Modern Car Theft Isn’t Loud — It’s Clever

How to Stay Safe from Signal Scammers, Relay Attacks, and CAN Bus Hacking

Let’s start with an uncomfortable truth.

If someone steals a modern car properly, you probably won’t hear a thing.

No smashed glass.

No alarm screaming at 2am.

Just an empty driveway and that awful “I swear it was there last night” feeling.

Today’s car thieves aren’t hotwiring anything. They’re using signal-based scams — quietly tricking your car into unlocking itself. And once you understand how it works, protecting yourself suddenly becomes very doable.

Relay Attacks: When Your Car Thinks the Key Is There

Keyless entry is brilliant. Until it isn’t.

A relay attack works by capturing the signal from your key fob inside your house and relaying it to the car outside. The vehicle thinks the key is present. Doors unlock. Engine starts. Off it goes.

The key never leaves your hallway.

The thief never touches you or your door.

The whole thing can take under a minute.

Clever? Unfortunately, yes.

Unstoppable? Absolutely not.

CAN Bus Hacking: The Even Sneakier One

If relay attacks steal the signal, CAN bus hacking talks directly to the car.

By accessing wiring behind a headlight or wheel arch, criminals can tap into the vehicle’s CAN system — the network that controls locks, alarms, and immobilisers. Once in, they can unlock the car or program new keys.

Again: no noise, no mess, no drama. Just a car that suddenly decides it’s no longer yours.

The First Line of Defence: A Faraday Box

A Faraday box or pouch blocks radio signals completely. Put your keys inside and relay attackers have nothing to capture. No signal. No scam.

They’re inexpensive, easy to use, and genuinely effective. Just remember: both keys go in. Thieves know about spares.

Test it too — lock the keys inside and try unlocking the car. If nothing happens, you’re doing it right.

The Extra Layer Signal Scammers Hate: Ghost Immobiliser

Here’s where things get serious.

A Ghost Immobiliser, developed by Autowatch, works directly with your car’s CAN system and adds a security step thieves can’t clone or relay.

To drive the car, you enter a secret PIN sequence using existing buttons — steering wheel controls, window switches, dash buttons. No PIN? The car won’t start.

Even if someone:

• Clones your key

• Uses a relay attack

• Hacks the CAN bus

…the engine stays dead.

There are no signals to intercept, no visible parts to remove, and nothing obvious to attack. To a thief, the car just looks broken. And broken cars get abandoned fast.

Layered Security Wins Every Time

This isn’t about panic — it’s about making your car not worth the effort.

• Faraday box blocks key signal scams

• Ghost Immobiliser stops the car even if accessed

• Steering wheel locks add visible deterrence

• Smart parking limits physical access

Each layer adds time. Thieves hate time.

The Calm Reality Check

Most people will never experience this.

Most cars are never targeted.

But modern theft is quiet, fast, and technical — and a little awareness goes a long way.

A Faraday box protects your keys.

A Ghost Immobiliser protects the car itself.

Together, they turn your pride and joy into the one thieves don’t bother with.

And honestly? That’s the safest place for it to be.