Beckham Lost Two BMWs To Hacker Thieves
May 5th, 2006 | Posted in Automotive Technology by Leon Huang | Source
Technorati Tags Beckham, BMW, Automobile, Theft

Grand Theft Auto for real?

Automobile thieves are becoming increasingly tech-savvy, and among the victims is our dear David Beckham. Two of his BMW X5 ($60,000 each) were stolen from him in the past six months, which I assume is mere inconvenience than any real loss.

Did our football star forget the locks? No, it is because the BMW X5 is equipped with a keyless entry and ignition system, which the thieves had managed to hack into and decrypted it.

“It’s difficult to steal cars with complex security, but not impossible. There are weaknesses in any system,� Tim Hart of the Auto Locksmith Association told the U.K.’s Auto Express magazine. “At key steps the car’s software can halt progress for up to 20 minutes as part of its in-built protection,� said Hart.

Food for thought. We all know that the internet is a great place for myriads of information, both good and bad. How long will it take for a particular keyless entry system to get hacked and the procedures shared on the web? Previously, one has to either smash the windows or pick the lock. With wireless technology, the notebook-toting thief could now hide comfortably behind the car and do his deed. Suddenly, the good old key-and-lock looks so much safer than these high-tech doodads.