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Smart Car Key Security Features
A smart key communicates with your vehicle all the time whether it's in your pocket or on your desk. They communicate with radiofrequency waves.
If the smart key is in range, the computer in your car detects and validates the rolling code projected from the key fob prior to getting the car started. This helps thwart thieves.
Security
Many drivers are hesitant about the transfer of control of their vehicle to a virtual key via a smartphone, with security being one of the main concerns. The good news is that a smart key has many of the same features that a traditional car fob does.
Smart keys lock and unlock the doors by using fingerprint recognition. To use the feature, a driver must place their finger on the sensor close to or in the vicinity of the lock button or door handle (depending on vehicle configuration). This is similar to how a smartphone or tablet with an embedded fingerprint scanner functions.
Smart keys can also help to protect vehicles by not sending the exact frequency signal repeatedly. If a key sent the same signal each time it locked the door remotely or opened the trunk, this could let thieves who are adept at technology to wire vehicles and make them disappear. Smart keys emit a different signal each time a trunk or door is opened remotely.
Smart keys can also prevent cars being stolen at gas stations and other parking spaces. This is because they transmit a low-frequency signal which can be picked up by a nearby smart key, but not by other people or objects that are not within the vehicle. The signal is detectable at a distance of 10 cm from a smart key. Thus, it is impossible to steal your vehicle just by picking up an engine.
Convenience
Smart keys eliminate the need to search through your pockets to find a key or to lock your car with remote. Instead, you can tap your smartphone in the app to unlock or start the engine and go on your way!
As opposed to traditional key fobs which transmit a low-power signal smart keys connect to your car via radiofrequency waves. The key fob has an encrypted chip that the antenna in your vehicle recognizes. If you're within reach of your vehicle it will open the doors and start the engine.
Some smart keys also save settings for the seats mirrors, the steering wheel and seat and allow you to change them by pressing a single button. This feature is becoming increasingly popular and a rising number of manufacturers are incorporating it to their vehicles.
The market for automotive smart keys is growing due to the rising demand for safety features. These features reduce wear on the ignition system of a car and guarantee that only the driver has the ability to start or stop the engine. Smart keys also notify the driver if the battery is not fully charged, making it harder for thieves to steal the vehicle.
Certain systems also allow you to unlock your door from a distance if the smart key battery dies. It is best to keep a backup key in your wallet, or in a safe location.
smart car key reprogramming without a key fob being placed in the pockets of the driver. Instead, they operate by pressing the trunk release button or door handle. They also function when a sensor detects the driver is near.
The idea is to stop the need to use a key fob while driving, so that drivers can focus on driving safely and secure. The technology is available in a few premium cars and is gaining popularity among automakers of all kinds who are working to meet consumer needs.
Although this feature is convenient however, it can be a risk If the driver isn't careful to take their key fob out of the pocket prior to entering or exiting the vehicle. That's because smart key fobs emit an low-frequency signal which can be detected by a device that could open the doors, or even pop the trunk. This is a technique known as relay and has utilized by criminals with a tech-savvy to steal cars from fuel stations and parking lots.
Most smart key systems do come with a backup method for opening and starting the vehicle in the case of a dead battery. The driver usually must put the dead key fob into an opening or keep it in a specific space in the cockpit, to trigger an emergency starting system, which usually involves an inductive coil that transfer energy from the key to the vehicle.
Safety
The smart key has built-in security features which locks the vehicle when you leave. It will even shut down the engine and open the trunk in case you've left your keys inside. This will keep you from being locked out of your car in an unsafe location or while running errands.
In contrast to conventional keys, a smart key fob connects to the vehicle via radiofrequency signals. While it is important to keep in mind that your vehicle isn't spying, the fact that the key fob transmits these signals makes it possible for criminals to intercept these signals and take control of the vehicle.
Open Road Auto Group explains that traditional key fobs send out the same frequency signal every time they unlock the door or remotely pop the trunk. This means that a criminal with a technologically advanced mind can potentially penetrate the system to steal your vehicle. Smart car keys generate an encrypted code that changes each time they perform the task. This makes them more difficult penetrate and more difficult to be exploited by thieves with a technological edge.
Some vehicles allow you to start the vehicle by walking up to it, and pressing a button. In contrast to traditional models that require you to insert and turn the key to start the engine, these systems are powered by a key fob's battery. The key fob transmits an indication to the car's radio to tell it that you are close to the vehicle, and it can then activate its power doors and start the engine.