One key to rule them all: Device bought online can apparently unlock any car door
PUBLISHED ONOctober 23, 2019 2:20 AMByMabel Khoo
It may very well be the one key to rule them all.
That would be the case for a man who supposedly purchased a special gizmo online for RM500 (S$160). Attempts made to look for it on our end have been unsuccessful, and the team at an e-commerce platform confirmed that no such item can be found.
Presumably, it's a universal key of some sort that can emit specific frequencies to lock and unlock the doors of any cars.
The one-minute-long demonstration was shared on Facebook on Saturday (Oct 19) with a caption in Malay that warned car owners to take precautions when making backup keys, and that such gadgets allow for easy robbery without detection.
The clip shows a man, whose identity remains unknown, holding a green rectangular device with only a screen and a row of buttons at the top.
Standing in front of a blue Perodua Kenari, he went on to tweak the frequency and test out each button. After setting it at the right channel, the moment he had reached the third button, the sound of a car unlocking could be heard.
He then took a step forward and attempted to open the car door. True to the description, it seemed that with just a press of a button, he had been able to unlock the car with ease.
After closing the door, the man moved on to press the next button. With another beep, the car appeared to have been locked. He attempted to open the door again and to his surprise, he wasn't able to do so.
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While the device definitely worked for the Perodua, the people in the video did not demonstrate its capabilities on other cars. Still, it's a scary enough scenario when someone without your keys can easily get access into your car at the tap of a button.
These gadgets aren’t exactly new either — The Star reported last year that Malaysian thieves have started using cheap frequency-hacking devices that can jack into a car’s radio frequency identification (RFID) information. They’re said to cost about RM150 (S$50) and can be obtained online or at electronics stores.
With it, the device is able to unlock nearly any car and start its engine without any keys. They're then able to drive off the stolen vehicle without leaving a trace.
mabelkhoo@asiaone.com
UPDATE: Article updated for clarity on the source of the purchase.