Is Your Honda Susceptible to Hackers?
Some hackers have figured out how to eavesdrop on the secret language between some Honda’s and their key fobs. This allows them access to certain vehicles.
Written by Lauren Smith
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
You’ve probably spent time figuring out a secure password for all websites and data. It probably requires an uppercase letter, some numbers, and a unique key. As we become more technologically advanced, so do our systems of protecting information, but just as we progress, so do hackers like the ones who’ve figured out how to hack
Honda
key fobs. Don’t get too worried just yet;
Jerry
’sgot what you need to know about the key fob hacking, what cars are confirmed to be susceptible, and what Honda plans to do about it. The secret language between your Honda and key fob
You may or may not remember old-school hard keys that got you into your car before those handy dandy buttons were instituted. If you have driven anything since the ‘90s, you probably have a remote keyless entering system or an RKE system.
For most people, this is a key fob. It works, kind of like a spy, with your car. It has a collection of secret codes that tells your car to unlock, lock, or start your vehicle that your car has memorized and can compare to confirm whether or not to complete the request.
This is done for you via the push of a button. Your key said a code, and your car let you in. Originally this was done via static codes. But those became too easy to hack, so car manufacturers like Honda moved on to PRNG, or pseudorandom number generator, also known as rolling codes. What this means is that there are options.
Your car now has a list of number codes to check from that either mean lock, unlock or start the vehicle to cross reference with what code your key fob sends out.
There is an order in which the numbers on the list get used that your car is expecting, so the number code can’t be used again because it’s waiting for the next one in the sequence for the next time you ask to lock or unlock your car.
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How hackers are intercepting your key fob’s secret passwords
How the “Rolling Pwn Attack” works are that someone nearby with a tool like a software-defined radio collects a series of codes when you use your key fob. They must be about 100 feet away to eavesdrop on your car and key fobs' silent coded conversation.
By collecting a sequence of the PRNG codes, even if they’ve been used, the hacker can then re-sync the order and use your old codes, even if they don’t come back to your car for months. This allows them to unlock your vehicle, lock it, or start it.
However, according to Honda, they cannot drive off with your car.
Which Honda cars are susceptible to hackers?
To throw out a wide net, any Honda vehicle using an RKE system made between 2012 to 2022 can be susceptible to these hackers. However, Honda has only confirmed:
Honda’s solution to stop hackers
There’s no news yet about what Honda is doing for the cars already known to have this weak point. But for future vehicles, Honda has decided to change up their system.
The remote keyless entering systems for 2022 and 2023 vehicles have been redesigned with codes that instantly expire to eliminate the PRNG system. Now, these codes can’t be reused or saved.
Protecting yourself and your vehicle with insurance
While we can’t guard your car against a Rolling Pwn Attack,
Jerry
can ensure you have insurance to cover you in case the worst happens. For example, if you’ve got all your stuff out of the car and come back to find someone stole your car radio, you will want to ensure you have
comprehensive coverage
car insurance. If someone steals your catalytic converter, damages the car, or manages to drive off with it, the only
car insurance covering car theft
is that same comprehensive coverage. Suppose you’re worried about your items; these are only covered by your homeowner's or renter's insurance. Sadly the safest bet for your items is to take anything important with you when you leave your car somewhere within the eavesdropping range of hackers or to avoid parking somewhere where your car is accessible to strangers.
Jerry can help you with your homeowners, renters, and car insurance. So if you’re driving a Honda that might be susceptible to hacker attacks, make sure you’ve got comprehensive coverage. If you’ve any questions about your policy, our licensed agents are only a text away.
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