Chinese hackers with proximity keys

I was wondering how you get in your cars with no key fob, but apparently you do still use them.
Thus there is no difference in what you carry, except for the proximity sensor continuing to transmit.

My reasons for turning the proximity sensor off are that (1) relay use now comprises the great majority
of car thefts, and (2) I didn't like using it anyway. The wireless remote control on my key fob still works fine.

 

Huge difference as nothing leaves my pocket. Ever.

 

How about implementing the kill switch with Arduino (or similar). It would could be powered on only when the car is started (e.g. power from 12V socket).
Killing gear selection in a Prius would be pretty simple, while manual bypassing could be implemented by reconnecting the wires to original place.

With Arduino (or ESP8622) Bluetooth could be used to identify your (or family member's) phone - you would not need anything extra to carry on..

Security through obscurity would work as long as it is not a common approach. Mechanical switch would work a little bit longer than Bluetooth one, as there is more obscurity related to it's location..

Bluetooth distance measuring is normally based on signal strength, so relay attack would work there also pretty well. But it uses different frequencies and is not currently used in any commercial application, so it would work for some time to come...

And I am not going to install it - my car is already old enough not to be tempting for anyone

 

In a vehicle, as with any kill switch, you need to plan for what happens if it accidentally kills while driving down the highway and not expecting it. If it disables gear selection, then you can just not shift out of drive or b-mode and might not be detected until stop. Or it may detect an error, throw it into neutral and you coast to a stop. Some of the older kill switches would kill the power and then you lose power brakes and power steering which is not good while driving.

 

Good point Gear killing would be really on the safer side. With Prius you could even design different failure models there: prevent all gear changes, prevent forward and/or reverse while allowing N and/or P. There might be some limitations, but quite likely all gear stick positions give separate output, so there are options

 

Was expecting to read a post about a group of Chinese people duplicating the smart key, misled by the title. Perhaps "electronic device" from china" should be used instead.