Car Insurance

Get the keys to block auto hack attacks

white car on tree lined street

If you own a car that was made by the Volkswagen Group since 1995, you may have heard that the keyless entry system can expose your vehicle to break-ins and theft—or perhaps you’ve already experienced one of these unlucky events. And Volkswagen owners aren’t the only ones at risk.

 

A team of researchers at the University of Birmingham recently found that a majority of the 100 million Volkswagen vehicles sold in the last decade—most with keyless entry systems—are vulnerable. Car hackers can use cheap, easily available radio hardware to intercept signals from a key fob and then use those signals to “clone” the key. The same research team also found hacking vulnerabilities in a system used by other manufacturers, including Chevrolet, Ford and Renault.

 

Further, the German automobile club ADAC recently announced results from a study testing a hack that extended the range of wireless key fobs. This means a key fob that would typically only communicate with its car from just a few feet away could, when hacked, activate the unlocking system or ignition from inside the house, allowing a perpetrator to open the vehicle and even drive away before the owner makes it outside. As Wired explained, the researchers pulled off the feat with a pair of radio devices (one held a few feet from the car and the other near the key fob) made with a few cheap chips, batteries, a radio transmitter and an antenna. Despite such lo-fi technology, the study found 24 different cars from 19 manufacturers to be at risk.

 

So what can you do about car hacking? There’s plenty of advice out there.

 

  • One AAA spokesperson told USA Today that since heavy metal cages around a key fob can block an amplifier, you could keep your keys in the microwave, refrigerator or freezer (check with your car dealer to be sure this won’t damage the batteries first), or simply wrap them in aluminum foil while at home. Some companies, such as FobGuard, sell protective Faraday fob shields.
  • Among other precautions, Driving.ca, the Canadian automotive website, recommends locking your car with the central door lock button rather than a wireless key fob, using an old-fashioned steering wheel lock, and even considering the purchase of a car from Tesla or General Motors, which hire “white hat” (ethical) hackers to look for bugs.
  • And get to know your car's OBD, or on-board diagnostic system, the port that gives owners and repair technicians access to the various computer systems that operate in your vehicle.
  • Don't let insurance programs or anyone else plug a "dongle" into the OBD port, which could open it up to hackers.
  • And consider an OBD lock, which offers extra protection for your car's precious data.

 

These few simple steps can put drivers back on the road to peace of mind.

 

This article originally appeared as "Protect Against Car Hacking and Auto Theft," in the Sept. 2016 edition of Accent by Chubb.

Insights and expertise

We help you stay ahead and informed with these helpful tips and tricks for protecting your home, car, and more.
touch screen in car
Car Insurance
Smart technology and your car
When you’re looking to buy a new car, you may want to consider the many smart technology options available these days.
car tire
Car Insurance
Tips for selecting new tires
If your tire treads have worn down, your tires are over six years old, or they’ve been exposed to extreme temperatures like cold and/or heat, it may be time to replace them. If you’re not sure how to go about selecting new tires, consider these tips!
guy giving car key to a girl
Car Insurance
2 important things you can do to keep your teen drivers safe
For many parents, the teenage driving years are both good and bad. Here are the two most important things you can do to keep your teen safe.
mechanic fixing car
Car Insurance
Tips for car maintenance when you are driving less
While we often think about changing the oil or other car maintenance that needs to be done after driving a certain number of miles, leaving your car sitting more than normal can also lead to issues and large repair bills, unless you maintain your car’s systems. By taking the following steps, you can help protect your investment, so it continues to perform well for years to come.
thief breaking into car door
Car Insurance
Tips to make sure you are not a victim of auto theft
These days, vehicle thieves are becoming cleverer and more brazen and the number of vehicle thefts and break-ins are increasing.
car keys
Car Insurance
Buying car insurance for the first time? Tips to keep in mind
If you’re thinking about buying your first car, it’s important to understand what type of car insurance you will need—here are some tips.
woman taking driving lessons from instructor
Car Insurance
9 ways to keep your teen driver safe
As parents, we hope that our kids will become safe and courteous drivers. But since that won’t happen on its own, Chubb has a few ideas to help your teens become safer drivers.
highway at night
Car Insurance
Rules of the road for safe driving
Whether you’re driving the carpool or training a new teenage driver, here are a few tips to keep your family safe on the road.

Find an Agent

Speak to an independent agent about your insurance needs.

This document is advisory in nature and is offered as a resource to be used together with your professional insurance advisors in maintaining a loss prevention program. It is an overview only, and is not intended as a substitute for consultation with your insurance broker, or for legal, engineering or other professional advice.

Chubb is the marketing name used to refer to subsidiaries of Chubb Limited providing insurance and related services. For a list of these subsidiaries, please visit our website at www.chubb.com. Insurance provided by ACE American Insurance Company and its U.S. based Chubb underwriting company affiliates. All products may not be available in all states. This communication contains product summaries only. Coverage is subject to the language of the policies as actually issued. Surplus lines insurance sold only through licensed surplus lines producers. Chubb, 202 Hall's Mill Road, Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889-1600.