H All,
I am looking to get a steering wheel lock as an extra deterrent. I do keep the fob in a Faraday case at home but at work this is not the case. We recently had a new car stolen at work which they believe was due to thieves the amplifying the smart key signal.
Anyone uses one that fits the EX30 well? Is a key lock better or a combination one? There are soo many on the market but Stoplock appear to be rated well.
Thanks in advance.
Steering Wheel Lock
Wouldn't it be easier just to use a Farraday case/box/bag at work too?
If it was a relay theft at work than that should do the trick.
Even using the key card instead of the key fob would prevent relay theft.
If it was a relay theft at work than that should do the trick.
Even using the key card instead of the key fob would prevent relay theft.
2024 EX30 Ultra - single motor - extended range - Onyx Black (UK)
I would say this is not actually needed for the EX30 at present - there are no known relay techniques that work against the EX30.
One of the common complaints about the car is the UWB key, with the car needing to go into standby to prevent draining the battery making it take a bit of time for it to unlock, and the requirement for a UWB enabled smartphone for when the phone key becomes available (whenever that is...), but one absolute benefit of them sticking to only using UWB is the fact it is by far the most secure keyless entry system currently available. By enabling unlocking through standard Bluetooth (like Tesla currently does), you enable the possibility of relay thefts. So yeah, annoying that you need a top end phone for it to work, and the problem with the car going into standby to prevent draining the battery, but also it is actually a very good thing from a security point of view.
One of the common complaints about the car is the UWB key, with the car needing to go into standby to prevent draining the battery making it take a bit of time for it to unlock, and the requirement for a UWB enabled smartphone for when the phone key becomes available (whenever that is...), but one absolute benefit of them sticking to only using UWB is the fact it is by far the most secure keyless entry system currently available. By enabling unlocking through standard Bluetooth (like Tesla currently does), you enable the possibility of relay thefts. So yeah, annoying that you need a top end phone for it to work, and the problem with the car going into standby to prevent draining the battery, but also it is actually a very good thing from a security point of view.
So the key fob is UWB. I didn't know that.
I knew that when the digital key plus for top end smart phones comes in (Plus and Ultra only) it will be, but that the standard digital key for cheaper smart phones will not be and will only act as the key card does at the minute - by touching the drivers door pillar with the phone instead of a key card.
So that means that the key fob cannot become the victim of a relay attack, and a Faraday case is only needed to prevent the battery draining, not for vehicle security?
I knew that when the digital key plus for top end smart phones comes in (Plus and Ultra only) it will be, but that the standard digital key for cheaper smart phones will not be and will only act as the key card does at the minute - by touching the drivers door pillar with the phone instead of a key card.
So that means that the key fob cannot become the victim of a relay attack, and a Faraday case is only needed to prevent the battery draining, not for vehicle security?
2024 EX30 Ultra - single motor - extended range - Onyx Black (UK)
For the sake of my own peace of mind I decided to check that the EX30 key fob really is a secure UWB device that cannot be subject to a relay attack - and therefore would not need a Faraday container.
Searching the internet revealed that UWB key fobs are woken up by the car constantly sending out a Bluetooth Signal for the key fob to detect. When the key fob is close enough to receive the Bluetooth signal it replies via UWB. The car and the key fob then communicate with each other and use very accurate time measurement and the speed of light to calculate the distance between the key fob and the car to within a few centimetres.
If the key fob is close enough, the car will unlock.
If the car is not close enough the car will not unlock. However, as the key fob is still receiving the Bluetooth signal it constantly communicates with the car using its UWB signal, wearing down its small battery. This is why a Faraday container is needed to prevent battery failure if the fob is stored too close to the car.
The car cannot be unlocked using a relay attack, as the relay attacker uses radio waves to transmit messages between the attackers relay transmitter near the fob and reciever near the car. These radio waves travel at the speed of light, so the UWB system can still detect the actual distance between the key fob and the car and the car knows that the key fob is outside the required unlocking range.
I was able to find the manufacturers 'handbook' for the key fob online. It confirms that the key fob is a UWB only system and is therefore immune to a relay attack. The web address for the handbook is:
https://device.report/m/c06bc79dc255262 ... eedbf4.pdf
So in short, you do not need a Faraday container to keep the car secure, but you may need one to stop the fob's battery dying.
Searching the internet revealed that UWB key fobs are woken up by the car constantly sending out a Bluetooth Signal for the key fob to detect. When the key fob is close enough to receive the Bluetooth signal it replies via UWB. The car and the key fob then communicate with each other and use very accurate time measurement and the speed of light to calculate the distance between the key fob and the car to within a few centimetres.
If the key fob is close enough, the car will unlock.
If the car is not close enough the car will not unlock. However, as the key fob is still receiving the Bluetooth signal it constantly communicates with the car using its UWB signal, wearing down its small battery. This is why a Faraday container is needed to prevent battery failure if the fob is stored too close to the car.
The car cannot be unlocked using a relay attack, as the relay attacker uses radio waves to transmit messages between the attackers relay transmitter near the fob and reciever near the car. These radio waves travel at the speed of light, so the UWB system can still detect the actual distance between the key fob and the car and the car knows that the key fob is outside the required unlocking range.
I was able to find the manufacturers 'handbook' for the key fob online. It confirms that the key fob is a UWB only system and is therefore immune to a relay attack. The web address for the handbook is:
https://device.report/m/c06bc79dc255262 ... eedbf4.pdf
So in short, you do not need a Faraday container to keep the car secure, but you may need one to stop the fob's battery dying.
Last edited by SP1959 on Sun Dec 01, 2024 9:11 am, edited 1 time in total.
2024 EX30 Ultra - single motor - extended range - Onyx Black (UK)
I keep my key fob at a 6 m distance from the EX30 with only a brick wall in the middle, and haven't changed the battery since last March.
At comparable and even longer distances with a wall in the middle all my bluetooth devices still work (phones, headphones, remotes, etc.).
So, if bluetooth is used somehow, I suspect that the bluetooth output power of the car or the key fob is actually much lower than that of a standard bluetooth device.
At comparable and even longer distances with a wall in the middle all my bluetooth devices still work (phones, headphones, remotes, etc.).
So, if bluetooth is used somehow, I suspect that the bluetooth output power of the car or the key fob is actually much lower than that of a standard bluetooth device.
Volvo EX30 Ultra Twin Motor cloud blue
Proper reassuring post SP1959, I haven't heard of any relay thefts relating to the EX30 either. Great to know that the motor has this more effective and safer tech, I bet landrover wishes they had invested with the Range Rover, perhaps they have adapted over the recent years as there doesn't seem to be any new report of relay theft for Range Rovers...
Volvo EX30, Onyx Black, Ultra, Twin Performance v1.4.2
