Smart Car Key Security Features

Smart keys communicate with your vehicle at all times regardless of whether it's inside your pocket or sitting on your desk. They talk to each other using radiofrequency waves.

If the smart key is in range, a computer inside your vehicle recognizes the rolling code projected by the fob of the key and validates it prior starting the engine. This helps to deter thieves.

Security

Many drivers are hesitant about giving control of their vehicle smart key to a virtual key that is stored on a smartphone, with security being among the most pressing concerns. The good news is a smart key has many of the same features as a traditional car fob.

Smart keys are able to lock and unlock the doors with fingerprint recognition. To access the feature, the driver needs to place their finger on the sensor near the door handle or the lock button (depending on the configuration of the vehicle). This is similar to how a smartphone or tablet equipped with an embedded fingerprint scanner works.

A smart key can help to protect vehicles by not sending the exact same frequency signal repeatedly. If a fob broadcasted the same signal every time it locked the door remotely or opened the trunk, it would allow tech-savvy thieves to use hotwires to make them disappear. Smart keys emit a different signal every time a trunk or door is opened remotely.

Smart keys also can help prevent cars being stolen at gas stations or other parking spots. They transmit a low-frequency signal that can be detected by an adjacent smart key but not by other people or objects outside of the vehicle. The signal is detectable at a distance of 10 cm from the smart key. This means it is impossible to steal your vehicle simply by picking up the transmission.

Convenience

Smart keys eliminate the need to dig through your pockets for a key or to lock your car with a remote. You can unlock your car and start it by tapping on the app on your smartphone.

As opposed to traditional key fobs which transmit a low-power signal, smart keys connect to your vehicle using radiofrequency signals. The key fob comes with an encrypted chip that the antenna in your vehicle recognizes. If you are within range of your vehicle, it will unlock the doors and start the engine.

Some Smart forfour key programming (mbio.me) keys also store settings for the seat, mirrors and steering wheel and allow you to change them with a single click. This feature is becoming more popular and a rising number of companies are adding it to their automobiles.

The automotive smart key industry is booming due to the increasing demand for safety features. These features lessen the wear and tear on the ignition system of a car and ensure that only the driver is able to start or stop the engine. Smart keys alert the driver when the battery is depleted making it more difficult for snatchers to take the vehicle.

Certain systems will also allow you to open your door from a distance if the battery in your smart key goes out. It is recommended to keep a backup key in your wallet, or in a safe place.

Autonomy

Certain smart key systems work without a key fob that is in the pockets of drivers. Instead, they operate by pressing the trunk release lever or door handle. These systems also work when a sensor senses the driver is in close proximity.

The idea is to stop pressing a key fob while driving so that drivers can concentrate on driving safely and in a secure manner. The technology is already available in certain luxury vehicles, and is growing in popularity with mainstream automakers who are working to meet consumer needs.

While this feature provides convenience but it could be risky in the event that the driver does not take their key fob from the pocket before going into or out of the car. This is because smart key fobs emit an ultra-low-frequency signal that could be picked up by another device that can open the doors, or even pop the trunk. This is known as relay and has been used by tech-savvy criminals to steal cars at fueling stations as well as parking spaces.

Most smart car keys replacement key systems do include a backup mechanism for opening and starting the vehicle in the event of an insufficient battery. The driver is required to place the dead key fob in an opening, or keep it close to a special space in the cockpit to start the emergency starter. This usually involves an inductive coil which transfers energy from the key to the vehicle.

Safety

The smart key comes with an inbuilt security feature which locks the vehicle smart key when you leave. It can even shut down the engine and unlock the trunk if you've left your keys inside. This will stop you from being locked out of your vehicle in an unsafe location or when you are running an errand.

Unlike conventional keys, a smart key fob communicates with the vehicle via radiofrequency signals. It is important to remember that your car is not monitoring you. However, since the key fob emits these signals, it's possible for a criminal intercept them and control the vehicle.

Open Road Auto Group explains traditional key fobs emit the same frequency signal each time they unlock a door or remotely pop out of the trunk. This means a tech-savvy criminal could be able to hack into the system and steal your vehicle. Smart car keys generate an encrypted code that is different each time they perform a function. This makes them more difficult to crack, and even more difficult for thieves with a technological edge to make use of.

Certain vehicles allow you to start your car by walking up to it and pressing a button. Unlike traditional models that require you to insert and turn the key and then turn it on, these systems are powered by a key fob's battery. The key fob transmits an signal to the car's antenna inform it that you are close to the vehicle, and it can then turn on its power doors and start the engine.