It actually sounds do-able.
Have a receiver listen on a remote key fob frequency, and sample the rudimentary pulse stream it sends.
You wouldn't even need to know the actual code, just sample it, and modulate your own key fob transmitter accordingly.
Anyone aware of this really happening, or is it just the usual email BS that get forwarded on without any underlying substance?
My own key fob key TX only works several metres away from the vehicle, a good thing, and they would have to be listening in the vehicle next door.Subject: How to Lock Your Car and Why (This has Happened on Sunshine Coast)
An incident similar to this happened to a man who parked at a shopping center, on the Sunshine Coast about a month ago.
There was no sign of a break in but he lost Laptop, Navman,Camera, and other valuables from his car and the boot.
Do NOT lock your car at Shopping Malls, Service stations etc. using the remote.
Use the Car's Door Key...........
How to Lock Your Car and Why
I locked my car. As I walked away I heard my car door unlock. I went back and locked my car again three times.
Each time, as soon as I started to walk away, I would hear it unlock again!!
Naturally alarmed, I looked around and there were two guys sitting in a car next to the store.
They were obviously watching me intently, and there was no doubt they were somehow involved in this very weird situation .
I quickly chucked the errand I was on, jumped in my car and sped away.
I went straight to the police station, told them what had happened, and found out I was part of a new, and very successful, scheme being used to gain into cars.
Two weeks later, the man's son had a similar happening....
While traveling, the son stopped at a roadside rest to use the bathroom.
When he came out to his car less than 4-5 minutes later, someone had gotten into his car and stolen his mobile phone, laptop computer, sat nav, briefcase......you name it.
They do not steal your car but everything of value is gone.
He called the police and since there were no signs of his car being broken into, the police told him he had been a victim of the latest robbery tactic – there is a device that robbers are using now to clone your security code when you lock your doors on your car using your remote locking device.
They sit a distance away and watch for their next victim.
They know you are going inside of the store, restaurant, or bathroom and that they now have a few minutes to steal and run.
The police officer said to manually lock your car with the key -- that way if there is someone sitting in a parking lot watching for their next victim, it will not be you.
When you lock up with the key upon exiting, it does not send the security code, but if you walk away and use the remote button, it sends the code through the airwaves where it can be instantly stolen.
This is very real.
Be wisely aware of what you just read and please pass this note on.
Look how many times we all lock our doors with our remote just to be sure we remembered to lock them -- and bingo, someone has our code...and whatever was in our car.
But I have seen other key fobs that work considerably further, 10's of metres, and these key fob TXs would susceptible to this sniffing.
It sounds like BS, but it's do-able BS.
If you buy cheap rubbish to protect a valuable asset you only have yourself to blame! I will be first in line to laugh at you too.
........On-site Aus-US relations were frosty for a little while. 