It's Funny Because It's True: Kia "Starter Kit" Goes Viral to Protect Against the Kia Boyz

Despite software updates, the Kia Boyz method is more alive than ever, with teenagers still finding it fun to break into cars, steal them with the unpatched flaw, and then drive away to do all kinds of terrible stuff, including totaling the cars because that's apparently what drives the views in the first place.

The method is very simple, straightforward, fast, unsophisticated, you name it. The thief breaks the car window, jumps inside, removes the steering column cover to reach the ignition cylinder, and connects a USB-A charger to a dedicated knob left unsecured. Because of the lack of immobilizers, any Kia manufactured between 2011 and 2021, as well as Hyundais built between 2015 and 2021, is exposed to the hack.

Nothing worked to prevent the Kia Boyz from going nuts into people's cars, so Kia and Hyundai owners decided to take the matter into their own hands.

One of our readers pointed me to a reddit thread that shows just how desperate things are getting in the Kia world. Someone has put together a so-called Kia anti-theft kit that includes a steering wheel locking device, an AirTag to help locate the car if it gets stolen, and a set of stickers to put on the car and warn the boyz that the vehicle's location is tracked with a GPS unit.

Labeling these devices as a starter kit for Kia owners might sound funny, but it's sometimes the only way to prevent the car from getting stolen. Commenters have all kinds of hilarious suggestions, including throwing other badges, such as Ford, on the car to trick people into thinking it's not a Kia. The madness has gone so far that people are trying to disguise their Kias into other cars.

Most importantly, this improvised anti-theft kit will likely serve its purpose just right. The steering wheel locking device wouldn't allow the thieves to drive away once they get the engine running. And if they do, the AirTag, which can be planted where it's nearly impossible to search while on the run, can provide valuable information to help the police find the vehicle. Several of our readers previously told me that they hid not one but two AirTags in their Kias, just in case the thieves find one of them.

Someone in the aforementioned reddit discussion says the steering wheel lock saved their Forte from getting stolen earlier this week. A thief broke the window and jacked the ignition but failed to drive away because the steering wheel lock was on. They produced damage worth hundreds of dollars, but at least they did not steal the vehicle.

Others turned to more complex hacks, including removing the fuel pump or installing a disconnect switch that is so well hidden that a thief can't find it. Unfortunately, others are so disappointed with what's happening that they've decided to sell the car and get a model from another brand. Yes, it's that horrifying.