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Keeping a smart key safe

Posted: Tue May 09, 2017 1:29 pm
by deguy
Does anyone have the First Edition with a smart key? If so, do you do anything to keep your key (and car) safe? There's been a fair few reports of thieves using relay devices to amplify the signal from the key sitting in your house at night to the car itself, so that a thief can just get in.

Does the Niro system mitigate this attack in any way? I am thinking I might get a shielded wallet for the key as a starting point. To be honest, I'd have been happier without the smart key in the first place. It's only convenient if you don't have to worry about someone nicking your valuables or the car itself!

Re: Keeping a smart key safe

Posted: Tue May 09, 2017 6:39 pm
by AlanW55
I'm in the same boat as you, but I'm not taking any particular measures apart from taking the keys upstairs at night. Whether thieves are after Niros when there are BMWs, Mercs etc. to be had ? The key is apparently transmitting all the time, it's amazing that there are devices that can read the transmission through brick walls. Having written this, I think I might find a metal box and keep my keys in that!

Re: Keeping a smart key safe

Posted: Thu May 11, 2017 5:36 pm
by Shaun
I can't believe the keys are transmitting all the time. The button battery would not last very long at all. More likely there is an RFID tag in the key fob that the car detects when you are close.

Re: Keeping a smart key safe

Posted: Thu May 11, 2017 7:45 pm
by deguy
Shaun wrote:I can't believe the keys are transmitting all the time. The button battery would not last very long at all. More likely there is an RFID tag in the key fob that the car detects when you are close.
That sounds quite likely, yes.

There's a certain amount of detail on Wikipedia. At a guess from that, these relay attacks must wake the key up somehow and rely on the vehicle not implementing sufficient security safeguards against such an attack.

AlanW55 wrote:I think I might find a metal box and keep my keys in that!
Good idea, cheap low tech solutions sound like the way to go as far as the car owner is concerned.

Re: Keeping a smart key safe

Posted: Sat May 13, 2017 4:45 pm
by AlanW55
Shaun wrote:I can't believe the keys are transmitting all the time. The button battery would not last very long at all. More likely there is an RFID tag in the key fob that the car detects when you are close.
That makes more sense, so the car must be transmitting something to activate the passive RFID chip. Probably a geek with a laptop sat near you could mimic what your car is doing.. keep looking over your shoulders!

Re: Keeping a smart key safe

Posted: Mon May 15, 2017 4:24 pm
by Bigtone1965
I have a safe in the house just a small one
But just leave them in there overnight
Hope that helps

Re: Keeping a smart key safe

Posted: Mon May 15, 2017 10:07 pm
by gimball
I just got the theft insurance - if someone goes to that much trouble to do such a high level attack to steal a Kia, they deserve it...

Re: Keeping a smart key safe

Posted: Wed May 17, 2017 7:28 pm
by Steve
gimball wrote:I just got the theft insurance - if someone goes to that much trouble to do such a high level attack to steal a Kia, they deserve it...
LOL..... These people are only looking for expensive cars ... If they want your car they will take it, weather its keyless or not .