Stealing a car has become child's play thanks to a Panda

Stealing a car has become child's play thanks to a Panda


 
Stealing a car has become child's play thanks to a Panda
Auto theft, which has picked up again in the greater Montreal area and elsewhere in the world, has now entered 21st century mode and it is a simple gimmick that is at the heart of this new way of stealing a vehicle.

THE DARK SIDE OF THE PANDA
One of the gadgets used (because there are several) by the networks of thieves is initially used to validate the security codes of the key chains of the car manufacturers. This is the PandwaRF which is a portable RF analyzer with battery and Bluetooth that can be purchased over the counter on the internet for around $ 400 to $ 500. Electronics savvy people can build one for under $ 50. It is a wireless transceiver that is used to easily capture, display and then retransmit sequences of RF signals. It is used to validate the codes and signals of the manufacturers for the key rings and the thieves use it to capture it to decipher the "rolling-code". He analyzes and retransmits the code to make a copy on a blank key or the computer and bingo, you open the doors in less than two. No more need for complicated tools and especially no noise and the thief does not even sow the seeds of doubt. He just needs to park near the targeted vehicle, then let the Pandwarf read the code the vehicle sends and the theft is not even noticeable. By having the code, we open the door and press the starter as if we had the key.

HOW IT WORKS
Most vehicles are equipped with a key fob to unlock the doors remotely, open the trunk and start the engine. With this great convenience comes a significant risk of piracy. When you press the unlock button on your key fob, it sends out a modulated radio signal which is picked up by a receiver in the car. If the modulated code matches that of the car, the car unlocks. To prevent hacking, most car manufacturers encrypt a second code that changes each time you use the key fob.

THE MAGIC OF ROLLJAM
The most popular system at the moment is called Rolljam and has been in use for a few years. This device, no bigger than a cell phone, is made up of a small series of electronic boards with three radios. Using two of the radios, it blocks the wireless signal emitted by a car's electronic key, while the third reads the code that was transmitted, which is then stored on the device.

To prevent hackers from stealing this code, manufacturers have it changed each time the electronic key is used. In theory, this therefore makes any theft impossible. Unfortunately, it is not the case. As the device blocks the signal emitted by the electronic key of the car during its transmission, the unique code never reaches the owner. The next time, when he or she presses the unlock button, a new code will be transmitted and the car will be successfully unlocked. But the first code on its side was never used. Rolljam can then transmit it later to activate the unlocking of the target car. And that's how thieves get your vehicle off so quickly.

THE FARADAY CAGE
The Faraday cage is a metal structure sealed against electric or electromagnetic fields that protects what is inside from the outside. A car is a Faraday cage that prevents lightning from reaching you and also protects the electronic components of the car. If you want to protect yourself from electronic car theft, you can get a faraday box for around $ 30 and get into the habit of leaving your electronic vehicle keys inside. Thieves will not be able to pick up your key signal and will not be able to steal your car. You even have Faraday's little bag that you can keep with you in your purse or jacket that constantly keeps the signal out of the reach of hackers.