Automotive security researchers and law enforcement agencies are raising alarms about a low-cost electronic device that has been enabling thieves to steal certain Toyota models at an alarming rate by exploiting a vulnerability in the vehicles’ keyless entry and ignition systems. The device, which can be purchased for a fraction of the price of a traditional vehicle key, allows a thief to fool the car’s electronics into believing a legitimate key is present, bypassing the security systems that were supposed to prevent exactly this kind of theft. Toyota is aware of the issue and has been working on countermeasures, but millions of vehicles remain vulnerable in the meantime.
The scale of the theft problem has been significant enough to push certain Toyota models to the top of the most-stolen vehicle lists in multiple metropolitan areas. Owners of affected vehicles are being advised to use physical secondary security measures such as steering wheel clubs and wheel locks as deterrents while more permanent technological fixes are developed and deployed. The situation highlights the cybersecurity vulnerabilities that have been introduced into modern vehicles through the proliferation of connected and keyless technology.
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