What is OBD car theft?
Owning a car with a keyless start can be advantageous for owners, but it offers no protection from thieves – they are still able to steal your car. In the old days, thieves used to hotwire cars if they didn’t have the key to start the car. Now, with modern technology, vehicle theft via hacking is the latest way to drive away someone else’s car. With all vehicle thefts on the increase, OBD car theft targets newer cars with keyless entry.
In this blog, we will explain how OBD car theft works and show you some solutions and steps you can take to help protect your car. For more general advice and tips on how to make it difficult for thieves to steal your car, download the free AJT Installs helpful guide – Top 10 Stolen Cars in the UK And the steps you can take to keep yours safe! – from our home page.
How does it work?
All cars today are basically computers with engines and wheels. Unfortunately, unlike your desktop or laptop, car computers lack security or anti-virus software. There is an On Board Diagnostic port – called the OBD II port, under the dashboard or steering wheel of your car. The reason it’s there is to allow manufacturers, garages and owners access to performance and function diagnostics about the vehicle from its components. Mechanics can scan for error codes by plugging in an OBD reader. They can also upload new or updated software via this port to the Electronic Control Unit (ECU). The OBD port provides information about emissions, mileage and problems with the car and can also be used to add GPS tracking devices. Insurance companies and fleet managers may also use plug-in devices that can connect to the OBD port via the internet to track and monitor their vehicles.
Unfortunately, because easy access is required by the manufacturer and/or mechanics, this port isn’t difficult to get to or locked away. And with the growing connectivity of devices and their commercial availability, it has become fairly straight forward for a determined car thief to access the port too. Thieves gain entry by breaking your car window or picking the lock, plug a small reader into the OBD port to access the ECU and then either clone the existing key or programme a new one that will enable them to drive your car away. Alarmingly, all this can be achieved in just a few minutes with a commercially available device.
How to protect your car from OBD car theft
So, is there anything you can do to protect your car from this type of vehicle theft? We have highlighted a few solutions below:
1. Physical locks
You can protect your vehicle from OBD car theft by installing a physical lock on the OBD port. Physical locks are typically made of metal and cover the port itself and they can only be opened with a key or a combination lock. Physical locks don’t stop the OBD port from working, the main point of them is to prevent thieves from being able to plug a device into it.
Although physical locks are fairly easy to fit, you will need to make sure that your dealership mechanics or technicians can still access the OBD port when they need to, for example when servicing your car, or for routine maintenance.
2. Electronic locks
The second option to protect your vehicle from OBD car theft is to install an Electronic OBD lock. These are more advanced than physical ones and work in conjunction with the engine immobiliser. When you turn the engine off and the immobiliser engages, the electronic OBD lock prevents the OBD port from communicating with the ECU. This means that thieves trying to steal your car by plugging a device into the OBD port won’t be able to either clone or reprogramme the key. Most electronic OBD port locks require either a code or an authorisation card to free up communications and allow the OBD port to be used.
3. OBD II port relocation
The third option to protect your vehicle from OBD car theft is to relocate the OBD port from where it is found on most vehicles (under the dashboard or steering wheel), to somewhere else, preferably where it is not visible. However, this alternative can prove difficult to achieve because the wiring harness on the port limits relocation options. Extensions are available, but this is still not the most convenient option for a vehicle owner.
4. Ghost Immobiliser
If you own a car that is considered highly desirable by car thieves, then you may like to consider having the Ghost II Immobiliser from Autowatch installed. This is an electronic device that will protect your vehicle from:
- Key cloning
- OBD II port hacking
- Keyless car theft
The device has no lights or indicators and operates silently using the vehicle’s on-board data network, which makes it difficult for thieves to spot.
How does the Ghost II Immobiliser work?
It creates a PIN that has to be entered correctly and in full using buttons in your car (for example, buttons the steering wheel), otherwise the engine will not start. You don’t have to reset the code when you park and leave your vehicle because it will set itself automatically. Even if thieves tow your car away to another location before gaining access, they still will not be able to drive it. In addition, there is no radio signal, so your car cannot be targeted by key cloning, also known as relay theft. You can read our blog about car theft by key cloning here.
If you would like to know more about the Ghost Immobiliser or you are worried that your vehicle may be a target for OBD car theft, contact AJT Installs today. We offer advice on all aspects of vehicle security, including vehicle trackers, parking posts, dash cams, as well as front or rear cameras and immobilisers, so if you require help or assistance please just get in touch. We have a team of fully qualified and insured vehicle installation specialist to discuss your options in making sure your vehicle is protected from every type of vehicle theft.-