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HGV Driver Has Useful Tip to Prevent Thieves From Stealing Your Keyless Car

If you drive a keyless car, you have probably heard already of the dangers of having it stolen right from your driveway, by thieves using relay devices that capture your fob’s signals.
Use an empty can of soda or beer to keep your car key fob in 4 photos
Photo: YouTube / Adam Farmiloe
Koenigsegg Concept KeyKoenigsegg Concept KeyKoenigsegg Concept Key
On the same note, you’ve probably heard that you can buy Faraday pouches to keep your key fob in (or laptops, cellphones, etc). They’re little pouches lined with layers of metallic materials, which effectively block signals, which means whatever relays the thieves are using won’t be able to pick up your fob’s code to replicate it and thus trick the car into starting at the touch of a button.

You also have the less expensive option of wrapping your fob in layers of aluminum foil. As it turns out, there’s an even less expensive and hassle-free method of blocking the signal: simply drop your fob into a can of soda or beer. It must be empty, of course.

Adam Farmiloe is an HGV driver from the UK and he’s made a video demonstration of how this method works on his keyless Ford. As it turns out, there is no difference between the efficiency of a can of Coke, Fanta or Carlsberg, so whichever you have lying around will serve just as fine.

“It's just a very simple, easy solution,” Adam says at the end of the demo. “It's the sort of thing you want to do as a very cheap option. Try it – if it works, it works.”

“People say wrap them in silver foil, normal alloy foil, but that's quite thin and these cans are made of the same stuff,” he adds. “Put the key in, even when the lid's open, press start and no key detected. Hope it helps some people out and saves them £5 on a Faraday pouch to protect their expensive car.”

In July this year, cyber-experts urged drivers of keyless cars to keep them wrapped in foil and inside a metal can, also wrapped in foil, at least when they were at home. Out on the town, they could just wrap the fob in foil or use a Faraday pouch.

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About the author: Elena Gorgan
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Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends.
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