Key fob hack

BJS02

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 12, 2013
Location
Florida
TDI
'15 Passat SE 6MT
This is not exactly news, and VW is far from the only mfg impacted. High tech thieves have been exploiting keyless entry for years, the fact that we now are using similar technologies as the key for a car makes the entire car easy to steal.

The reality is that they are more difficult to steal with electronic ignitions than with key cylinders. now you need to have the technical knowledge and build the apparatus then use it in a manner that will allow later theft of the car. Old technology is picking locks, I can go to the public library and checkout a book on picking locks and have amazon deliver me the picks.
 

vtbigdog

Veteran Member
Joined
Nov 2, 2011
Location
Vermont
TDI
2012 Jetta TDI DSG
...and before picking locks, you reached under the dash and grabbed a bunch of wires and 'hot wired' it...as illustrated in hundreds of movies!
 
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Ol'Rattler

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jul 3, 2007
Location
PNA
TDI
2006 BRM Jetta
If you have to use a key to start it , then the immobilizer chip in the key will prevent someone from driving off with your car even if they managed to hack the remote and unlock it.

IDK about KESSY though.
 

jcart

Veteran Member
Joined
May 17, 2015
Location
Kamloops, BC
TDI
2012 Touareg TDi Malone Stage 2, Rawtek.
Sigh... More fear mongering, like what thief is gonna steal a TDi vehicle. let alone wait around for a wireless signal, then follow you home... Please...

A Golf R, GTI maybe, but the logistics (to steal) are seemingly complex, be easier to steal a deck truck and haul them away.
 

Ol'Rattler

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jul 3, 2007
Location
PNA
TDI
2006 BRM Jetta
Sigh... More fear mongering, like what thief is gonna steal a TDi vehicle. let alone wait around for a wireless signal, then follow you home... Please...
Why would they wait to follow you home? What they would do is wait around a club or the mall parking lot etc., capture the keyfob data and unlock your car when you go into were you are going. That's my play on it anyway.

Just a guess is that all they would need is the encryption that pairs the remote to the car. And also having the unlock frequency, getting the other functions of the remote would just be a matter of applying the offsets to the unlock frequency to get the remote function they want.

Best bet, if you are in a shady area, just use the key to lock and unlock and they can't capture anything.

A variation of this is they plant a device on your car that captures the encryption and the next time they see your car with you not in it, they retrieve the device and unlock your car.
 
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jcart

Veteran Member
Joined
May 17, 2015
Location
Kamloops, BC
TDI
2012 Touareg TDi Malone Stage 2, Rawtek.
If it where me I'd pick out a parked car.... Rather then follow someone around till they parked for a fob frquency is all I was thinking. Easier to pick a parked car to look inside for manual gearbox, DSG tranny bla bla... Etc.

j
 

Ol'Rattler

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jul 3, 2007
Location
PNA
TDI
2006 BRM Jetta
Actually, you want to pick a car that just parked, the driver gets out, locks with the fob and walks away.
 
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