Thought you should know I was the victim yesterday of a keyless entry hack.

I live in Central Texas and was in a store at a strip mall. Came out an hour later and my radar detector, wallet and cash was gone. I had come from the gym so they were in my glove box.

Car was locked of course but after a little reading on the Internet I see all keyless entry systems are completely vulnerable to $50 or less of hardware.

Called Jaguar and they were clueless. Clearly from now on I will have to deal with the less than efficient use of the Valet setting if I want to leave anything of value in the car.

So basically our cars are wide open to anyone with a little black box.

 

I've read about this. It's not so much a hack as a creative use of a radio amplifier. The box (I'm not sure what it's original purpose is but it's supposedly available on Amazon for less than $20) is a simple radio amplifier that amplifies the signal from your key to fool the car into thinking you are next to the car and unlock the door normally. There are obviously distance limitations but I've heard up to 100ft away or so - enough so that if the car was parked in your driveway and your keys are in the house it would still be able to get a signal.

 

I know its a bit late but its worth mentioning...

1) Although key amplification is possible its can be difficult to pull off. It is far simplier just to block the key signal at the point you lock it... and letting you walk away with the car unlocked. I always double lock the car... and ensure the mirrors have folded and beeped (see next point)

2) If availible on your XJ, always double lock the car. This both disables the internal handle and the external handle for use with the smart key... you have to push the unlock button on the keyfob it get back in the car.

3) Jaguar have issued various security updates to address these kind of problems, so ensure all updates have been applied by your car when you get it serviced.

4) Finally, don't leave valuables in your car. If they can't hack in they will just smash a window!

 

I am a bit confused by your post. By double lock you mean push the button on the door handle?

This folds the mirrors and confirms locking but still will open with the fob in my pocket.

Is there some other way to lock the car that makes it not sensitive to the fob?

And clearly, nothing will ever be left in my car of value again since for all intents and purposes it is never locked.

 

I have a UK 2013 XJ with all availible updates installed... so it may be different to your version?

However, when I press the lock button on the keyfob, the door locks and the mirrors fold. If I press the lock button a 2nd time (within about 3 seconds of the 1st) the car beeps and you get a quick flash on the indicator. This is double lock.

When this happens it disables the interior unlock function (so you can't smash a window and unlock the door with the handle inside)

I have also found that when the XJ is double locked, if you walk upto the car and try to open the car with the handle (with the smartkey in you pocket) it remains locked and you cannot get in. You have to physically press the unlock button of the smartkey to get in the car.

 

I thought hacking was supposed to be difficult because the "code" changes every time you lock it!

 

US spec cars do not get double locking / dead locking.

 

I have a 2011 XJL, and after "double locking" it with the key fob, you can still walk up and open the door using the door handle as long as you have the fob in your pocket. So be aware.

 

We don't have it. I know they can sometimes flash the car with foreign flashes. I had the Canadian flash installed which enabled the LED running lights. Not sure its possible but it would sure make my car feel safe again.

Plus this is not a hack that relies on coding. It is really just a radio relay of your actual fob. So there is not fix for this as it stands if your fob is in range of the thieves.

 

I am calling Jag tomorrow and ask them if I can make arrangements to get the English flash. If nothing else this present a solution to them they might be able to port to America to solve this very serious issue.

 

It's not possible to simply "enable" the double-locking on a USA-spec car, the door lock mechanisms are physically different. In theory you could possibly replace all four door locks with the UK/ROW spec ones, but without checking the wiring schematic I don't know if wiring changes are also needed.

There are actually four different lock specifications on pre-2014MY X351's

Standard-locking, passive entry
Standard-locking, non-passive entry
Double-locking, passive entry
Double-locking, non-passive entry

So probably different wiring involved.

I've got to tell you that the double-locking can be a pain-in-the-**** and in fact i've disabled it on both my S-Type and the XJR.

If the door lock fails while the car is double-locked, it's impossible to get the door open without some major effort.

Not sure how it is on the later cars, but on the early ones the locks do fail, i've replaced two on the XJR and one on the S-Type...

Have a look here for the shennanigans involved ==>> https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/s...57/#post985710

 

Please read your manual concerning this topic.

Also, there was a program just about this on tv last week. It appears ANY car is susceptible to this intrusion. So, don't leave valuables in your vehicle cause if a thief wants to get in, they can just break the window.

 

Clearly Double lock is not a solution.

I have been using Valet mode. Think if Jag streamlined it it might be a partial solution. Entering the passcode twice is a pain in the *** so a permanent passcode would be a nice update. Then you could push one button for Valet and then enter your code to open it. Locking the glove compartment and trunk only would also be a nice option.

Just a thought for Jag.

 

Sorry to hear this, the general rule of thumb is never leave valuables in your car regardless of security mechanisms, if they couldn't hack the key, thiefs find other ways (like smash the window and forcibly wedge open the glove box).

 

That really sucks. I hope I can do something to help you recover from this.

Please contact me via the support link at Fob Guard: Ideal Car Keyless Entry Fob "Faraday Cage" - I will send you a free pair of Fob Guards.

We make a lightweight, "faraday cage" pouch for keyless entry fobs that stops signals going in or out. There's been a lot of news recently about signal amplifiers being used to open cars when the owners thought their fobs were safe in their pocket, on the kitchen bench, at work, etc. Our Fob Guard stops this, and is made in the USA and constructed of all US designed and manufactured materials. It's been tested to a military specification for signal attenuation and our customers feedback is great.

 

Do you supply to the UK?

 

Absolutely. Approximately 80% of international sales last month were from the UK.