3 ms·

Nobody (including me!) expected extremely cheap software-defined radio transmitters and receivers to be available. A short key and a rolling code seemed like a

Nobody (including me!) expected extremely cheap software-defined radio transmitters and receivers to be available. A short key and a rolling code seemed like a good enough obstacle for a door lock 20 years ago.

bArray 10y ago
I don't know about not expecting it, I think as a general rule all expensive technology will likely be cheaper in the future, or simplified so that it's accessible to the masses. It's difficult to think of a counter example?
makomk 10y ago
I don't think this actually needs fancy software-defined radio hardware. That looks like a cheap, generic 315/433MHz ASK receiver for the keyfob, and those have been widely available for decades. They're essentially what you'd find in the car side of a remote-unlock system, or in most bargain-basement RF remotes of any kind.
- cnvogel 10y ago
  "ASK" is amplitude shift keying (shifting/changing between two amplitudes). In cheap transmitters (like the ones on keyfobs) one of the amplitudes commonly is "on", the other "off". This is morse, literally the first modulation ever invented to be used with radio waves. Receivers for much more complicated modulation schemes have been built by amateurs for many decades, so I think in the case of analyzing the keyfobs' security SDRs were not a necessary tool. But of course with the advent of cheap Rx and Tx capable SDRs the amount of people able to decode (and transmit) all kinds of modulated signal in all kinds of frequency bands has exploded, and for example my ability to quickly change from running a cell-tower to receiving satellites signals to decoding/analyzing/transmitting the keyfob radiwaves and unlocking a car is only one "./configure ; make" away, once I have acquired a sufficiently advanced SDR. No need to build, solder, tune, debug an electronic circuit tediously custom built for one application.
- AWildDHHAppears 10y ago
  Yes, but SDR allows for the quick and easy experimentation, even if the hack ends up being implemented on other equipment.
  - seanp2k2 10y ago
    The other aspect that makes SDR so appealing is wiring up software blocks in GNURadio that used to be implemented in hardware. This drastically reduces the testing cycles and lets you basically guess, measure, and muck around until it works.

bArray 10y ago

I don't know about not expecting it, I think as a general rule all expensive technology will likely be cheaper in the future, or simplified so that it's accessible to the masses. It's difficult to think of a counter example?

makomk 10y ago

I don't think this actually needs fancy software-defined radio hardware. That looks like a cheap, generic 315/433MHz ASK receiver for the keyfob, and those have been widely available for decades. They're essentially what you'd find in the car side of a remote-unlock system, or in most bargain-basement RF remotes of any kind.

cnvogel 10y ago
"ASK" is amplitude shift keying (shifting/changing between two amplitudes). In cheap transmitters (like the ones on keyfobs) one of the amplitudes commonly is "on", the other "off". This is morse, literally the first modulation ever invented to be used with radio waves. Receivers for much more complicated modulation schemes have been built by amateurs for many decades, so I think in the case of analyzing the keyfobs' security SDRs were not a necessary tool. But of course with the advent of cheap Rx and Tx capable SDRs the amount of people able to decode (and transmit) all kinds of modulated signal in all kinds of frequency bands has exploded, and for example my ability to quickly change from running a cell-tower to receiving satellites signals to decoding/analyzing/transmitting the keyfob radiwaves and unlocking a car is only one "./configure ; make" away, once I have acquired a sufficiently advanced SDR. No need to build, solder, tune, debug an electronic circuit tediously custom built for one application.
AWildDHHAppears 10y ago
Yes, but SDR allows for the quick and easy experimentation, even if the hack ends up being implemented on other equipment.
- seanp2k2 10y ago
  The other aspect that makes SDR so appealing is wiring up software blocks in GNURadio that used to be implemented in hardware. This drastically reduces the testing cycles and lets you basically guess, measure, and muck around until it works.