Smart Car Key: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
Smart Keys For Cars
Smart keys are wireless remotes which allow you to open doors and open the trunk without the necessity of a traditional mechanical blade. It is also able to start the car without turning a key.
Most smart keys come with indicators for battery levels that alert you to the low battery well ahead of time. Replacing the battery is a fast and simple process that doesn't require any special tools.
Convenience
Smart keys can unlock doors and trunks as well as turn on the engine of the car without the need to use a key made of metal. They also come with features designed to help deter break-ins and vehicle theft, such as the panic button, which generates noise to scare away people who may be suspicious of thieves in remote areas, such as underground garages for parking.
These key fobs perform all of these functions by sending an audio signal between the car key fob and the car via low-power wireless technology. This is a great convenience, particularly for drivers who are often in a hurry and don't have time to spare.
Smart keys are usually more like plastic cards than actual keys. They can be used to open the trunk or doors when you press a button on the fob. Certain smart keys come with a touchscreen that lets drivers to control their vehicle's settings, like audio and climate.
The RFID signal sent between the key fob and the vehicle is unique, encrypted and tied to the computer in the car which makes it nearly impossible for hackers with the latest technology to connect a stolen vehicle equipped with one. The fobs can also be programmed to transmit a different frequency every time they're used, to ensure that the computer can't recognize the previous one as the genuine signal.
Security
Many people are hesitant to adopt digital car keys because they are worried about security. While having a tangible key fob on hand may feel safer, it's important to recognize that digital keys are also more secure than you think. Digital keys are encrypted and the signal they transmit to a vehicle is checked by an onboard computer. This means that even if your key fob is compromised the car won't start.
Unlike traditional key fobs smart keys make use of built-in antennas in your vehicle and an electronic radio-frequency generator inside the key fob that allows it to communicate with your vehicle, and perform standard functions like unlocking and opening it. This technology lets you access your vehicle without the need to insert an actual key into the lock or ignition which can be an inconvenience.
If you have lost your smart key or if its battery dies, most systems offer an alternative way to open and start your car. Emergency starting can be accomplished by placing the key into an opening, or keeping it close to an space in the cockpit where an inductive coil can transfer energy.
The majority of smart keys come with a low battery indicator, which will alert you that the key is completely dead. If necessary, you are able to easily replace the batteries yourself.
Auto-adjusting settings
Instead of a physical car key, smart keys use radio waves to unlock and lock the vehicle. The smart key is also able to remotely start the engine and monitor the location of your vehicle if you don't remember where you parked it.
Certain smart keys can be programmed to automatically adjust the exterior and interior of the vehicle in accordance with the key it detects. For instance the car will recognize the type of key you're using and then automatically adjust the seat position, mirror settings, and climate control. This is beneficial if you need to limit certain features or have multiple drivers.
Another benefit of smart keys is that they employ encryption to prevent theft, which isn't a possibility with traditional keys. This makes it difficult for cybercriminals to gain access to a vehicle by mimicking a valid frequency, reports How Stuff Works Electronics. Smart keys send a unique, encrypted message every time the remote is unlocked.
The battery of a smart key will eventually wear out just like any other battery-powered device. The majority of systems are built with a backup system to unlock and start the car when the battery is not working. The emergency procedure can differ but usually it involves keeping the key within range of the sensor for the lock on the car or pressing a button that triggers the emergency starter.
Battery Backup
Modern smart keys are called keyless entry systems as well as passive entry. They make use of an external transmitter to unlock your vehicle. The transmitter is located inside the key fob that you carry around and the receivers can be found in your vehicle and outside. When you drive by the vehicle the radio frequency signal from your smart key is picked up by the receivers, and it activates the doors and ignition.
While this system comes with many advantages, including not having to fumble in the dark for a key, it can be vulnerable to certain kinds of attacks. For instance, if a key's battery goes out or is lost, someone could be able to pick up the low-frequency transmission signals of your key and unlock your car, as per How Stuff Works Electronics. This is why the majority of smart keys have encrypted signals to make hacking difficult.
However, these systems can also be interfered with through electromagnetic fields created by computers, cell phones and other devices. If you notice that your smart key fob isn't working properly, it may be due to an interference problem. In this instance, you shouldn't put your key near such devices until the battery of the device has been replaced. Most smart keys will alert you when their batteries are not fully charged and the replacement procedure is quite simple.