the U.S. price post-incentives. For a market where EVs still make up just 5% of new car sales and luxury vehicles are under 2%, Tesla will need more than brand power to spark volume. Still, the company is quietly building momentum. It's securing warehouse space in Karnataka and Gurugram, boosting hiring across charging, retail, and policy teams, and sending execs from abroad to oversee showroom setup in luxury districts. The early signs point to a premium positioning play aimed at affluent Indian buyers. Whether that strategy holdsor pivotswill depend on how fast Tesla can shift from imports to local production. For now, it's a high-stakes, high-margin experiment in one of the world's fastest-growing auto markets. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Dow Jones Futures: Tesla Robotaxi Launch Due; Four Stocks In Buy Zones
The market rally held in a range this past week, amid Israel-Iran news. The Tesla robotaxi launch is set for Sunday.
