Ultra-Wideband Key Fobs Close a Loophole That Car Thieves Exploit
Summary
Car thieves are increasingly exploiting security gaps in hands-free unlocking and keyless start systems, with keyless entry hacks now surpassing physical lock-picking in the U.K. STMicroelectronics has introduced its ST64UWB line of security chips to address this, patching a vulnerability where previous systems verified key identity but not physical distance, enabling "relay attacks." These attacks involve amplifying a key fob's signal to trick a car into believing the key is nearby, even when it's inside a house. New Ultra-Wideband (UWB) key fobs and car locks enhance security by measuring signal travel time, which is significantly harder to spoof than signal strength, thus enforcing proximity as a critical security check. However, while UWB makes faking proximity difficult, its full effectiveness depends on automakers consistently requiring distance verification, as it does not eliminate all wireless vulnerabilities like radio channel jamming.
Key takeaway
New Ultra-Wideband (UWB) key fobs and car security chips, such as STMicroelectronics' ST64UWB line, are designed to prevent "relay attacks" that exploit keyless entry systems. These systems enforce physical proximity by measuring signal travel time, making it impossible for thieves to spoof distance and trick vehicles into unlocking. This directly addresses the 58% of keyless vehicle thefts attributed to such exploits, provided UWB distance verification is consistently enforced.
Topics
- Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Technology
- Keyless Entry Systems
- Car Theft Exploits
- Relay Attacks
- STMicroelectronics
Best for: Security Engineer, Software Engineer, Research Scientist
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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by IEEE Spectrum.