Easy theft of Prius

I happened, my daughter can verify it, too.

 

this is more case of your daughter changing the electromagnetic receiving characteristics of the FOB antenna in the car. She essentially extended and improved the car's antenna with her body (and cell phone). it is similar to pressing the key fob against your head. it extends the range as your body acts as an antenna. The FOBs use completely different frequencies than a cell phone on top of using also completely different protocols


iPad ?

 

Ok, that might be plausible. So how did the signal go through two walls, an aluminum garage door and the Prius was more than sixty feet away? I can only say it was strange and awesome when it happened.

Yes, I have heard that you can extend the range of the FOB by putting the FOB to your chin. I know that works.

 

if your house is a wood framed construction, it is not unheard off to achieve this kind of range.
You might try some experiments. 1. Free range on a parking lot. 2. Just beyond the range limit, have someone touch the car and try again. 3. Range from within the house.
Keyless entry has only a tiny range. it is designed that way to only allow you to open the car, if you touch the door handle and have the key with you. if the key is 3 ft away from you, or near the trunk or passenger door it won't open the car anymore, e.g. pulling on the driver's door.


iPad ?

 

But, a fair number of 3rd Gen Prius have been stolen in Germany. They all went to eastern europe. One report states that a white van stopped next to the parked P3. Then the indicators flashed, someone left the van, entered the Prius and drove away. This has never been reported for the P2, just the P3. Someone can either remotely generate or replicate P3 keys. I would not be surprised, if OEM equipment is used to pull this feat. Merits of organized crime I guess.


iPad ?

 

I can lock/unlock our car when it's parked on the street at our daughters. This is standing on her balcony, maybe 60' to the car.

 

Holy Crap! Now I should worry my P2 could be stolen in a mall parking lot. Hmm, wonder what I could do to stop or prevent this from happening? Push the button under the dash, that would stop the smart key, but would it stop the car from being started and driven away?

 

Activation of the touch unlock function or start button requires the fob to be VERY close. Pushing the button on the fob to lock/unlock is a different scenario.

 

only P3 were stolen. The 2004-2009 P2 not.


iPad ?

 

So, what did Toyota change on the keyless entry between P2 to P3? If no P2s have been stolen, then there must be something different. Or do they just like P3s?

 

Top Gear once tried this, move to a distance where the the car no longer responds to FOB. Place FOB against skull, car then responded to FOB. They had no explanation.

 

You are capacitively coupling the fob to your head. With all the fluids in your head it ends up being a nice conductor. Not a great one, but it works.

 

Flatbed it, break the glass disconnect the battery. Done. This is for any car.

The technical side; the smarter the car the smarter criminals become. Might even make their life easier. Anything can be hack. If there is a lock, their must be a key. Just a matter "who" wants to share it or not.

If you are really paranoid then install a kill switch. YouTube it, very easy. It's a good way of delaying the theif from taking off.

 

Entered in error, sorry

 

You can always disable the Smart Key function and use the physical insert key to open the door. The start function will still work when you place the chrome plated Toyota logo of the key fob over the start stop button.

 

True. If the 12V auxiliary battery is functional.