Technology
Keyless car theft is on the rise. This is how to protect yourself.
- Using a relay device, car thieves can amplify the signal from your wireless key fob, even if it is inside your house, and use it to unlock your car.
- Storing your key fob in a Faraday bag or using a physical steering wheel lock can help guard you from car theft.
- As technology evolves, so do criminal methods. Staying current on information is another important way to protect yourself.
They appear like ghosts in the night, standing outside your house, one holding up an antenna while the other crouches next to the car parked on the driveway. Within seconds, your car is gone, yet another victim amid a surge in auto theft enabled by the technology designed to make it easier to unlock and start vehicles.
Auto technology has evolved and many newer cars use wireless key fobs and push-button starters instead of traditional metal keys. The fob sends a short-range signal, so when the driver approaches the car, it automatically unlocks the door. This saves you the hassle of digging out your keys when you’ve got your hands full with groceries.
But that technology also makes things easier for thieves. The wireless fob will continue to emit a signal even if you’re not using it. Thieves prowl neighborhoods at night looking for cars parked outside so they can carry out so-called relay attacks. Using portable equipment that can pick up the faint signal from a fob inside the house or parking lot, they relay it back to a transmitter that can clone the signal.
NEW TREND OF ‘BURGLARY TOURISM’ ON THE RISE
Officials have urged carmakers to reduce the security vulnerabilities and warn owners about the risks.
So what can you do to reduce the odds that your car will be gone in 60 seconds? “It’s relatively easy for drivers to protect themselves,” said Steve Launchbury, principal engineer of automotive security at Thatcham Research, a U.K.-based automotive risk intelligence company. Here are some tips:
USE A SIGNAL BLOCKER
A simple but effective way to stop auto bandits from purloining your key fob signal is to use a Faraday bag or pouch. They’re lined with a conductive metal mesh that blocks the transmission of electromagnetic signals.
Metropolitan Police Department Sgt. Anthony Walsh sets out steering wheel locks at an anti-crime event in Washington on Nov. 7, 2023. A physical lock that attaches to the steering wheel can act as a visible deterrent to car thieves. (AP Photo/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades, File)
The pouches aren’t expensive, and you can also get boxes that do the same thing. But experts advise testing to make sure they work. Just put the key fob inside and approach your car. If the doors don’t automatically unlock, then the signal is being blocked.
It’s also important to remember to use it whenever you leave your vehicle, and don’t forget to put all of your key fobs inside, including any spares.
But ignore some advice making the rounds on the internet telling you to put your fob in the microwave or freezer. It doesn’t have the same effect as a Faraday bag, and you risk damaging your key.
GET AN OLD-FASHIONED LOCK
Try an old-school solution by using a physical lock. Some police forces advise car owners to use them to make your vehicle look less tempting to steal. The reasoning is that a would-be thief might be deterred by the effort needed to cut through the lock and instead turn their attention to an easier target.
Locks, in the shape of a disk or a long bar, clamp onto the steering wheel and make it difficult to steer. There are also versions that prevent the car from being put in gear. The downside is you’ll need extra time to attach or remove it whenever you aren’t driving.
CHANGE UP YOUR SETTINGS
For many cars, it’s possible to deactivate the wireless setting so that you can’t open the door remotely. For Fords, Hondas and Audis, use the touchscreen menus. If you own a Toyota, you can temporarily disable the signal by holding down the fob’s lock button and at the same time pressing the unlock button twice. If you’ve done it correctly, the fob’s indicator light should blink four times. Be aware that the next time you press any button, remote unlocking will be reactivated.
The method will vary depending on make and model so consult your owner’s manual for the exact process. If it sounds complicated, there are YouTube videos that walk you through it. Don’t forget that in most cases you’ll now have to manually press the fob’s unlock button.
Automakers have started adding motion sensors to key fobs. If the sensor doesn’t detect recent movement because it’s been, say, left on the kitchen counter after you come home, the fob goes into sleep mode and stops transmitting. If it lacks this capability, check with your dealer whether it’s possible to upgrade it.
If you buy a used car, some experts also advise getting the keys reprogrammed, just in case the previous owner kept one of the fobs.
WATCH OUT FOR NEW METHODS
Researchers have uncovered a new auto theft technique that doesn’t target radio signals. The controller area network, or CAN, is “a feature of modern cars which allows different components and systems to communicate, (and) has recently been targeted and exploited by thieves,” said Thatcham’s Launchbury.
The network allows sensors and control modules to talk to each other directly, instead of going through a central node. Thieves take advantage by accessing the network from the car’s exterior, usually by removing a headlight and connecting a device that can “inject” a signal, tricking the car into unlocking and starting.
While automakers work on improving CAN security, “there are steps drivers can take today to add layers of security and deter criminals,” such as using a physical lock, Launchbury said.
