Keep your keys safe
Keeping your keyless fob in a drawer or hook in the hallway offers little protection against keyless car theft. You're best off putting your keys somewhere that can block the signal between your key fob and car. This will help prevent hackers from getting access to your vehicle.
Signal-blocking pouches
Consider purchasing a Faraday pouch to keep your car key in. These pouches contain signal-blocking materials that stop your key transmitting its code, preventing crooks from being able to detect and amplify the signal.
The safest place to keep car keys at home is as far from the front door as possible. This will reduce the risk of them being grabbed and, in the case of modern car keys, prevent the wireless signal from being easily amplified in a relay theft. Likewise, always keep fobs in RFID bags/Faraday cages when not in use.
The vehicle and fob communicate using low-power radio signals that are only effective when the fob is within approximately 36 inches of the car door or ignition start/stop button.
Even if you don't have a porch, avoid putting the keys on a sideboard in the hallway. Keep them well inside your home and even consider putting them in a safe overnight. If a thief did manage to get hold of your keys, you want to make it as difficult as possible for them to steal the car.
LEAVING YOUR KEY CLOSE TO YOUR CAR
Leaving your car key in your car overnight or even on a hook near the car is not recommended. If the fob is too close to your car, it can continue to communicate with it, which could drain the battery.
Keyless theft (otherwise known as relay theft) is relatively simple; all it requires is two small boxes of electronics, which thieves can use to open your car in as little as 60 seconds.
How far can a keyless car drive without the key? Generally speaking, there's no limit to the distance a vehicle with keyless entry and start can go without the keyfob being in the car. The vehicle will often just beep without the key present.
The figures from LV= show that luxury car makes such as Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Mercedes, Porsche and Tesla are increasingly affected by keyless theft, accounting for almost half (48%) of all 'theft of' vehicle claims.
Battery life really depends on size and what kind of key fob you have either a regular key fob or a smart key fob (Smart key fobs are the ones that even when the key fob is in the driver's pocket, it can still unlock, lock, or start a vehicle). - For a regular key fob the life expectancy of the battery lasts 4-6 Years.
Keyless door locks aren't necessarily more secure than traditional locks. Every lock on the market, keyed or keyless, has a physical weakness: The lock is only as strong as the construction material, the length of the deadbolt, and the strength of the material the bolt slides into.
Because of the way that keyless technology works, hackers can use specialist programmes to trick your car into thinking that the correct fob is nearby, allowing them easy access. Another potential risk comes from the fact that your car's engine won't automatically switch off when you are out of range.
Whether thieves use the relay technique, use a jamming device or simply break a window, once they're inside the car, those vehicles with a start button rather than an ignition key can be simple to steal. Every car sold for more than a decade has been required to have a standard diagnostic port fitted.
As with any battery, the one in your car's fob or remote will occasionally need to be replaced. Typically, a car fob battery should last between three and four years. Additionally, there are a number of signs that will tell you when your fob battery is dying. The first sign is reduced signal strength.
It makes sense to always use a Faraday bag when the car is on your driveway or in a garage, but also when you're away from home, because thieves often operate in car parks.
While these methods seem to pose huge security risks to your vehicle, there is actually quite a simple solution to protect your car: wrap your keys in tin foil. Wrapping your keys in this every-day household item will act as a barrier and ensure that the signal is not transmitted in a relay attack.
What may drain a car battery when it's off are things such as interior lights, door lights, or even bad relays. While your engine runs, the alternator recharges the battery — which is why you typically don't have to worry about the battery dying while you're blasting the radio on your drive to work!
Extreme temperatures, humidity, and exposure to water or moisture can all cause a car key fob battery to die quickly. Be mindful of where you keep your key fob and avoid exposing it to these elements. Consider investing in a protective case or pouch to keep your key fob safe from environmental factors.
If your key fob dies while driving, nothing will happen. The car will continue to operate simply because the key fob is an unlocking and starting device only.