> in 2023 over the “Kia Boyz” attacks that allowed thieves to bypass a vehicle’s security system using a USB cable.
The USB cable happened to have the right size to engage the starter mechanism. Any physical object with similar dimensions could have been used. It really undercuts how absolutely terrible the Kia security design was around that component.
This is why, back when I owned a Jeep, I never locked it. Figured if someone wanted the 85 cents in change that badly I'd rather they not take a knife to my (plastic) windows.
Right, and even un-sexy and inexpensive vehicles get targeted these days, because they can be used as tools to commit other crimes, not just a commodity to be resold or scavenged.
The thing I did not expect is that most of these criminals will gladly connect their phone to the cars entertainment system so they can play their music while they do this.
They can then brag about the number of thefts they've engaged in by the number of Kia vehicles listed in their phones bluetooth connection list.
The surprise is that the police don't seem to understand how to incorporate these facts into their tactics.
Knowing folks with this problem, I've been looking into some way of adding some kind of "pulling or removing the door handle without first disabling the alarm triggers the alarm" circuit... but the necessary disassembly is a pain.
> in 2023 over the “Kia Boyz” attacks that allowed thieves to bypass a vehicle’s security system using a USB cable.
The USB cable happened to have the right size to engage the starter mechanism. Any physical object with similar dimensions could have been used. It really undercuts how absolutely terrible the Kia security design was around that component.