Faraday Bag for Smart Key (SKS) Break-in Protection

After reading many stories about smart key cars being broken into, I bought two Faraday bags. One key fob size one for me and one cell phone size one for my wife. They work great. After putting a key fob in a Faraday bag, all communication with the car is stopped. With a Faraday bag, no one can boost the key fob signal from far away and unlock your car door.

I bought mine at Amazon. Here is the link. Cheers!

 

Here is a picture of my two Faraday bags.

 

Once the bag is totally sealed, the fob will not unlock or start the car. I've tried it. It's as if the key fob battery is dead. But, the slightest opening in the top of the bag and it still unlocks the car.

The equipment to "boost" the key fob signal can be bought online for $17. It will allow someone to unlock your door when your key fob is a 100 feet away, maybe more. Not good if you are at a restaurant or hotel and your belongings are stolen, or even in your driveway while you are sleeping (as in the following video).

It cannot start the car, just boost the door unlock signal.

Spending $16 for a Faraday Bag is very cheap insurance against a break-in.

Read these articles:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/16/style/keeping-your-car-safe-from-electronic-thieves.html?_r=0

Putting keys in freezer could prevent car break-ins

Watch this video of a break-in:

Cheers!

 

Here are a couple of links about key fob boosters:

Here is the article about the $17 part:

Thieving Teens Likely Used $17 Gadget To Break Into NYT Columnist's Car

 

Thanks Bob,

I'm still new to PC and don't know all the ins and outs.

This faraday bag is the coolest thing ever. I just hope no one locks their door with the key fob in the faraday bag in the car. I can and will happen if one is not careful. I put mine in the bag after I'm out of the car.

Training my wife to only lock the door with the key fob or the outside door handle, not the inside door lock.

 

Altoids tin does not work. I already tried it.

 

I tried the freezer for a couple of days while waiting for my faraday bags. The key fob gets frosted over. I think long term it will leave too much water inside and one day ruin the fob.

Spending $16 for a faraday bag is the most secure and easiest option. It's very quick and easy to use.

 

Not sure if this option will work. I need to wait for my wife to return with the car. I just read this option for putting a key fob in standby battery saver mode. I tried it on my key fob, but it never flashed 4 times. Maybe this for a different model.


Solution to prevent hacking of Toyota's Smart Key System - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

"I have found a solution to this problem. Car thieves are able to break into the car by extending the range of the car door sensor so that a key that is further than 2.3m away is detected allowing the car to unlock. Encryption of the key isn't a solution because the thieves are using a legit key to unlock the car.

Toyota does not have any settings to disable the Smart Key unlock feature but I have found a solution to temporarily disable Smart key unlock on the key fob itself thereby thwarting the hack above.

You can place the smart key into battery saver mode by holding lock and pressing the unlock button twice. Watch the fob light flash four times to confirm that you are in battery saver mode. once the fob is in battery saver mode, it no longer wirelessly sends out a ping for the car door sensor. Without the ping, Smart Key unlock is disabled. You cannot walk up to the car and unlock it by touching the handle.

To reactivate the fob from battery saver just use any one of the buttons (press lock, press unlock, or hold down the tailgate button)

Since battery saver mode affects the keyfob only you do not need to be near the car to enable or disable battery saver mode on the fob. The car doesn't care at all so you can re-activate the fob before you are in range, walk up to the car and then use the smart key unlock feature as normal.

I plan to send this to Toyota as well because I think it should be in their manual as added security to the smart key system."

 

The following comes right out of an Avalon manual. I don't think it works with a Prius. I can't get the light to flash 4 times.

■ Electronic Key Battery-Saving Function

When battery-saving mode is set, battery depletion is minimized by stopping the electronic key from receiving radio waves.

Press unlock twice while pressing and holding lock . Confirm that the electronic key indicator flashes 4 times.
While the battery-saving mode is set, the smart key system cannot be used. To cancel the function, press any of the electronic key buttons.