The tech used here is the popular Flipper Zero, an ethical hacker’s swiss army knife, capable of all sorts of things such as WiFi attacks or emulating NFC tags. Now, 404 Media has found an underground trade where much shadier hackers sell extra software and patches for the Flipper Zero to unlock all manner of cars, including models popular in the U.S. The hackers say the tool can be used against Ford, Audi, Volkswagen, Subaru, Hyundai, Kia, and several other brands, including sometimes dozens of specific vehicle models, with no easy fix from car manufacturers.
If you literally never press the buttons, nor leave your keys alone with anyone else who could possibly push the buttons?
Then a guy with a $20 car unlock kit from Autozone can still get in. And so can a guy with a hammer, and a guy with a broken spark plug. Locks are suggestions, especially when you have windows.
And that’s not even to mention people with actual SDRs that can repeat your key’s signal and remote start your car, keep your fob in a faraday bag.
I totally got you in the weakness order of operation. I used to be a locksmith in a previous life in South Florida. Used to tell people they needed double sided deadbolt cause there’s a piece of glass next to it, and that they could also just climb through the window so if they were really worried they would want to put up bars or invisible hard screen. Also I am THE most techy person in my friend group and the most I’ve done is put together a tiny esp32 marauder with an old Bitcoin lottery miner, and even then my keys stay in my pocket. Plus it’s an almost ten year old car with 100k+ miles with a few dents and scratches. So I wouldn’t expect such a sophisticated stack especially considering the town I live in is only like ~50k pop.