Aftermarket electronic immobilizer systems “should render a criminal’s theft tool useless,” and might even get you a discount on auto insurance, he said. Thatcham and other companies offer them but the downside is they can be quite pricey.
Would you pay $20 a month for access to AI hardware you already own? That appears to be one of Meta’s next bets. This week, it quietly announced that your glasses’ Conversation Focus feature will soon be limited to three hours of use per month, unless you pay for a $19.99 Meta One Premium subscription.
In a help article, the company insists that it won’t require a subscription to use your glasses, period; it’s merely erecting a “rate limit” for certain AI features. Even premium subscribers will only get 15 hours of Conversation Focus per month under that “rate limit,” it claims.
Problem is, Meta’s rate limit is ridiculous. The Conversation Focus feature, which amplifies the voice of the person you’re speaking to so you can hear better in noisy environments, is not something that should plausibly be rate-limited, because it doesn’t use Meta’s servers. It runs on-device, using the chips inside the glasses that you’ve already purchased. I turned off my internet, and it kept working.
Here’s how the company introduced it last year: “[C]onversation focus uses your AI glasses’ open-ear speakers, beamforming technology, and real-time spatial processing to dynamically amplify the voice of the person you’re talking to.”
Not only does it avoid Meta’s servers, but Conversation Focus doesn’t technically require an internet connection at all. I double-checked by turning off my phone’s Wi-Fi and cellular, turning on Airplane Mode, and I was still able to use Conversation Focus just fine by tapping a button on my phone.
Does Meta have some secret licensing deal with another company that costs it money every time a person uses Conversation Focus? Failing that, the rate limit sounds utterly bogus.
We’ve asked if Meta can explain the move, and whether the company plans to put other on-device features behind a subscription. Meta didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
TRANSFORMATION: AI changes what robots can accomplish
Humanoid robots, showcased at Chicago’s Automate Show, demonstrate advancements in AI and robotics. Jeff Burnstein, President of the Association for Advancing Automation, explains AI’s role in enabling diverse tasks in hospitals, factories, and warehouses. He emphasizes that robotics boosts competitiveness, leading to job creation.
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A busy warehouse loading dock can be a grind. Trucks pull up. Packages pour in. Workers have to move fast, lift heavy boxes and keep everything flowing before the next trailer arrives. That part of the warehouse has always been one of the hardest places to automate. Every box can be a different size. Freight can shift in transit. Labels may face the wrong way. And when one system finishes a task, the next system still has to know what to do with the package.
Now, Ambi Robotics and Pickle Robot Company say they have linked their robotic systems to help solve that handoff problem. The companies announced a commercial integration that connects Pickle Robot’s trailer-unloading robots with Ambi Robotics’ AmbiStack pallet-building system. In other words, one robot system unloads mixed freight from a trailer. Then a conveyor moves those cases downstream so another robotic system can scan and stack them for warehouse receiving.
If this works well in large facilities, it points to a future where robots can handle more of the work that happens between a truck and a warehouse floor.
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OHIO ROBOT COP RETIRES AFTER ZERO ARRESTS
Ambi Robotics and Pickle Robot Company have integrated their warehouse robotics systems to automate the flow of freight from trailers to pallets. The companies say the setup can fit into existing warehouse operations. (Ambi Robotics and Pickle Robot Company )
How warehouse robots move packages from truck to pallet
The setup starts at the trailer. Pickle Robot’s system unloads boxes from trailers or containers. That matters because unloading mixed freight can be exhausting work. It also creates bottlenecks when warehouses do not have enough people on the dock. From there, the packages move by conveyor into AmbiStack. Ambi Robotics designed AmbiStack as a multipurpose stacking system. It reads package information and builds pallets for the next stage of the warehouse process.
The key here is the handoff. Many warehouses already use automation. However, those systems often work in separate lanes. One machine may handle unloading. Another may handle sorting or stacking. Yet the warehouse still needs people or custom engineering to connect the pieces. This collaboration tries to make that connection smoother. The companies say the system can work with existing warehouse infrastructure. That means operators may avoid tearing apart a facility to use it.
Why Physical AI is important for warehouse automation
Physical AI means AI that controls machines doing physical work. That is important here because warehouse robots have to deal with moving boxes, shifting freight, conveyor timing and pallet stability. That creates a very different challenge from software that writes a paragraph or answers a question. A warehouse robot has to react to what sits in front of it. A box can arrive dented. A label can face the wrong way. A pallet can become unstable if the next case goes in the wrong spot.
This Ambi Robotics and Pickle Robot integration shows how that can work inside a warehouse. Pickle Robot handles the trailer unloading. AmbiStack takes over downstream by scanning and stacking cases for receiving. Together, the systems show how specialized robots can connect across a warehouse workflow.
