6 Ways Criminals use Tech to Steal your Vehicle

Technology is advancing every day and so are criminals. This week’s tech update looks at 6 ways in which criminals are using tech, even in its simplest form, to steal a vehicle right from under your nose.

1. Car Cloning

You’ve probably heard of identity theft, but have you heard of automobile identity theft? A vehicle identification number or a VIN is a code unique to your vehicle that specifies the car model, manufacturer and more. This number is used by criminals to ‘clone’ your vehicle. A car similar to yours is stolen and fake documents and number plates are produced using the VIN details. The criminals now have a legitimately documented vehicle which they can easily sell.

2. Diagnostic Key Readers

Something relatable to the everyday South African, a recent arrest made in Amanzimtoti brought to light a device thieves are using to steal vehicles. This breakthrough arrest of a gang of wanted car thieves led to the recovery of a range of sophisticated car breaking implements. The most prominent being a software device, known as a diagnostic key reader that has the ability to override a car’s security system, control car functions and clone car keys.

3. PA announcement hijackings

It’s a low-tech technique used by car thieves that involves a simple PA announcement. The thief notes the number plate of the target vehicle, then calls the venue and reports that it is blocking another car. When the owner returns to move the vehicle the thieves ambush them, stealing the keys and hijacking the car.

4. Phoney Mechanics

Always ensure you take your vehicle to reputable mechanics and interior car washes. It isn’t unheard of that criminals with car mechanic skills will trawl the web looking for jobs and once hired will work until a car they can profit from comes in. With your keys in hand, they won’t even need to break in and at the end of the day can make off in your car.

5. Nighttime car alarms 

When your car alarm goes off at night, it’s often very easy to disarm it, roll over and go back to sleep. Criminals will sometimes intentionally set off the alarm late at night, knowing you will disarm it quickly out of guilt for waking up the neighbours. Whilst it’s good to be empathetic towards others, disarming your alarm without seeing why it has been set off is a big mistake. When all has quietened down, the thief will hack the ignition and drive off, whilst you are sound asleep.

6. Connected-Car Hacking

These days, half the appliances in your house can be smart appliances – most of which connect to the internet. Your kettle, your front door and now your car? Well, not just any car but the famed Tesla electric cars. Known for its safety features which decrease the likeliness of crashing, the connectivity of Teslas makes them vulnerable to hackers. The video below shows two hackers stealing a Tesla, by picking up the presence of the fob from inside the owner’s house and amplifying it.
Video Courtesy of Antony Kennedy.

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Source:
MakeUseOf. (2019). 5 Ways Criminals Use Technology to Hack and Steal Cars. [online] Available at: https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/criminals-hack-steal-cars/ [Accessed 28 Oct. 2019].