French, Latvian and Spanish police have just arrested 31 suspects suspected of being part of a criminal group using software to steal vehicles. According to the European criminal justice cooperation agency Eurojust, the suspects had developed or used software that duplicated the keys to certain car models.
French survey
The leaders of the company that developed the software would be among those arrested in France. Authorities raided 22 sites in France, Spain and Latvia. They also seized approximately one million euros, 12 bank accounts, real estate, three luxury cars and the domain of the website.
According to the French gendarmes of the Center for the Fight against Digital Crime (C3N), at the origin of the investigation in March 2020, this site offered digital theft kits presented as simple automotive diagnostic tools. Investigators estimate that the criminal organization would have marketed its solutions to more than 200 users, for a total damage of around 2.7 million euros.
Two targeted builders
“The criminals targeted the vehicles of two French car manufacturers”, specifies Europol. The fraudulent tool replaced the vehicles’ original software, allowing the doors to be opened and started. A kind of diversion not unique. Witness this video, for example, which promotes an astonishing “emergency start” kit.
“The perpetrators of the scam have constantly updated and adapted their software, in order to thwart the measures implemented by the companies to strengthen the security of their vehicles”, stresses Eurojust. Neither agency specifically named the two French automakers. Eurojust was unable to provide further information on the hacks, nor was Europol, questioned by ZDNet.
The modus operandi of the hack seems different from other attacks recently observed, based on the interception of the radio signal between the key fob and the vehicle. British police were concerned about an increase in such thefts last year. She had then invited the owners, to avoid such attacks by relay, to store their key rings in metal boxes or protective pockets.
Source: “ZDNet.com”