6 ms·

Immediately, I'd be wondering what very powerful spy agency or organisation felt the need to break into my car, and why.

whataboutism 8y ago
They were in posession of a 0-day for this car
21 8y ago
That agency would have jammed communications in the area so no alarm would have been raised, unless raising an alarm was their actual purpose.
- frockington 8y ago
  That would make me crazy. Before an important meeting that would seriously throw me off. It's a good play
- vwelling 8y ago
  Signal jamming will trigger high-end car alarms as well. Also, if the alarm is connected to a security provider, a disruption in communication with the car will also cause them to follow up on it.
  - madeuptempacct 8y ago
    What is this magical land you live in where signal jamming triggers a CAR alarm?
    - vwelling 8y ago
      PDF alert: https://automotive.vodafone.co.uk/media/239296/stolen%20vehicle%20tracking%20brochure%20-%202017.pdf https://automotive.vodafone.co.uk/media/239296/stolen%20vehi...
      - Rjevski 8y ago
        I wouldn’t trust a mobile carrier with anything - they can’t even protect their mobile customers from basic stuff as SMS spam or eavesdropping via SS7. Not to mention, I technically can’t see how this thing will be able to phone home if the mobile phone frequencies are being jammed.
soneil 8y ago
I'm not sure I'd be so paranoid. We've read of people managing to hack the key openers, etc. They're an attractive target. I mean, if you were going to leave a box containing $30,000 on your doorstep. A box not only containing 30k, but a box that was labelled that it contained 30k. How would you protect it? Put a serial number on it so you can prove it's yours? A bike lock? A motion sensor? Cement it into the ground? What lengths would you expect someone to go to, to try to walk away with this box? Just give it a little kick to see if it moves? A screwdriver or a pry bar? Angle grinder? Once you divorce yourself from the commonality of a car, it's quite bizarre to think that not only do most people leave their second most valuable possession (or most valuable, if you rent your home) on their doorstep .. but that they just assume it won't happen to them. It doesn't take a targeted attack for someone to realise that that exposed, valuable, mobile asset is .. well, exposed, valuable and mobile.
- dsfyu404ed 8y ago
  $30k in cash is not the same as a $30k car. A $30k car that's been stolen is not worth $30k, then there's liquidity, risk and a bunch of other things. Having your car parked outside is not at all like having a box containing $30k outside your house.
  - lphnull 8y ago
    well then is it closer to having a box with $15k? $10k? $5k? In all these situations, the incentive is still there.
    - pc86 8y ago
      Probably $3-6k but with the associated risks and punishments of a $30k crime, and much more if you happen to have a firearm on you while committing it.
      - avar 8y ago
        This is Europe, nobody stealing a car is carrying a gun.
wjnc 8y ago
Nah, BMW-thieves are incredibly resourceful. They managed to steal parts of the dashboard and airbag from my neighbours car, without further damage, while in the driveway with the alarms not triggered on a modern 3-series. All the neighbour noticed was the dog barking a few times at night. We all sleep within 30 ft of that car. Practice makes perfect. Those parts are sourced to eastern Europe and are stolen on demand.
- hvidgaard 8y ago
  It's a widespread problem right now. It happens in waves, and if you go to BMW dealers in larger cities it's not uncommon to see 4-5 5 series missing the dashboard and airbags. What I don't understand is what are they using it for? Can they upgrade older models with it?
  - ollie87 8y ago
    Crashed vehicles will need replacement dashboards and airbags, probably stealing them to do dodgy repairs on cars that have been in big accidents.
  - wjnc 8y ago
    Sorry for the late reply. The story (I'm in insurance, but no means to check for validity) is that in Europe total losses are sold for their chassis numbers and then pretty much built up from stolen parts in Eastern Europe. I had a bad run in with a likewise situation when someone crashed into my rear and the offer for the wreck was way high. That meant I had to go get a new one, since via technical total loss I could not get my own car repaired without financial risk.
barbegal 8y ago
Hardly, this was a very unsophisticated attack, they cut through the entire loom as opposed to through individual wires so it was quickly noticeable what had occurred.
- modells 8y ago
  Did you even read the article? They knew enough to disable SOS and interior car alarm sensors in a seemingly subtle way most people would dismiss. Maybe they should’ve taken their time and waited around for police? What’s unsophisticated is stealing a radio or nav by slashing the back of the wiring loom, and then the owner having to replace the entire loom at the cost of many thousands of dollars. It sucks but that’s life. Car thieves aren’t your friends, DGAF about damage, and those that don’t operate on a “speed is life” principle get caught. Maybe you should show a little respect to the knowledge and tactics demonstrated?
  - tempestn 8y ago
    Why should they show respect to these car thieves? They made a valid point; it's easy to imagine an attack like this being done better.
draw_down 8y ago
Probably not necessary to flatter oneself in such a fashion.

