Advanced Key & Thefts ?

[aljenod]

Whats the latest news regarding keyless entry and vehicle thefts, is Audi on the potential theft list?

[smudge]

Any car with keyless entry is (to my knowledge) vulnerable. In London the general opinion is to buy a steering lock. It's still not theft proof, but keyless cars are rich pickings, so the thieves will go for the cars they can obtain quickest first.

[markwm]

I'd rather not have it than have to resort to using a steering lock every time.

[nastro azzurro]

Personally, I wouldn't be without keyless go. It's so much more convenient, and that's why I specced it.
I never used a steering lock either ( on my old car ) and I won't when I get this one.
Like smudge says, all keyless cars are vulnerable.
I'll take my chances

[wildbore]

I saw this come up on Watchdog, where they showed the vulnerability of a BMW, Range Rover and an Audi (all 2010-2012 models, IIRC).

I thought the reporting was poor and misleading as, in order to overcome the Audi's security, the reporter quietly mentioned that the thief needed access to the vehicle battery for a period of about 40 seconds before the car became vulnerable to attack via the keyless access system. No such proviso existed for the BMW or Range Rover.

If the thief needs 40 seconds in the boot compartment, during which time the alarm will be sounding (actually, I don't know where the battery is - perhaps it's under the bonnet) then I consider the car to be no more or less vulnerable than a car without keyless access.

I could come to regret specifying it, of course, if the car is nicked. But, for the moment, I am loving the additional convenience it adds over a standard remote control. I only spec'ed it because of the hands-free boot opening but now our other cars - with conventional remotes - are looking really clunky and out-of-date.

Finally, the thief accesses the system via the OBD port, which is down under the driver's kneeroll. With the standard fitment of double glazing in the front, this considerably reduces the vulnerability further since it is no longer a two-second job to break the side window to access the OBD port.