Prius Stolen without a key??

Grabbed it with a tow truck takes literally about 20 seconds.

 

I gather this was a used Prius, 2nd or 3nd owner. The original FOB or old programmed FOB was never erased from the car. If there's no damage to the steering column or OBD connectors; that's how it was done.
Replace and reprogram a spare FOB and have the tech erase any remaining programed FOB from your car.

Hope this help.....

PS. FOBs needs to be keep at least 20 feet from your car, in a enclosed metal box, refrigerator, or Faraday bag. This will cut-off the FOB signal and prevent hackers from emulating the signal. Once the car is started, it will run without the FOB nearby. This prevents the car from shutting-down because of a weak FOB battery, on the interstate (safety issue).

 

RFID chip type immobilizer systems have been around for 20 years. I'm sure that by now you can get some kind of widget from China that can "spoof" the system and let anyone turn the car on.

Any security tech that's been made can be analyzed and defeated.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

could be owner error too, left it running, forgot to turn the power off. Doesn't need the key present to drive away.

 

For what reason why would the original fob ever need to be erased? Are you saying the original owner came and stole the car with a spare fob he kept?

And if someone has the smarts to emulate a code I doubt there going to waste there time on an old Prius then leave it in the middle of an intersection.

 

I suspect that they targeted the car days before the day they stole it and used it to steal delivered packages, or anything else like stealing catalytic converters, wheels and tires or carry drugs.

Did you girlfriend leave the car recently for an oil change or other service? One dishonest employee might performed the chicken dance with a new blank keyfob using your girlfriend’s only key when she left it with the store. Then they just waited for the right time to use the new keyfob.

 

The FOB/lock is not actually a one-time-pad, so it's hackable using things like Replay Attacks, regardless of if the FOB is nearby. When the cars were originally built the equipment for this would be super expensive and require special knowledge, so it wasn't that common. but now you can buy a cheap SDR (Software defined radio) usb dongle and plug it into your laptop

There are tons of articles about this, here's some good intro

Toyota has some pretty laxed security standards... - SDR - Software Defined Radio - Hak5 Forums
Radio Attack Lets Hackers Steal 24 Different Car Models | WIRED

 

If it’s a wash, comparing the security of an old-school ignition key with an electronic fob, maybe time to go back, if only so you don’t need to pay $100’s for lost/missing or went-through-the-wash fobs?

The gen 5’s are apparently only coming with one fob too, with another one to be available “sometime down the road”.

what’s the manufacturers main reason for going with fobs? As always, I suspect $’s.

Standard car key vs. keyless entry: Which can better secure your car?

 

Nice article, thanks for posting!