Smart Opens: Vehicle Edition (DVD)
Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 1:55 pmTitle: Smart Opens: Vehicle Edition
Media: DVD
Publisher: Paladin Press in association with Shadow Consulting, LLC
Year of Publication: 2010
Running Time: 57 minutes
Host/Instructor: Miguel Miranda
Smart Opens: Vehicle Edition is the companion DVD to Smart Opens: Home Edition, which I reviewed earlier. This edition is concerned with non-destructive entry of automobiles. The intended audience appears to be non-experts that are concerned to better secure their vehicles against unauthorised entry and non-experts that are curious to know how some criminals gain entry to vehicles. I don't think a working locksmith that specialises in automotive lock-outs will learn anything useful to their daily work from this DVD. Some of the non-destructive methods currently being used by automotive thieves are detailed so it may be of some interest to forensic investigators. The DVD is concerned exclusively with gaining entry to the interior of a vehicle by means other than attack of the exterior door lock and non-destructively. That is to say, it contains no content on automotive lock manipulation, starting the vehicle or disabling/by-passing alarms. It is neither a comprehensive tutorial on automotive lock-outs nor a how-to on grand theft auto. I would describe it as a primer on automotive security and a briefing on some of the vulnerabilities that are currently being exploited by thieves to gain non-destructive entry to the interiors of vehicles.
Below I have provided an overview of the salient portions of the DVD to hopefully give you some idea of the content.
Basic Tools
Miranda begins with a quick introduction to some of the most commonly used low-tech tools for vehicle entry, namely:
- wedges
- universal gas (petrol tank) key
- European Lassoo (for Mercdes, BMW, Volvo i.e. European vehicles)
- "Fishing Pole" tool
- Under-Window Tool
- S-tool
- Slim Jim
The intent of this quick overview appears to be to enlighten the non-expert on the security vulnerabilities of automobiles and to demonstrate that the attack vector (to borrow a phrase from IT security) employed by thieves is typically not the key-hole. Auto locksmiths (and experienced car thieves) will know all of this and will have seen most -- if not all -- of these tools with the possible exception of the "European Lassoo" if they are from North America.
MacGyver
Miranda demonstrates the use of an air-wedge (in conjunction with a reach tool). The twist is that the air wedge is improvised from a readily available blood pressure monitor (i.e. a sphygmomanometer for those that are medically inclined). Miranda creates an air-wedge tool from a stripped down cuff (from the monitor) covered with duct tape to give it some rigidity. This home-brew air wedge is used in conjunction with a 1/8" flat steel strip to open a door with a push down lock. Miranda also makes a Slim-Jim from a cheap metal ruler. Old news for locksmiths but it serves to demonstrate yet again what we all here know: that many locksmith tools can be made or improvised.
Signal Jamming
Miranda informs his audience of a method being used currently by thieves to steal the contents of vehicles that (a) is known by law enforcement but the general public has not been warned about in all countries where this method is being used; and (b) insurance will not typically cover on the grounds that the theft was a direct result of the driver failing to secure their vehicle (refer
http://www.iol.co.za/theft-by-remote-control-1.1016317 and http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6484145.stm for
example). Miranda explains that the transmitter of a wireless door chime can be used to "jam" the signal from the vehicle's remote control, leaving the car unlocked and its contents unsecured. Miranda doesn't mention it, but the remote control (the transmitter) of some other equipment will also work to prevent the signal of the vehicle remote correctly reaching the receiver in the vehicle. Whether a vehicle is vulnerable to this attack depends on the transmission frequency of the vehicle's remote locking system. I think Miranda has done a public service by describing this method so that vulnerable vehicle owners can take precautions against this method.
The "Bumper" and a Piece of String
"What is a 'bumper'?" I hear you ask. Well, a "bumper" is a stripped down R/C toy car that is used as a remotely controlled mechanical actuator. Specifically, the steering mechanism of the R/C toy is adapted to provide a means of remotely operating the locking mechanism on the interior of the target vehicle. The stripped-down R/C toy has double-sided adhesive strips attached so that it can be expeditiously attached to a suitable surface on the vehicle's interior. As a defence against this attack Miranda suggests liberal application of ARMOR ALL® to potential target surfaces of the vehicle's interior. I'm uncertain how effective this would be as a counter-measure since a cleaning wipe will quickly prepare the surface for good adhesion. Apparently this method originated in Germany and has spread around the world. Miranda tells us that it has been used to facilitate the theft of rental cars, test-driven cars and valet parked cars.
