Watch Out: What Smart Fortwo Key Fob Is Taking Over And What You Can Do About It
Smart Car Key Security Features
Smart keys communicate with your car every day, whether in your pocket or on your desk. They communicate with radiofrequency waves.
If the smart key is within range, a computer within your vehicle is able to recognize the rolling code projected by the fob of the key and verifies it before beginning the engine. This helps thwart thieves.
Security
Many drivers are skeptical about the transfer of control of their vehicle to a digital key on a smartphone, with security being one of the main concerns. The good news is that a smart key has many of the same features as a traditional car fob.
For starters, smart keys utilize fingerprint recognition to lock and unlock doors. To utilize smart car keys replacement , the driver has to place their finger on the sensor near the door handle or lock button (depending on the vehicle's configuration). This is similar to how a smartphone or tablet with an embedded fingerprint scanner operates.
A smart key could also make cars safer by not sending the same frequency signal repeatedly. If a fob sent the same signal each time it unlocked the door remotely or opened the trunk, this would allow tech-savvy thieves to hotwire vehicles and make them disappear. Fortunately, this isn't a problem because smart keys emit a different encrypted signal each time a door is opened or the trunk is remotely opened.
Smart keys also protect cars from being stolen by thieves at fueling stations and other parking spaces. Smart keys emit a low frequency signal that can only be picked up by nearby smart keys, and not by other objects or people outside the vehicle. This signal can be detected only within 10 centimeters of a smart key. This means it is impossible to take your vehicle away by taking an engine.
Convenience
Using smart keys eliminates the need to dig through your pockets to find keys or secure your car using remote controls. Instead, simply tap your phone in the app to unlock or start the engine, and then drive away!
As opposed to traditional key fobs that transmit a low-power signal, smart keys communicate with your vehicle using radiofrequency signals. The key fob has an encrypted chip that the antenna inside your vehicle detects. Once you're within distance of your car, it knows to unlock the doors and/or start the engine.
Some smart keys can also store settings for the steering wheel, mirrors and seats. You can then alter them by pressing a single button. This feature is becoming more popular and a rising number of manufacturers are introducing it to their vehicles.
The automotive smart key industry is growing rapidly due to the growing demand for safety features. These features help reduce the wear and tear on the ignition system of a car, and also ensure that only the driver has the ability to start or stop the engine. Moreover, smart keys can also notify the driver if the battery is depleted and make it less difficult for thieves to steal the vehicle.
Certain systems also allow you to open your doors from a distance if the battery in your smart key goes out. It is recommended to keep a spare mechanical key in your wallet or a safe place.
Autonomy
Rather than an actual key fob that needs to be kept in the pocket of the driver to open or start a car, some smart key systems function when the door handle or trunk release button is pressed. These systems can also be activated when an sensor detects a driver's proximity.
The idea is to eliminate the necessity of pressing a key fob when driving, so that drivers can concentrate on driving safely and securely. The technology is already available in some high-end vehicles, and it's becoming popular among major automakers trying to keep up with customer demand.
This feature is convenient, but it can also be risky if a driver forgets to remove the key fob from their pocket before leaving or entering the vehicle. The reason is that smart key fobs emit low-frequency signals that can be picked up by a device that can open the doors or pop the trunk. This is a technique known as relay and has been used by cyber-savvy criminals to steal cars from fueling stations as well as parking lots.
However, the majority of smart key systems include a backup method for opening and starting the vehicle when the battery is dead. The driver must usually place the dead key fob in an opening or keep it near a designated area of the cockpit to trigger an emergency starting system, which typically involves an inductive coil that transmits energy from the key to the car.
Safety
The smart key comes with a built-in security feature that locks your vehicle when you leave. The smart key will stop the vehicle from being operated and open the trunk if the keys are still in the trunk. This will keep you from being locked out of your car in an unsafe location or when running an errand.
Contrary to conventional keys smart key fob can communicate with the vehicle using radiofrequency signals. It's important to remember that your car is not watching you. However, because the key fob sends out these signals, it's possible for a criminal intercept the signals and then control the vehicle.
Open Road Auto Group explains that traditional key fobs transmit the same frequency signal each time they unlock the door, or remotely open the trunk. This means that a cyber-savvy criminal could possibly gain access to the system to steal your vehicle. Smart car keys, however, send out an encrypted signal each time they use this function. This makes them harder to hack and harder to be exploited by thieves with a technological edge.
Certain cars also allow you to start your car by simply walking towards it and pressing the button. Unlike traditional models that require you to insert and turn the key to start the engine, these systems are powered by a key fob battery. The key fob will send an indication to the car's radio to signal it that you're close to the vehicle, and it will then open its power doors and start the engine.