Your Survival Guy: "My Car was Stolen"

By Steve Heap @ Shutterstock.com

Originally posted on April 27, 2017.

“My car was stolen,” is the last thing I want to say to the authorities. Mine wasn’t, thankfully. But how vulnerable am I to car theft?

Isn’t it cool that you can start your car with a push of a button? Technology is great. But what happens when the signal from your key fob is stolen?

It’s happening while victims are asleep, not at the wheel, but in their comfy bed.

Imagine all the car key fobs in your neighborhood.

They are silent beacons inviting criminals into your driveway or garage. Ever wonder how that emergency button’s signal can travel so far?

So have the criminals. And you don’t have to be pressing a button. Fobs send out a signal whether they’re in your pocket, on your desk, or hanging on your wall.

Criminals, using radio devices to copy your fob signal, amplify it, send it to your car, start it and off they go.

Once the car is started it doesn’t care where the fob/key actually is.

Criminals, using a device discussed in Wired, were able to break into a car 1,000 feet away from the owner.

Picture this: You run into Starbucks to get your hot latte, you ordered on your iPhone, and the next thing you know: your car is gone.

Or this: Your condo unit is on the third floor and your car is outside below, an easy target for a team to steal.

One way to protect yourself against this is with a Faraday pouch to store your key or a Faraday box for storage in your house. Or you could simply lock your garage.

For me, the travel or being in a condo, or a hotel, is the scariest and most vulnerable situation. I suggest you consider looking into a storage system you can live with like the Black Hole Faraday Key Fob Bag – Anti-hacking Security Bag.

There isn’t an easy solution. I know, who wants to deal with this? Apparently not the car companies.

Be aware. You’re sending signals to the world all day long. Understanding that will help make you think about better ways to secure your belongings.

How to Safeguard Your Car From Hackers

Originally posted on Yoursurvivalguy.com.

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E.J. Smith - Your Survival Guy

Preparing your investments and family for when disaster strikes.

E.J. Smith is the Founder of YourSurvivalGuy.com, Managing Director at Richard C. Young & Co., Ltd., a Managing Editor of Richardcyoung.com, and Editor-in-Chief of Youngresearch.com. E.J. graduated from Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, with a B.S. in finance and investments. In 1995, E.J. began his investment career at Fidelity Investments in Boston before joining Richard C. Young & Co., Ltd. in 1998. E.J. has trained at Sig Sauer Academy in Epping, NH, where he completed course-work in Practical and Defensive Handgun, Conceal Carry Pistol, Shotguns, Precision Scope Rifle and Kidnapping Prevention. E.J. plays a Yamaha Recording Custom drum set with Zilldjian cymbals. His first drum set was a 5-piece Slingerland with Zilldjians. He grew-up worshiping Neil Peart of the band Rush, and loves the song Tom Sawyer—the name of his family’s boat, a Grady-White Canyon 306. He grew up in Mattapoisett, MA, an idyllic small town on the water near Cape Cod. He spends time in Newport, RI and Bartlett, NH—both as far away from Wall Street as one could mentally get. The Newport office is on a quiet, tree lined street not far from the harbor and the log cabin in Bartlett, NH, the “Live Free or Die” state, sits on the edge of the White Mountain National Forest. He enjoys spending time in Key West and Paris. Please get in touch with E.J. at ejsmith@youngresearch.com. Sign up here to receive all the best content from Richardcyoung.com each week.