Alarm remote cloning
Would it disturb you to know how easy it is for most alarms to have a remote cloned without your knowledge?
Are you even aware that all I need to program a remote without your knowledge is; access to a working remote, your vehicle, a new remote of the same model, and one minute of my time.
Car alarm remote programming theft
This is not a new modern theft method. It’s a problem which has existed for years, yet very little has been done to address it by legacy brands in Austrailia or New Zealand.
Vulnerable 5 star car alarms
You may think that having a system with a rolling code remote with over 18,000,000,000,000,000,000+ code combinations makes your system secure. What is there from preventing your local garage from cloning a remote without your knowledge the next time you take the car in for a service?
I dare say that you’d also given your address to whoever has worked on your car when booking it. From there they can simply turn up at a later date, disarm your alarm with their new remote and drive the car away.
So much for your alarm and Immobiliser!
Easy car alarm remote programming
This Cyclops video demonstrates just how quick it is to code a new remote to the alarm.
No security PIN number required
Car alarm remote programming is very simple and the instructions are simple to get hold of. For example opening a door and turning the ignition on and off a set number of times, then pressing the button on the new remote.
Alarm remote cloning example:
If you are unlucky enough to own a Mongoose M60 then page 13 of online user manual has the car alarm remote programming details.
The Cyclops 3 series and 7 series alarm have no pin code remote programming protection.
What can be done to prevent your remote from being copied?
One of the requirements for Thatcham approval is to make sure that new remote controls can not be programmed without the alarm/immobiliser security over-ride number. Therefore if you have a Autowatch, Cobra, or Vodafone Automotive system then you have nothing to worry about. However there was no requirement for this under the now expired AS/NZS 4601:1999 standard.
All Viper alarms with an ESP2 port can be locked from remote programming with a Bit Writer so offer a reasonable level of security if programmed the right way.
Paranoid Prevention!
I know there will be an assumption that the knowledge to program new remote controls is not readily available, but most alarm suppliers will sell the remote on-line with instructions included. Mongoose even have the information freely available on their website!
The remote can be programmed to multiple alarms
There is nothing from stopping someone dishonest from having one remote programmed to multiple vehicles which would allow them to silently disarm your alarm/immobiliser any time they like!
The best prevention would be to opt for an alarm or immobiliser that meets with Thatcham approval, however you could always re-program your remotes every time you lend the keys to someone else!
Brands vulnerable to remote cloning
- AVS
- Cyclops/Dynatron
- Mongoose
I should probably mention 3 and 4 star systems too, but they are all self awarded numbers that don’t mean anything in the real world!
Plus I’m sure there are many others I have not mentioned!
