The way cars are stolen has changed, but car theft is still happening. Gone are the days when cars were stolen with a screwdriver and broken window; today’s car thieves often outsmart most drivers using technological advances, including exploiting technology found in keyless entry systems, using relay attacks, and using signal amplification. As a result, vehicle security technology is evolving as quickly as vehicle theft is being committed.
If you want to protect your car from thieves, regardless of its age, knowing where the industry is headed and what you can do now puts you in a stronger position.
The Shift to Digital Entry Systems
Old-fashioned keys are no longer being used as much as they used to be, and most new cars come with conveniences like keyless entry, push-button starts, and access via smartphone app. While these systems certainly create convenience for the user, they have also created new vulnerabilities for bad actors.
For example, “Relay” attacks, in which a thief uses a signal amplifier to trick a vehicle into thinking that the key fob is nearby, have become prevalent in the UK, Europe, and Australia, and manufacturers have responded by adding features like rolling codes, motion-sensing key fobs, and ultra-wideband technology which can more precisely pinpoint the location of the key fob.
Car Remote Control Replacement and Security
It may be easy to overlook the importance of your automobile remote control when it comes to replacing it after you lose or break it; however, this is an issue that impacts not only your day-to-day activities and transportation but also your security. Getting the wrong remote will not only leave you with a vehicle that may be less secure, but it may also open up a number of other potential problems for the vehicle itself.
You should always get a new remote from an automobile locksmith or dealer who has been approved by your vehicle manufacturer in order to have the replacement properly matched with your vehicle’s immobiliser system. In addition to matching the remote with your vehicle, it is important that the original remote be removed from the immobiliser system so that anyone can use it. Sort car remote control replacement and life will be easier.
GPS Tracking and Telematics
Advancements in aftermarket GPS tracking systems are pretty spectacular compared to their previous generations. Now, your phone will provide you with up-to-date location info as it happens. If your vehicle is moved outside of the area you have set it, there will be an alert sent to you, allowing any law enforcement agency to quickly recover the vehicle. In addition, many companies will also provide discounts to customers on premiums for vehicles with a manufacturer-sponsored tracking system installed.
For personal automobiles, there are versions of telematics that you can install on your vehicle that provide you with substantial peace of mind and a relatively low cost. When these systems are integrated with established vehicle remote replacement procedures, your overall level of security will be significantly higher.
Old-School Methods Still Work
High-tech doesn’t always mean an improvement for these reasons. A visible deterrent (for example, a steering wheel lock or dash cam) can still be very effective because they help to raise the level of effort or the chances of being captured by law enforcement. Therefore, if a thief is looking for a quick/easy, low-risk type of job to commit, they will usually just continue looking for an easier target.
If you add a physical deterrent together with more modern digital security, you have created a form of protection that has more levels than either one would provide alone. There are no perfect solutions to vehicle security; however, the more friction you create in your vehicle, the less attractive your vehicle will appear to thieves.
