How can I improve the theft protection on my keyless car?

Can you suggest some ways to make my keyless entry car less vulnerable to theft?

Asked on 29 August 2018 by c Reed

Answered by Georgia Petrie
There's lots of ways to prevent relay theft on keyless entry cars. The number one way is to stop the key being vulnerable by blocking the signal. Thieves use devices to amplify the signal from the keyfob in your home to a transmitter near your car, which essentially tricks your car into thinking the key is present. This allows the thieves to enter the car and drive away. Faraday bags are a good preventative measure, they work by blocking electromagnetic fields. This stops radio frequencies from being amplified, all you have to do is put your key in the little bag (www.amazon.co.uk/MONOJOY-Blocking-Antitheft-Protec...g)

However, there are also videos on YouTube that explain how to make your own Faraday Bag using materials around your house if you don't want to spend anything. A Disklok is also a good, physical product to prevent vehicle theft (review here: kit.honestjohn.co.uk/reviews/review-disklok-steeri.../).

For more sophisticated (and pricey) tech, we awarded the Autowatch Ghost immobiliser our Safety and Security award this year. The Autowatch Ghost secures your car from key cloning, hacking and even key theft. It uses the buttons in your vehicle, like those on the steering wheel, doors and centre console, to allow you to make a unique PIN sequence that must be entered before you can drive your car. There's also an iPhone app that connects to your vehicle and allows you to get in and drive without having to enter the PIN code. But, at £400, it isn't a cheap solution.

Another device that can't prevent your car from being stolen, but can keep tabs on it is the Spytrack Nano tracker. What often happens is stolen cars are left for a few days at a location to see if they're being tracked, then if they aren't found by the police then the car will be moved again. The Nano sends out a signal that can be pinpointed in real time using either the Spytrack app (iPhone/Android) or via desktop. The app integrates Google Maps and the topography can utilise satellite imagery if you choose. Using the desktop site you can set up ‘geofence zones’ that allow you to place markers on the map, so that if the tracker goes outside of them you’ll be alerted. It's a cheaper alternative to many of the popular car trackers on the market. Review here: kit.honestjohn.co.uk/reviews/review-spytrack-nano-.../
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