Well it appears that someone finally cracked the crypto code used in RFID keys (like the MINI). This is not good!

"Stealing a crypto key requires standing next to the victim and broadcasting a series of challenges to the key and capturing the responses. The team claims an iPod-sized device would suffice to steal the crypto key in under a second. They advise wrapping your keys in foil when you're not using them"

http://nytimes.com/2005/01/28/scienc...rtner=homepage

 

Isn't this similar to worrying about radiation from cell phone towers and blocking it by wearing an aluminum foil cone hat??

I mean how often does someone stand right next to you fiddling with an IPOD looking device while you open your MINI doors??? How suspicious would that be!

Of course if it were me, I'd walk up to the person and say "Hey! Is that one of those new-fangled Key Scanners??"

 

of course the moral of this story is ALWAYS WRAP EVERYTHING IN TINFOIL

... 'cause you just never know.....

 

This thread was brought to you by the Alcoa Aluminimum Company. :smile:


regards,
Red

 

Isn't this perfect. All the bad people out will be saying...


Wait for it...














































Curses, foild again.

 

Cut that out,It's hard to type while rolling on the floor

 

Your MINI in your sig is not wrapped in foil

Earl

 

LOL!!! That was SO good...

Donna
02' CR/W MCS & 05' Cool Blue MCSC

 

I thought this was damn funny, but when my wife asked what was so funny and I read it to her she moaned and left the room
Oh well can't please everyone

 

wrap her in tin foil..

it will be funny then

 

But this is another case of all those who said "shouldn't you worry about security" and were called worry warts being able to say "I told you so". Like with Windows XP TCP/IP security issues, MTBE as an oxigenate, lead in gas, Iraq would be a quagmire....

Who's suprised. It's back to the Club for us all!

Matt

 

if i was unlocking my door, and some stange looking man was standing right next to me with an IPOD scanner device, I would open the door, get in, sit down, snag the IPOD thing from his hand...and close my door...



... NOW who's the criminal mastermind?

 

just in case, i've wrapped my head in tinfoil, so the car thieves (and aliens) can't read my mind.

 

While there's a threat here, I don't think its that big... Max range according to the article in the lab is a whopping 12 inches! Not only that but it didn't say how long it actually takes one of these devices to crack the code. Think about it, if it takes you what 15 seconds to open your car door and it takes this device 30 seconds or more take actually brute force this code...Then it's longer than the bad guy would be near you...

Not only that but the bad guy needs to be 12 inches away, don't you think a stranger standing 12 inches away from you while you open you're car might be a little suspecious?

The best hope, stalk you as you get out of your car and stand next to you at an elevator...

 

The guy who's easily defeated your cunning intellect by keeping the device in his pocket so you don't know he has it

 

Like most have said I wouldn't worry about this happening. The signal that comes from the key to the antenna ring around the ign. switch only works about 3inch away. Second the code in the key is a rolling code, so they code if they ever got it would only work 1 time. It would be easier for them to pick up your remote signal to unlock the car. They could pick that up from as far away as your remote works from the car. You would just have to be pushing the button. Then they could only get into your car not drive it away. Better get that foil.

 

Good one sndwave!

I don't have to wrap EVRYTHING in tin foil, do I? That could be really uncomfortable . . .

 

However, saying all of this -- a guy in the South Texas Mini Club had his MINI stolen about 2 weeks ago. They found it a few days later, with just the chasis burned. The rest of the car was gone. Of course, who knows whether it was driven or towed (we'll never know) but it WAS stolen, even with all of our joking around about the key. Insurance covered it 100%, but still his MINI is gone and he was able to get another one.

My point is that if someone wants to steal your car, it doesn't matter about special keys or alarm systems or whatever, they'll steal it.

 

Maybe if you wrap your MINI in tin foil it won't get stolen.

How much foil do you think it would take to cover it?

 

338 sq ft. trust me, ive tried it...

 

You've got WAY too much time on your hands or you are my new ADD friend! How about a beer or two?

 

they just pull the hand away faster than you grab? I doubt they'd just stand there after you'd unlocked your car and wait till you got in and sat down. Nice kung fo thought anyway.:smile:

 

don't park next to suspicious looking men fiddling mysteriously with something in their pocket....

 

The original post says that it broadcasts a challenge to the key and waits for a response. That means that they don't need to do it while you are anywhere near your car. Someone with this device sees you pull up to Subway and go inside to get lunch. They sit at the table next to you, almost touching you with the cramped seats and all, with the device in their pocket right next to your keys in your pocket.

I'm not saying it's likely, but it could be possible.

 

Of course! the new MINI accessory: tinfoil pocket liners....