Originally appeared on Automoblog.net

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Car thieves are more sophisticated as vehicles today offer more connectivity and technology. Hacking methods to jam key fobs, prevent doors from locking, or make them unlock are employed by thieves. Signal intercept devices capture and replay unlock codes, while power amplifiers relay the signal from a key fob at a distance.
These methods allow unwanted individuals access to your vehicle. From there, a thief will reprogram your car with a new key and steal it.
Mystery Methods
“The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) was the first to alert the public to the potential danger posed by new technology allowing thieves to unlock vehicles with what have come to be known as mystery devices,” said NICB Chief Operating Officer Jim Schweitzer. According to Schweitzer, automakers do not have a permanent solution and that creates an opportunity for thieves.
“Despite significant progress by manufacturers over the past two decades in anti-theft technology, we know that thieves are always busy trying to develop new ways to thwart those systems,” he said.
Fighting Back
Voyomotive LLC, an automotive technology company, developed a new application to reduce vehicle theft. The Lockdown app works with Voyo’s Controller and Relay technology as an add-on to their Premium Pack services. Lockdown helps prevent car hacking and theft.
The app works through a smartphone on v...