Amid a rising tide of cybersecurity threats, a novel trick is making the rounds – wrapping your car fob in tin foil. While the police are advocating this measure, the bigger question looms – Why do law-abiding citizens have to resort to such makeshift solutions in the first place?
Cars, a vital necessity in today’s fast-paced world, warrant safeguarding. Their hefty price tags and ongoing maintenance costs make them significant investments. For many, cars are the lifeblood of their daily routines, facilitating commutes to work and errands. Indeed, except for those resorting to car-sharing services like Zipcar or relying on Uber, personal cars are indispensable.
Consumers are willing to shell out considerable amounts for their vehicles’ security. From installing car alarms to subscribing to vehicle tracking services like Onstar, they spare no expense. Some motorists even use visible deterrents like steering wheel locks, which signal would-be thieves to steer clear.
But in our increasingly digitized world, malefactors have taken their craft to the streets. Modern cars, brimming with complex computerized systems, present fertile ground for hackers and cyber-terrorists. By exploiting these systems, they can breach your car’s defenses with disconcerting ease.
The car fob, a seemingly harmless device, could be your car’s Achilles’ heel. For potential hackers, it presents the path of least resistance to infiltrate your vehicle. But here’s the silver lining – there are methods to secure your car fob from these digital marauders.
Moishe Shlisel, a former Israeli Air Force member and current CEO of GuardKnox Cyber Technology, suggests an unconventional yet effective solution – wrapping your car fob in aluminum foil. This low-tech hack, according to Shlisel, works like a charm in thwarting hackers.
“You know it works if you can’t unlock a car door when the fob is inside,” Shlisel points out, adding that credit card holders are not effective because they function more like nets than walls.
Recently, Detroit automakers sought Shlisel’s expertise to bolster their vehicles’ security. He emphatically stated that the car fob needs serious improvements.
“This should be something we don’t need to wrap with foil. It’s 2021,” Shlisel admonished. “Car companies need to find a way so no one can replicate the messages and the communication between the key and the vehicle.”
Echoing Shlisel’s sentiments, Holly Hubert, a cybersecurity expert who served the FBI until her 2017 retirement, also recognizes the tin foil solution’s merits despite its rudimentary nature.
“Although it’s not ideal, it is the most inexpensive way,” said Hubert. “The cyber threat is so dynamic and ever-changing, it’s hard for consumers to keep up.”
This issue brings into sharp focus the pressing need for auto manufacturers to stay ahead of the curve in cybersecurity. It’s high time they fortified their vehicles against such threats, rather than leaving the onus on consumers to resort to makeshift solutions. While the tin foil trick may be a stop-gap measure, the ultimate responsibility rests with the car manufacturers to ensure their consumers’ peace of mind and safety.
Source: AWM