“Warehouse operators shouldn’t have to choose between best-in-class technologies and seamless integration,” said Jim Liefer, CEO of Ambi Robotics. “As Physical AI transforms supply chains, interoperability will become increasingly important.”
AJ Meyer, founder and CEO of Pickle Robot Company, put the customer demand more directly: “Customers want automation that improves real-world throughput while fitting into existing operations.”
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A new warehouse automation system connects robotic trailer unloading with AI-powered pallet building, reducing manual handoffs on busy loading docks. (Ambi Robotics and Pickle Robot Company )
Why loading docks can slow warehouse operations
Anyone who has waited on a delayed package knows the supply chain can break down fast. Sometimes the problem starts long before a delivery truck reaches your home. Inbound logistics covers the work that happens when goods arrive at a warehouse. That includes getting boxes off trailers and moving them into the right workflow. It sounds pretty straightforward until you see the reality.
Trailers can be packed unevenly. Boxes can arrive in odd shapes. Warehouse teams also deal with tight schedules and physical strain. That is why loading docks have become such a major focus for automation. If robots can unload freight and pass it into a pallet-building system without constant human intervention, warehouses could move goods faster through one of the most labor-heavy parts of the operation.
How warehouse robots could change jobs
The big question is obvious. What happens to workers? Robots can take over repetitive and physically demanding tasks. That may reduce injuries and help warehouses handle labor shortages. It may also change which jobs companies need most.
Instead of spending a full shift unloading trailers, some workers may monitor the unloading and stacking systems. Others may step in when a package jams, a label fails to scan or a pallet needs human attention.
Still, that shift can feel unsettling. Automation often comes with a promise of safety and efficiency. Workers want to know where they fit in next. That is very important. A robot may move a box, but people still handle judgment calls, customer issues and fast decisions when the workflow changes.
Why retailers want connected warehouse robots now
Retailers and logistics companies feel pressure from several directions. Consumers expect faster shipping. Warehouses face staffing challenges. Meanwhile, e-commerce keeps creating more package volume. That creates a hard math problem. Companies need to move more goods without slowing down at the dock.
This Ambi Robotics and Pickle Robot setup gives warehouse operators another option. Instead of buying one giant system from a single vendor, they can connect specialized robotic tools that handle different parts of the job. That could give operators more flexibility. It could also help them avoid major redesigns, which can be expensive and disruptive. In other words, the robots are getting smarter. They are also starting to work together in more useful ways.
What this means to you
Even if you never set foot in a warehouse, this kind of automation can affect your life. When warehouses move goods more efficiently, stores may restock faster. Online orders may move with fewer delays. Returns may get processed more quickly. There is another side, too. More automation can reshape job roles inside warehouses. That means workers may need new training as companies bring in more robotic systems.
You may also hear fewer excuses when packages run late. If robots help warehouses operate with fewer bottlenecks, retailers may raise expectations for speed even more. That sounds convenient, but it also means the race for faster delivery keeps putting pressure on every part of the supply chain.
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MOST PROMINENT AI CHATBOTS HAVE LIBERAL BIAS, NEW STUDY FINDS
Ambi Robotics and Pickle Robot Company say their integrated systems could help warehouses move inbound freight faster while easing physically demanding work. (Ambi Robotics and Pickle Robot Company )
Kurt’s key takeaways
What grabs me here is the handoff. One robot unloads packages from a trailer. Another scans and stacks them for the next part of the warehouse process. That is the piece that could change how loading docks operate. Warehouses are full of little delays that add up fast. If a package sits in the wrong place or waits for a person to move it to the next step, the whole process can slow down. This integration shows how warehouse robots may start taking over more of that middle work between the truck and the warehouse floor. Still, the human side deserves attention. These systems could reduce backbreaking work, which is a good thing. At the same time, they may change what warehouse workers are asked to do. The companies that make that transition clear, fair and useful for workers will be the ones to watch.
If robots can unload the truck, build the pallet and keep the warehouse moving, what job inside the warehouse gets automated next? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.
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Google’s NotebookLM is adding a new way to catch up on your notes: TikTok-style AI videos. The new feature is rolling out to Google AI Ultra and Pro subscribers, allowing NotebookLM to generate 60-second vertical AI clips based on the sources you upload to the app.
The example shared by Google details Australia’s unsuccessful war on emus, pairing paper cutout-style AI art of emus with narration. It adds to some of the other ways NotebookLM lets you interact with your research, including by generating AI podcasts, cinematic videos, and visual explainers.
To generate a 60-second clip, head to NotebookLM on the web or app, select a notebook, and then choose “Video” from the Studio column on the right side of the screen. From there, select “Short,” choose the topic you’d like NotebookLM to focus on (or enter your own), and then hit the “Generate” button.
The feature is rolling out in English only for now, with support for free users coming “soon.”
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