How do you store your keyless fob?

How do you store your keyless fob?

Author
Discussion

Gericho

Original Poster:

608 posts

11 months

Tuesday 26th November
quotequote all
We all know that keyless car theft is easy using a relay to amplify the signal and trick the car into thinking the key is nearby the car. So at home I leave it in a faraday pouch.

But when I am out and parked at an office or pub/restaurant or even supermarket, then surely the same risk is there that the car can be stolen using the relay technique.

Am I supposed to keep the fob in a faraday pouch whenever I'm not near the car? It is super annoying having to keep taking the key out and putting it away each time. Wondering if theres a better way or if its even a concern anyone else has.

MitchT

16,271 posts

217 months

Tuesday 26th November
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Can't speak from experience but I'm after a specific used car which is virtually impossible to find without keyless entry. My plan would, unfortunately, be to keep the key in a pouch when out and about. Otherwise someone could follow me with a booster once I've parked my car while an accomplice hops into my car and drives off.

It seems the steps you have to take to secure a car with keyless entry defeat the whole point of keyless entry. I'd sooner just press a button on the fob than have to get a pouch out of my pocket and unzip it and then take the key out so it'll work. It makes life harder, not easier.

Paul_77

1,334 posts

101 months

Tuesday 26th November
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You can disable keyless functionality on many cars with certain combinations of buttons on the key fob. Although I believe you have to do it everytime you lock the car.

EmailAddress

13,699 posts

226 months

Wednesday 27th November
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MitchT said:
Can't speak from experience but I'm after a specific used car which is virtually impossible to find without keyless entry. My plan would, unfortunately, be to keep the key in a pouch when out and about. Otherwise someone could follow me with a booster once I've parked my car while an accomplice hops into my car and drives off.

It seems the steps you have to take to secure a car with keyless entry defeat the whole point of keyless entry. I'd sooner just press a button on the fob than have to get a pouch out of my pocket and unzip it and then take the key out so it'll work. It makes life harder, not easier.
No one is going to follow you while you're out and about.

I'd rest easy on that one.

They're much more likely to clock you at home, break in, (kill your dog,) beat you, and take your keys.

Gericho

Original Poster:

608 posts

11 months

Wednesday 27th November
quotequote all
EmailAddress said:
No one is going to follow you while you're out and about.

I'd rest easy on that one.

They're much more likely to clock you at home, break in, (kill your dog,) beat you, and take your keys.
If car parks are now open air showrooms, it would be easy pickings to just relay the signal and drive off. People are unlikely to be far from the car in a restuarant, coffee shop, or office car park for example.

Jules Sunley

4,098 posts

101 months

Wednesday 27th November
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I've disabled the keyless function in my car menu.

EmailAddress

13,699 posts

226 months

Wednesday 27th November
quotequote all
Gericho said:
EmailAddress said:
No one is going to follow you while you're out and about.

I'd rest easy on that one.

They're much more likely to clock you at home, break in, (kill your dog,) beat you, and take your keys.
If car parks are now open air showrooms, it would be easy pickings to just relay the signal and drive off. People are unlikely to be far from the car in a restuarant, coffee shop, or office car park for example.
Doesn't happen.

It's a Daily Mail tech case study.

Don't worry about it.

jdw100

4,938 posts

172 months

Wednesday 27th November
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In the car.

On the storage tray in front of the arm rest.

Or, if my wife has been using the car then sometimes, somehow, wedged between the seat and the side of the storage area or under the seat….

The car starts so we know the key must be in the car…..somewhere.

If we are going away for more than a couple of days without the car then in a drawer in the house.









Edited by jdw100 on Wednesday 27th November 04:19

wyson

2,775 posts

112 months

Wednesday 27th November
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At home I’d use something more permanent. Bags go off. Mine last about a year before signals leak through.

Out and about, I keep faraday pouch in the car, but only use it if going to sit somewhere in proximity to the vehicle. Eg, parked right outside the pub and going to have (non alcoholic) drinks and dinner inside.

If in a multi-storey car park for a shopping mall, where the car will be miles from where I am shopping, I don’t bother.

JQ

6,061 posts

187 months

Wednesday 27th November
quotequote all
Gericho said:
We all know that keyless car theft is easy using a relay to amplify the signal and trick the car into thinking the key is nearby the car. So at home I leave it in a faraday pouch.

