CUYAHOGA COUNTY, Ohio (WOIO) – The “Kia Boys” are at it again. Last summer, 19 Investigator Kelly Kennedy showed us how criminals use social media to flaunt their crimes, and now they’re using new technology that makes stealing cars even easier.
All they use is a small handheld device that can steal the signal when you use your key fob to unlock your car, allowing the thief to unlock it at a later time – it only takes a few seconds to operate.
Paul Sems, a cybersecurity expert at Trustedsec, knew exactly what the device was and actually had it in his possession.
“These are scary times we live in,” Semmes said.
Semmes said the device has been on the market for about four years.
“It’s not that surprising that they’re already being used for these reasons,” Semmes explains. “When these devices came out, some countries actually banned them and tried to put import restrictions on them to not allow them, but the reality is that if someone really wanted to build this, they could make it with what we call off-the-shelf parts.”
It’s legal in the US.
“It’s the same with lock-picking kits. A locksmith is allowed to buy lock-picking tools, and the average person is allowed to buy lock-picking tools. But when you use those tools to commit a crime, they become tools of a crime.”
For someone to steal your signal, they would have to be within about 30 feet of you when you unlocked your car with your key fob.
“It’s literally an FM or AM radio signal,” Semmes says, “a specific frequency, and you know what frequency the remote will work on. So it’s like pressing an old-fashioned tape recorder, hearing what you’ve recorded, rewinding the tape and pressing play.”
Sems said if your key fob is malfunctioning, it could be a sign that someone is trying to steal your signal.
“Automakers need to work harder to provide better encryption,” Semmes suggested, “spend a few more dollars and make sure they have a better encryption system. There are known vulnerabilities in that system and people are exploiting them.”
Those most at risk are Kia owners and some owners of cars manufactured before 2009. There’s not much you can do to prevent this, other than being aware of your surroundings when unlocking your car.
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