I have read internet articles about electronic devices stealing signals between the keyless entry device and the vehicle to mimic the device and gain entry into the vehicle and perhaps figure out a way to drive it away. I don't know if these articles are theoretical hype or actually pointing out a vulnerability that has been hacked frequently. The Subaru was mentioned as being particularly vulnerable as its codes are easily broken supposedly. For the 2019 RDX has Acura provided any statements on this topic that anyone has seen? One solution and I took the bait and bought is something called a Faraday pouch that blocks the RF signals when the keyless device is put into the shielded pocket. It has a second pocket that is unshielded and the pouch fits easily into a pants pocket. I don't know if I wasted about $15 for it, but it does work. When I leave the vehicle, I have it in the unshielded pocket, tap the door, locking it, and then moving the device to the shielded pocket and try to open the door and it fails because the signal is blocked. When I return, I move it to the unshielded side to open the door and keep it there until my drive is complete. In the house I keep it in the shielded pocket, because some of this eavesdropping equipment supposedly according to the articles can intercept signals from the device that is quite a distance away. It is probably a chicken little attitude, but on the cost/risk spectrum it is a very low cost solution to probably a low risk vulnerability.

 

Doesn't hurt to take precautions. I personally haven't worried about auto theft since I owned my '93 Accord, which is one of those vehicles that has a high theft rate for parts. Since then, I figured that if someone is going to steal a car that it's not likely to be an Acura. Between the immobilizer tech and relatively low value compared to other luxury vehicles, I don't see them as a hot theft item. Plus, if you have comprehensive insurance, you're covered for theft.

Now if we're talking about break in's to steal stuff in the car it might be a different matter. However, I think it's bad practice to leave anything valuable in a car, especially in plain sight. There's really no reason for it anyway. No one carries CD's with them anymore. Cash in plain sight is just stupid. Expensive sunglasses can easily be concealed in the sunglass holder, glove box or center console. And new generation stereo's rarely get stolen anymore.

Regardless, not a bad idea to take precautions. But like you said, it's definitely a low risk vulnerability.

 

You can wrap your fob in tin foil! LINK

 

An upscale car requires an upscale solution. :-)
I have seen the tin foil articles and actually used that for awhile, but it was a pain wrapping and unwrapping it depending on when you wanted the signal blocked or passed.

 

 

 

I am more worried about the Acuralink. I mean, someone could hack that and have full access to your car. I would think that would be easier than grabbing the key fob code.
Someone theoretically could get into the mainframe and obtain and offer for sale connections to activate fleets of cars.

Scary Stuff. Probably hard to do, but these days, anything can be done.

 

It can be done as there have been instances in Europe mostly. However, If they get in my car there is nothing I can do but file a claim and go get a new if never returned or damaged.

 

I am ALWAYS running after family and friends to stop keeping valuables in the car and if they do to keep them out of sight. My brother is HORRIBLE for this, always keeps his (absurdly and stupidly) expensive sunglasses on the dash or on top of the center console lid. I always warn him but frankly he's asking for it. My dad on the other hand always forgets his iPhone in the cup holder or tray in front of the shift lever and I always tell him that phones are a MASSIBE target for thieves. Also I never ever leave a garage door opener in the car and don't have my homelink programmed either. Our car was broken into a couple years ago and they stole our garage door opener and kitkat bar (animals). Thank God they never tried to open the garage. I reset all remotes immediately in the morning and we now lock the garage door at night including the one leading into the house from the garage.

 

I have insurance for this, if they want to steal it, fine. It is my understanding that they can only steal the code if you use the buttons on the fob to lock or unlock it not the proximity though they could probably do that as well.

I sure would not want to disable a convenience over this 1 in a million chance

 

This information is correct. Aluminum wrapped around it acts as a farraday cage. Blocks signals well. Thats why shielded wires are encased in aluminum foil. It prevents Electomagnetic Interference. I would suggest getting a smalk aluminum box to store them in when at home.

 

I'm NOT paranoid, they really are watching me! They are everywhere !

