A rapidly executed vehicle theft carried out using key fob signal amplification technology has been captured on surveillance footage, showing in vivid detail how quickly a modern keyless entry vehicle can be stolen when thieves deploy the relatively inexpensive relay devices that defeat this security technology. The footage, which compresses the entire theft sequence into a matter of seconds, has been widely shared as a demonstration of why experts consistently recommend storing key fobs in Faraday cage pouches or metal containers that block the signals from reaching the relay equipment thieves use to amplify them.
Key fob relay theft has become the dominant method for stealing modern keyless entry vehicles, replacing the hotwiring techniques of a previous era with a technology-based exploit that requires almost no mechanical skill but defeats security systems that cost manufacturers enormous sums to develop and implement. The solution is elegantly simple and inexpensive: a Faraday pouch or small metal container purchased for a few dollars defeats the relay attack entirely by preventing the key fob from broadcasting its signal when not in use. Awareness of this protection method remains surprisingly low among vehicle owners despite years of coverage in automotive and security media.
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