The handheld device has found its way into the hands of car thieves.
In today's world, where technology plays a key role in everyday life, car theft is taking on new forms. One tool of concern among keyless car owners is the FlipperZero, a device that IT journalist Eleanor Dallaway described as a "digital Swiss army knife."
The compact gadget, which was launched as a Kickstarter project, is capable of reading, recording and manipulating various types of signals, including radio Frequency (RF) signals, Near Field Communication (NFC) signals, and Radio Frequency identification (RFID) systems. Car thieves are reportedly increasingly using FlipperZero to hack into cars ' login systems, exploiting their vulnerabilities.
Dallaway shared on the social network X about the loss of her Mercedes car, stolen right in the driveway of the house, despite the fact that both keys were safely hidden and there were no visible signs of forced entry. Rick Ferguson, a cybersecurity researcher and Europol special adviser, expressed suspicion that FlipperZero was used for the hijacking.
Keyless entry technology in cars, while making life easier for drivers, opens up new opportunities for criminals. The so-called "relay hijacking", when attackers intercept the signal from the keyfob, is becoming more common. The Internet offers a wide range of electronic devices and devices for cloning keys that allow you to illegally take possession of a car in the shortest possible time.
The problem is compounded by the so-called KIA Challenge, distributed in the United States through the TikTok social network. A group of teenagers from the United States, known as KIA Boyz, began posting videos showing how to bypass the security systems of Hyundai and KIA cars using a screwdriver and a USB cable. Theft is possible for vehicles produced between 2015 and 2019 that were not equipped with a start button and anti-theft locking mechanisms, which affected about 8.3 million vehicles. After the challenge began, the number of carjackings of these brands increased dramatically, and the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched an investigation after the challenge led to at least 14 accidents and eight deaths.
Thus, with the growing dependence on digital technologies, the level of threats to car owners also increases. Eleanor Dallaway's carjacking situation highlights the need for continuous improvement of safety measures and vehicle owners ' awareness of potential risks.
In today's world, where technology plays a key role in everyday life, car theft is taking on new forms. One tool of concern among keyless car owners is the FlipperZero, a device that IT journalist Eleanor Dallaway described as a "digital Swiss army knife."
The compact gadget, which was launched as a Kickstarter project, is capable of reading, recording and manipulating various types of signals, including radio Frequency (RF) signals, Near Field Communication (NFC) signals, and Radio Frequency identification (RFID) systems. Car thieves are reportedly increasingly using FlipperZero to hack into cars ' login systems, exploiting their vulnerabilities.
Dallaway shared on the social network X about the loss of her Mercedes car, stolen right in the driveway of the house, despite the fact that both keys were safely hidden and there were no visible signs of forced entry. Rick Ferguson, a cybersecurity researcher and Europol special adviser, expressed suspicion that FlipperZero was used for the hijacking.
Keyless entry technology in cars, while making life easier for drivers, opens up new opportunities for criminals. The so-called "relay hijacking", when attackers intercept the signal from the keyfob, is becoming more common. The Internet offers a wide range of electronic devices and devices for cloning keys that allow you to illegally take possession of a car in the shortest possible time.
The problem is compounded by the so-called KIA Challenge, distributed in the United States through the TikTok social network. A group of teenagers from the United States, known as KIA Boyz, began posting videos showing how to bypass the security systems of Hyundai and KIA cars using a screwdriver and a USB cable. Theft is possible for vehicles produced between 2015 and 2019 that were not equipped with a start button and anti-theft locking mechanisms, which affected about 8.3 million vehicles. After the challenge began, the number of carjackings of these brands increased dramatically, and the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched an investigation after the challenge led to at least 14 accidents and eight deaths.
Thus, with the growing dependence on digital technologies, the level of threats to car owners also increases. Eleanor Dallaway's carjacking situation highlights the need for continuous improvement of safety measures and vehicle owners ' awareness of potential risks.
