Security researchers demonstrate fast and cheap relay hack of keyless entry system in cars
Keyless entry systems are not uncommon in cars these days but they are also the target of unscrupulous hackers who are able to spoof the signal from a car key fob to open a vehicle’s doors. Now, a group of researchers at the Beijing-based security firm Qihoo 360 has demonstrated that the attack is not only easy to execute, but can be done relatively cheaply as well.
Presenting their findings at the Hack In The Box Security Conference (HITBSecConf) in Amsterdam, the group (who called themselves UnicornTeam) said their relay hack allows them to steal cars parked more than a thousand feet away from the owner’s key fob.
A short video shows us how the attack is carried out, which involves two people. One hacker holds a device in close proximity with the victim’s key fob, capturing the radio signals transmitted from it. Meanwhile, the hacker’s accomplice will receive the signals on a separate device, sending it to the car, allowing him/her to unlock the doors.
