Car security chips can be cracked

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the security vulnerabilities of RFID chips used in car keys and their implications for vehicle theft prevention. Participants explore the effectiveness of traditional anti-theft devices in light of recent research findings that suggest these chips can be cracked relatively easily.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants highlight research from Johns Hopkins University indicating that security chips in car keys can be bypassed in under two hours, raising concerns about their effectiveness.
  • Others reference the use of traditional anti-theft devices, such as steering wheel locks, questioning their practicality and effectiveness against determined thieves.
  • There is a suggestion that if car thieves are serious, they might resort to extreme measures like removing and replacing steering wheels, although the feasibility of this approach is debated.
  • Some participants express skepticism about the likelihood of carjackers using such methods, suggesting that it may be either too effective or too impractical for real-world application.
  • Concerns are raised about the implications of the research findings, with some arguing that highlighting these vulnerabilities could lead to exploitation by criminals.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the effectiveness of traditional anti-theft measures versus the vulnerabilities of modern security chips. There is no consensus on the practicality of removing steering wheels as a theft method, nor on the implications of the research findings.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the dependence on specific conditions, such as the expertise of the thief and the type of vehicle, which may influence the effectiveness of various theft prevention methods. The discussion also reflects uncertainty regarding the actual prevalence of the methods mentioned.

The_Professional
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Looks like it's time to get back to the old "club" anti theft device of yesteryears.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200502/s1293334.htm
Security chips used in car keys for anti-theft purposes may be easier to bypass than believed, US researchers said after cracking the codes for the chips in under two hours.

The Johns Hopkins University research team said they cracked the code in the wireless chips aimed at immobilising cars if the proper key is not used.

About 150 million of these chips made by Texas Instruments are in use today, the researchers said.

The system is also used for the wireless ExxonMobil SpeedPass system to buy fuel.

The research team headed by computer scientist Avi Rubin said they employed the type of techniques used by hackers (crackers) to break the code in the radio frequency identification (RFID) chips.

"We haven't altered the security of the TI system. We have merely brought a weakness to light," the team said.

"Our belief is that if scientists did not draw attention to the weaknesses in the system, law breakers might come to discover and exploit it themselves.
 
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Computer science news on Phys.org
Haven't you seen "Gone in 60 Seconds?" Just remove the steering wheel with the club attached.

[edit] Should have read the quote.
 
Last edited:
dduardo said:
Haven't you seen "Gone in 60 Seconds?" Just remove the steering wheel with the club attached.

On another note those RFID tags that you can use at the gas stations have also been cracked.

http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/01/30/1617240&tid=172&tid=1


If they're serious enough to remove the steering wheel and replace it, then there isn't much you can do to stop them from taking the car.
 
Removing the steering wheel from the car and replacing it sounds very time consuming to me. I doubt the effectiveness of this in practice, nor have I heard any news of a carjacker attempting it.
 
The_Professional said:
Removing the steering wheel from the car and replacing it sounds very time consuming to me. I doubt the effectiveness of this in practice, nor have I heard any news of a carjacker attempting it.


Probably because is either very effective, or no one does it.
 
franznietzsche said:
Probably because is either very effective, or no one does it.

If no one's attempting it then that doesn't sound it would be effective then. Plus the carjacker would have to take into account that he has to bring his own steering wheel to replace it with. And if it doesn't fit the car he would be surrounded before he has the time to finish.

I only saw it in the movie and only took a couple of seconds for Nicholas Cage to pry it out, he must be really that good.
 
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If your a professional car thief and going for the top exotic cars you probably will study the car you want steal before you steal it.
 

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