whataboutism 8y ago

They were in posession of a 0-day for this car

21 8y ago

That agency would have jammed communications in the area so no alarm would have been raised, unless raising an alarm was their actual purpose.

frockington 8y ago
That would make me crazy. Before an important meeting that would seriously throw me off. It's a good play
vwelling 8y ago
Signal jamming will trigger high-end car alarms as well. Also, if the alarm is connected to a security provider, a disruption in communication with the car will also cause them to follow up on it.
- madeuptempacct 8y ago
  What is this magical land you live in where signal jamming triggers a CAR alarm?
  - vwelling 8y ago
    PDF alert: https://automotive.vodafone.co.uk/media/239296/stolen%20vehicle%20tracking%20brochure%20-%202017.pdf https://automotive.vodafone.co.uk/media/239296/stolen%20vehi...
    - Rjevski 8y ago
      I wouldn’t trust a mobile carrier with anything - they can’t even protect their mobile customers from basic stuff as SMS spam or eavesdropping via SS7. Not to mention, I technically can’t see how this thing will be able to phone home if the mobile phone frequencies are being jammed.

soneil 8y ago

I'm not sure I'd be so paranoid. We've read of people managing to hack the key openers, etc. They're an attractive target. I mean, if you were going to leave a box containing $30,000 on your doorstep. A box not only containing 30k, but a box that was labelled that it contained 30k. How would you protect it? Put a serial number on it so you can prove it's yours? A bike lock? A motion sensor? Cement it into the ground? What lengths would you expect someone to go to, to try to walk away with this box? Just give it a little kick to see if it moves? A screwdriver or a pry bar? Angle grinder? Once you divorce yourself from the commonality of a car, it's quite bizarre to think that not only do most people leave their second most valuable possession (or most valuable, if you rent your home) on their doorstep .. but that they just assume it won't happen to them. It doesn't take a targeted attack for someone to realise that that exposed, valuable, mobile asset is .. well, exposed, valuable and mobile.

dsfyu404ed 8y ago
$30k in cash is not the same as a $30k car. A $30k car that's been stolen is not worth $30k, then there's liquidity, risk and a bunch of other things. Having your car parked outside is not at all like having a box containing $30k outside your house.
- lphnull 8y ago
  well then is it closer to having a box with $15k? $10k? $5k? In all these situations, the incentive is still there.
  - pc86 8y ago
    Probably $3-6k but with the associated risks and punishments of a $30k crime, and much more if you happen to have a firearm on you while committing it.
    - avar 8y ago
      This is Europe, nobody stealing a car is carrying a gun.

wjnc 8y ago

Nah, BMW-thieves are incredibly resourceful. They managed to steal parts of the dashboard and airbag from my neighbours car, without further damage, while in the driveway with the alarms not triggered on a modern 3-series. All the neighbour noticed was the dog barking a few times at night. We all sleep within 30 ft of that car. Practice makes perfect. Those parts are sourced to eastern Europe and are stolen on demand.

hvidgaard 8y ago
It's a widespread problem right now. It happens in waves, and if you go to BMW dealers in larger cities it's not uncommon to see 4-5 5 series missing the dashboard and airbags. What I don't understand is what are they using it for? Can they upgrade older models with it?
- ollie87 8y ago
  Crashed vehicles will need replacement dashboards and airbags, probably stealing them to do dodgy repairs on cars that have been in big accidents.
- wjnc 8y ago
  Sorry for the late reply. The story (I'm in insurance, but no means to check for validity) is that in Europe total losses are sold for their chassis numbers and then pretty much built up from stolen parts in Eastern Europe. I had a bad run in with a likewise situation when someone crashed into my rear and the offer for the wreck was way high. That meant I had to go get a new one, since via technical total loss I could not get my own car repaired without financial risk.

barbegal 8y ago

Hardly, this was a very unsophisticated attack, they cut through the entire loom as opposed to through individual wires so it was quickly noticeable what had occurred.

modells 8y ago
Did you even read the article? They knew enough to disable SOS and interior car alarm sensors in a seemingly subtle way most people would dismiss. Maybe they should’ve taken their time and waited around for police? What’s unsophisticated is stealing a radio or nav by slashing the back of the wiring loom, and then the owner having to replace the entire loom at the cost of many thousands of dollars. It sucks but that’s life. Car thieves aren’t your friends, DGAF about damage, and those that don’t operate on a “speed is life” principle get caught. Maybe you should show a little respect to the knowledge and tactics demonstrated?
- tempestn 8y ago
  Why should they show respect to these car thieves? They made a valid point; it's easy to imagine an attack like this being done better.

draw_down 8y ago

Probably not necessary to flatter oneself in such a fashion.