GM Facing California Class Action Lawsuit For Easily Hackable Keyfobs
 

From an article in GM Authority.

https://gmauthority.com/blog/2024/04...kable-keyfobs/

Good, maybe they will finally do something about this issue!

Would be happy if there is a legitimate solution to this issue. I've got a killswitch, OBD lock and faraday pouches, S&W or Glock (depends on the day/mood lol) but I'll take any additional security I could get.

Yet they show pictures of what is clearly a 2024 ZL1 CE Panther. ;)

Good. I hope they get something to happen from GM. Doubtful, but hopefully possible. I've seen a lot of these threads lately, and I ended up getting a device that goes over my brake pedal where it can't be pressed down. It can be drilled, but another deterrent on top of my car being a manual.

But I'm curious on something. Do our key FOBs for our vehicles constantly send out signals, or do they only send out a signal when pressed to lock and unlock the doors?

Reason I'm asking is because if the signal is only sent when locking the doors from the FOB, anytime I'm out in the future and exit my car I won't use the FOB. I will manually hit the lock button and just not have the alarm system activated. Then when I need to get in the vehicle I'll just hit the button on the handle. Seems an easy workaround to these dirtbags stealing our cars.

But if the FOB is transmitting all the time, I guess I need a Faraday bag.

Edit:

I hear you. I've got a Glock 26 I daily carry, recently purchased a Switchgun that flips out like a switchblade and shoots a .22 Magnum I keep in my pocket since it's smaller than a wallet when folded and a couple extra Glock clips in my vehicle. I'm not worried at all in my vehicle. When I leave it, though, my fingers are crossed it's there when I get back.

Wouldn't it constantly send a signal out for the passive door unlock?

That's a good point. Some things I've seen checking into this is the finger unlock button on the car you have to be in extremely close proximity to engage it. But with the FOB you can be far away, and that's how they grab the signal.

Hopefully somebody knows. I'm curious about this. Most people nowadays ignore car alarms anyway. I'll just manually lock it. Unless the alarm has some other feature with theft prevention I'm unaware of.

Shame have to go through so many hurdles because shitbags want something for nothing without working for it.

You need a Faraday pouch, the send out signals... Google key fob relay attack....

I read a lot of articles before posting here, but I didn't find what I was looking for as to our 6th gens. Some vehicles it's mentioned the only time the FOB sends a signal is when the button is depressed on the FOB. Other FOBs send out signals all the time that can be intercepted by crooks.

Maybe you know, or somebody else, if our FOBs are constantly emitting a long range signal when just in our pockets, or is that signal sent only when the FOB button is depressed? The first example, I agree with you. I've already been looking at Faraday bags on Amazon.

And if somebody is let's say 20 feet away from the car holding your FOB I highly doubt another person just pushing the button on the door handle would unlock it if you never hit the FOB unlock button. That's from my understanding a shorter range signal where the FOB has to be within 5 feet of the vehicle to work. Will be interesting to test it out. I will soon.

The car and the remote constantly talk.

Okay. I checked it. The FOB doesn't constantly talk with the button on the door handle you push to unlock the car from a distance. The FOB has to be within a few feet or it won't unlock your vehicle. I figured that was the case.

So you're saying the FOB is constantly transmitting at all times, even from a long range, a signal that crooks can intercept with their devices if the FOB is in your pocket and nothing is pushed whatsoever?

I'm assuming that's what you're trying to get across. If so, what I'm speaking of won't work just locking it manually from inside the vehicle. If it's not transmitting signals just in your pocket without any presses to transmit a signal, it would work.

If the dang thing is transmitting constantly without any unlock press or lock press on the FOB, if you have any suggestions of a good Faraday bag just holler. I'm going to get one. I worked too hard, and enjoy my car too much, to lose it to some dirtbag wanting to joyride.

I do have a manual transmission, which I saw some people get reamed about in other threads for being a deterrent to help their car not get stolen, which I thought was totally moronic (probably automatic transmission owners who took it as an insult for some reason), but a manual does help. That's just a cold, hard fact. Never understood that pissing contest tbh, but I have seen it pop up on these boards quite a few times.

I also have the pedal lock. It can easily be drilled, but I'm going to see about modifying it where a solid block of metal is covering the hole where they can't drill it without removing the metal, that I'll have secured with another lock.

If anybody knows of a good Faraday bag, let me know, or if you know if this thing transmits 24/7 without being used. If so, stupid design by GM IMO, and they deserve the class action lawsuit they're facing.

This cheap pouch works surprisingly well, I can't get into the car or, once inside, start it with the fob in the pouch, no matter how close to the receiver I try to place it: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B092PQQ5J5

Thanks, arpad_m. The ones I was looking at on Amazon in just a quick search earlier were from 30 bucks, pushing up to 70. Love saving money. I appreciate the info.

I'll definitely buy that one if the dang FOB is transmitting 24/7, even when in your pocket. If so, what a shitty design. Still Googling it, and maybe can get more clarification in here on this thing. That design is just asking for trouble. GM deserves to get sued. Also something about the encryption being bad. Total BS. My car gets jacked I'll join the class.

You're welcome, hope you'll never have to join that class action. I have several other protection measures in place (because this is my forever Camaro and I can't risk it getting stolen), but they all detract from the ease of use, so GM can go pound sand with this vulnerable design.