Stock photo of a man holding car keys.Jupiterimages
A well-known hacker and car buff has made a device for $32 that can unlock most cars that have a remote keyless entry.
Samy Kamkar recently showed how he unlocked and started GM cars by breaching the OnStar system. He has also shown off a 3D printed device that can crack any Master combination lock in less than 30 seconds.
Now he's telling TechInsider he can hack through a vulnerability in key remotes that has existed for a while.
"This is not by any means brand new or a big surprise. The problem is no one has really demonstrated it, which is funny because the solution to this problem has been known about for more than 20 years online," Kamkar said. "A lot of manufacturers haven't cared to solve the problem because it didn't seem like a big enough problem. Unfortunately, I think it is a big problem."
Here's how it works. Car and garage door remotes use rolling codes to send signals to the car or garage – each time you press the button the remote sends a different coded signal. This is done to prevent a thief from copying the code and opening the door. Once the code is used once it can't be used again. However, there is no expiration on the code. Kamkar's wallet-size device, called the RollJam, can be placed out of sight on a target car. When the owner pushes the button, RollJam jams the signal and doesn't open the car. When the owner presses the unlock button a second time, RollJam records the second code and sends the first code to the car to open the doors.
Kamkar told TechInsider auto makers aren't to blame, rather it is the companies that make the keyless entry computer chips – they have ignored the vulnerability.
Kamkar said he has tested the gizmo on a few different cars including ones from Ford, Volkswagen, Chrysler and Nissan, but most of the testing has been done on a Lotus Elise. He plans to reveal more information about the hack Friday during a talk at the hacking conference Defcon in Las Vegas.
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