But when I am out and parked at an office or pub/restaurant or even supermarket, then surely the same risk is there that the car can be stolen using the relay technique.

Am I supposed to keep the fob in a faraday pouch whenever I'm not near the car? It is super annoying having to keep taking the key out and putting it away each time. Wondering if theres a better way or if its even a concern anyone else has.
Nobody is going to follow you to your office and run a relay to the car park. If someone was really that bothered about getting your specific car while you were out and about they’d put a knife to your throat or gun to your head and tell you to give them the keys.

So either stop worrying about it, get a different car or employ a team of Mossad crabs to follow you everywhere.

Out of interest, what car do you have?

TheDrownedApe

1,218 posts

64 months

Wednesday 27th November
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Never once thought about it. In my pocket if im out or on the hook if I'm in.

But then I've never owned high risk cars.

ajprice

29,348 posts

204 months

Wednesday 27th November
quotequote all
EmailAddress said:
No one is going to follow you while you're out and about.

I'd rest easy on that one.

They're much more likely to clock you at home, break in, (kill your dog,) beat you, and take your keys.
Oh.


sortedcossie

722 posts

136 months

Wednesday 27th November
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I keep mine in the wallet permanently, at home, shopping, eating out etc. Just got used to it now, don't give it a second thought.

Quinten

1,156 posts

249 months

Wednesday 27th November
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Saw these being touted on a click-baity youtube video on Land Rovers: https://www.sleepingbattery.com/en/home/ but at £100 I'll keep using the pouch at home and dont worry about it when away from home.

Jimjimhim

1,609 posts

8 months

Wednesday 27th November
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I read a stat (can't remember where) that said 85% of stuff that we worry about never actually happens, so stop wasting energy worrying about things that will likely never happen and put that energy into something more productive.

Jamescrs

4,907 posts

73 months

Wednesday 27th November
quotequote all
At home inside a faraday pouch which is locked in a metal key safe overnight secured to the wall in an unobvious place.

When out and about I don't bother, key simply in my pocket

vikingaero

11,275 posts

177 months

Wednesday 27th November
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I don't worry.

My chauffeur has the keys on him and he was trained by Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Hong Kong Phooey.

In addition I have 2 armed close protection security personnel who assured me that they received the best training from Jean Claude van Damme, Steven Seagal and Seven Seagal when he was The Chef.

Because I'm safety conscious I have Chuck Norris asleep in the boot.

J4CKO

42,944 posts

208 months

Wednesday 27th November
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Jimjimhim said:
I read a stat (can't remember where) that said 85% of stuff that we worry about never actually happens, so stop wasting energy worrying about things that will likely never happen and put that energy into something more productive.
Very true, my other half will agonise over absolute edge case scenarios that are very unlikely to happen, then treats them as the most likely outcome.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220725-cata...

My policy is to decide on a plan that can guard against the negative outcome, I have a very stealable car, so the conceived wisdom was to get a specific immobiliser that will thwart any of the normal methods used to nick it. Dont bother with the faraday pouches now as even if they can get the signal its no use without the little fob. Oh, and its got a tracker in case the worst happens.

At home, I ensure that the alarm is suitable, kept maintained and above all, switched on. Access to the rear is blocked via a tall gate, locks all the anti snap variety and the place is festooned with security lights. We have a video doorbell and a couple of CCTV cameras but not sure how much use they are.

When out and about I dont really worry, nobody will get it at work as we have access cards and security guards, other places I just dont really think about it, more bothered about not getting it clouted by a carelessly swung door or clumsy parking, but then I dont leave it in dodgy places by and large.

Depends where you live, we are far from Manchester but there are way better cars than mine down out road, well, more expensive anyway.


DanL

6,444 posts

273 months

Wednesday 27th November
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I have a faraday box to keep the keys by the front door when at home. If visiting family and staying overnight I’ll put the keys in a pouch, for the same reason - they keys are near the car and a relay theft would be possible.

Otherwise, they’re in my pocket without any particular protection, and I’m not worried about it. The keys and I will be a good distance from the car wherever I’ve parked, and it’s unlikely the car will be taken as a result. If it is, well - it’s insured.

Sheepshanks

35,123 posts

127 months

Wednesday 27th November
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Johnny_Cab said:
Buy a Ford, the fobs go to sleep if you don’t move them.
Same with VW Group cars since 2019/20 - I’d be surprised if they don’t all do it now.