EXCLUSIVE: Ultra-wideband radio has been heralded as the solution for “relay attacks” that are used to steal cars in seconds. But researchers found Teslas equipped with it are as vulnerable as ever.
As a Tesla owner I’m probably biased, but I do not fear these attacks at all. Thing is, because a Tesla is so connected to the mothership (and I definitely realise that’s both a good and a bad thing), chances of a thief actually being able to use or sell the vehicle are very slim. Tesla always knows where their cars are, and urning off GPS and LTE ruins 90% of the features in the car. I think thieves know this because I haven’t heard of any Tesla getting stolen and not being retrieved (but n=1).
Used Tesla battery is actually in demand though. Is the exploit is accessible enough, eventually thieves would target it to sell the battery in the used market for electric car conversion kits, solar power storage kits, etc.
I know! But Teslas are still connected to ‘Homebase’. I’m looking at it like Apple. Steal an iPhone? They’ll brick it remotely. This does scare thieves, one way or another. If there is a thief that is able to negate all the remote interception capabilities, sure… but the numbers of the people capable of that are low.
As a Tesla owner I’m probably biased, but I do not fear these attacks at all. Thing is, because a Tesla is so connected to the mothership (and I definitely realise that’s both a good and a bad thing), chances of a thief actually being able to use or sell the vehicle are very slim. Tesla always knows where their cars are, and urning off GPS and LTE ruins 90% of the features in the car. I think thieves know this because I haven’t heard of any Tesla getting stolen and not being retrieved (but n=1).
Used Tesla battery is actually in demand though. Is the exploit is accessible enough, eventually thieves would target it to sell the battery in the used market for electric car conversion kits, solar power storage kits, etc.
Put me on the waiting list, I’d buy a battery that’s been strategically re-located from some rich fucks car to my solar setup.
STEAL - Strategic Transfer of Equipment to Alternate Locations
It’s not uncommon for cars to be stolen and stripped for parts, it gets rid of the risk of trackers.
The main purpose of a car is “driving”, which you can do. Unless you cannot start a Tesla without LTE, which would be very stupid.
You can also always strip a car for parts. Teslas are not magically safe from that.
The kind of person who is going to disable that LTE connection wouldn’t have bought a Tesla in the first place.
Dreamer. Even thieves know what they are doing.
Cars are actually stolen. Teslas are actually stolen. That’s no news.
The news is (once more) how Massa Elon was bragging about technology and didn’t deliver it.
Teslas are at or very near the bottom of often stolen car lists, by a wide margin.
Now hear me out, do you think that might have something to do with their market share relative to ALL other cars on the road?
When a KIA gets stolen, the owner will likely get it back, although probably a lot more worse for wear.
Thieves using relay attacks are most likely part of, or connected to, professional auto theft groups e.g. chop shops, overseas car markets, etc.
No, because they normalize and have a relative metric.
The most stolen car is an SRT hellcat, which has a total production run well under Model 3 production in a single quarter.
So? It’s not quite the point here, but it seems that even thieves got some taste.
I know! But Teslas are still connected to ‘Homebase’. I’m looking at it like Apple. Steal an iPhone? They’ll brick it remotely. This does scare thieves, one way or another. If there is a thief that is able to negate all the remote interception capabilities, sure… but the numbers of the people capable of that are low.
You’re renting it?
can it still… ya know, move like a car does?
Maybe not if the car is bricked remotely - i don’t know because I didn’t steal one of course. From a tech perspective, it’s relatively easy.