 

 

What is the risk of having the FOB signal intercepted? What is the impact if it happens? What is the cost to reduce the risk both in $ and effort? What is the cost and effort of recovery if something happens? Lots of differing thoughts. Personally speaking, the cost to reduce the risk both in $ and effort is so minuscule it probably makes sense to shield it when not driving, when entering vehicle, and when locking vehicle.

 

I don't use the key fob buttons the lock or unlock mine. I use the door handle touch feature. If someone wants to steal that signal, more power to them.

 

 

To me, the keyless entry is a great feature. I always seem to forget to get my key out and have way too many pockets with too much stuff in them. The solution for stopping someone from stealing a signal is not much different than the old system of fishing for your key and then an added step of unwrapping it. If it makes anyone feel better, the stats for 2016 show the top two cars stolen were the Honda Accord and the Honda Civic - no Acuras made the top 10. The real interesting thing is that the model year numbers were for a 1997 Accord and 1998 Civic. I bet the vast majority of those did not have keyless entry. My paranoia is not theft but door dings. Maybe I should wrap my car in aluminum foil after I park.

Fodder - something in plentiful supply (opinion) but of little value (my opinion).

 

A Faraday Cage and the aluminum shield around electrical wires are both well grounded, a very important part of why they work. I'm not saying wrapping something in foil would not work but the examples you mentioned work well because they are wired to earth ground.

 

The FOB is sending/receiving signals not just when the buttons are pushed. If that were the case, the vehicle would not know you from an intruder when touching the door handle.

 

I realize that. You have to be quite close to me to steal that kind of signal though versus the push of the button.

I choose to not worry about such things. Life is way too short to live in fear

 

Might want to look at this link. It is a lot more than one in a million chance at least in my city. Everyone makes their own assessment of cost to mitigate, impact of it happening, and risk of it happening.
https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-new...hem/1403196784

 

If they want to steal mine, please do. Not gonna worry

 

I don't think you need to worry about someone stealing the car by cloning AcuraLInk You can start it remotely but you cannot drive it unless you push the start button in possession of the key fob and have your foot one the brake.

I also wonder about the shielded wallets being pushed these days. I have quite a few microchipped credit cards but none of them are RFID. Cell phones and key fobs are another story but I'm not going to shield them, just will take my chances.

 

Undo the battery everytime you get home.

 

I know this is a little off topic, but has anyone noticed when you have an iPhone in your pocket with the keyfob in the same pocket, the remote does not allow you to open the doors or back hatch.

 

Yes! That can be rather annoying to have cell phone in one pocket, fob in the other and then having the phone closer to the car than the fob.. First world issues!

 

The owner's manual warns about this situation. I was actually happy to read that a cell phone can block the signal of the keyfob. I have had a Ford keyless ignition for 4 years and I would get the message that no keyfob was present when it was in my pocket along with my cell phone. I never understood why it was happening until I read it in the RDX owner's manual. This is not an Acura problem but just a conflict of radio signals.

 

 

I think a lot of what is going on with intercepting key fob signals has to do with quiet entry to steal laptops and whatever that careless people leave in plain view and then on to concealed items in the vehicle and not theft of vehicle or stripping it down. Probably mostly at night to un-garaged cars using electronics to intercept signals from a FOB in a nearby house.

 

LMAO.Just an annoying observation.

 

Personally I feel the same way you do. I may just change up color while I am getting a new one.

 

 

Telsa stolen this way:

Tesla Model 3 Stolen From Mall of America Using Only a Smartphone

Dude just called after looking at the VIN through the window and Telsa loaded the car into his account!

 

Looks like there is a little more to the story:
"The automaker told Electrek that the alleged car thief likely had previously rented the vehicle and had an already-authenticated phone as a result."

Still interesting.

 

Slightly off topic. Just got the RDX, sometimes when i get out of the car right away it does 3 or 4 quick beeps in succession. It is different than the "auto lock" beep after i walk away. Any idea what this is?

 

RFID blockers listed at Amazon. 2-pack for $19.95 Link:

 

 

WTF are you talking about?
The thread is about code-snatching.
If people are paranoid, they can put their fob in a Faraday Cage or RFID blocker.