In a world of rapid technological advancements it is perhaps not surprising that our cars are also constantly evolving. Recent years, have seen a surge, in cars equipped with keyless entry. And although this is wonderful, the fact of the matter is - it remains steeped in risk - because the technology can be hacked. If you have a keyless car, or are thinking about buying one, we have some great advice for you, when it comes to keeping your vehicle safe.

The lowdown

So what are keyless systems? What do they do? A car with a keyless system, is equipped with an electronic lock, and or a keyless ignition system. Unfortunately you don’t have to look far to see the risks with this technology. For example, a well-known British make of 4×4, with a minor flaw in its keyless entry system, became one of the most stolen cars in 2015.

This isn’t a problem which is exclusive to 4x4s, and manufacturers are more than aware of the impact on the entire industry. According to one study, it’s become such a wide ranging problem, that up to 70% of consumers, would prefer a car without the technology altogether!* But where does the source of the problem lie? Well, primarily, it’s because the criminal market, have access to the same technology as the manufacturers! A criminal, can easily hack a car’s keyless entry system, by using tech that they find online—and some of these kits have been seen on bidding websites for less than £100.

Obviously, this has caught the attention of insurance companies. And as a consequence, many refuse to provide insurance to customers with keyless cars, who don’t park their car in a secure area (like a garage or underground car park).

But what can I do about this?

There are plenty of easy measures you can take, to stop your vehicle falling into the wrong hands.

• Steel Box to Cover OBD Port

This stops a car thief gaining access to your car’s diagnostics. Essentially, it makes it very difficult, for a car thief to plug in a hacking device into your car’s brain, which would then allow them to drive it away.

• Stolen Vehicle Tracking Devices

This is by far the most popular option—though not preventative, it makes it far easier for your car to be tracked if it’s stolen. Your car can be detected if it’s hidden in an underground car park, or even a shipping container! The Thatcham Cat 5 GPS tracker (with driver recognition) is very popular with insurers, and for less theft attractive cars, the Cat 6 GPS tracker is another great solution.

What other options do I have?

You probably already keep on top of security, when it comes to your computers, phones, and internet. So just think about your car in the same way. Keeping your car’s software up-to-date, is a simple way to reduce the likelihood of cyber-attacks—and therefore actual physical theft. And this will become ever more important, as the technology continues to advance.

For more information and advice, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us! www.jelfgroup.com

*Source – Tracker.co.uk

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