Miranda demonstrates how a length of string can be used (eg. by a valet parker) to set-up a vehicle for an easy open for a partner-in-crime. The dangling string serving also to mark those vehicles with valuable contents.
Internal Trunk Release
The internal emergency trunk release can be exploited to gain entry to the trunk. Plumbers "Drain Snake" is used to demonstrate this method on one make of vehicle.
There is no general method regarding this attack as the design of the trunk release and the means of accessing it externally will vary between makes and models. Miranda uses this segment to illustrate the general concpet of a multi-stage attack. Access to the trunk may --
in those vehicles that have a hatch that leads to the rear seat -- be used gain access to the interior proper. Miranda also provides some advice on making the internal trunk release inaccessible or less accessible from the exterior without compromising the value of this safety feature.
Urban Myths and WWW Bunkum
Miranda takes some time to mock two nonsense-methods that are claimed to open auto door locks such as the "tennis ball method" popularised by a YouTube video that became so popular a Mythbusters segment was devoted to testing it.
Wrap-Up
If you aren't a locksmith and don't know anything about automotive entry then this DVD might be of interest and value to you. Don't buy it if you want a tutorial on using an auto entry kit, it is not that. It may also be of value to those engaged in forensic investigation, physical security consultancy or private investigations.
Media: DVD
Publisher: Paladin Press in association with Shadow Consulting, LLC
Year of Publication: 2010
Running Time: 57 minutes
Host/Instructor: Miguel Miranda
Smart Opens: Vehicle Edition is the companion DVD to Smart Opens: Home Edition, which I reviewed earlier. This edition is concerned with non-destructive entry of automobiles. The intended audience appears to be non-experts that are concerned to better secure their vehicles against unauthorised entry and non-experts that are curious to know how some criminals gain entry to vehicles. I don't think a working locksmith that specialises in automotive lock-outs will learn anything useful to their daily work from this DVD. Some of the non-destructive methods currently being used by automotive thieves are detailed so it may be of some interest to forensic investigators. The DVD is concerned exclusively with gaining entry to the interior of a vehicle by means other than attack of the exterior door lock and non-destructively. That is to say, it contains no content on automotive lock manipulation, starting the vehicle or disabling/by-passing alarms. It is neither a comprehensive tutorial on automotive lock-outs nor a how-to on grand theft auto. I would describe it as a primer on automotive security and a briefing on some of the vulnerabilities that are currently being exploited by thieves to gain non-destructive entry to the interiors of vehicles.
Below I have provided an overview of the salient portions of the DVD to hopefully give you some idea of the content.
Basic Tools
Miranda begins with a quick introduction to some of the most commonly used low-tech tools for vehicle entry, namely:
- wedges
- universal gas (petrol tank) key
- European Lassoo (for Mercdes, BMW, Volvo i.e. European vehicles)
- "Fishing Pole" tool
- Under-Window Tool
- S-tool
- Slim Jim
The intent of this quick overview appears to be to enlighten the non-expert on the security vulnerabilities of automobiles and to demonstrate that the attack vector (to borrow a phrase from IT security) employed by thieves is typically not the key-hole. Auto locksmiths (and experienced car thieves) will know all of this and will have seen most -- if not all -- of these tools with the possible exception of the "European Lassoo" if they are from North America.
MacGyver
Miranda demonstrates the use of an air-wedge (in conjunction with a reach tool). The twist is that the air wedge is improvised from a readily available blood pressure monitor (i.e. a sphygmomanometer for those that are medically inclined). Miranda creates an air-wedge tool from a stripped down cuff (from the monitor) covered with duct tape to give it some rigidity. This home-brew air wedge is used in conjunction with a 1/8" flat steel strip to open a door with a push down lock. Miranda also makes a Slim-Jim from a cheap metal ruler. Old news for locksmiths but it serves to demonstrate yet again what we all here know: that many locksmith tools can be made or improvised.
Signal Jamming
Miranda informs his audience of a method being used currently by thieves to steal the contents of vehicles that (a) is known by law enforcement but the general public has not been warned about in all countries where this method is being used; and (b) insurance will not typically cover on the grounds that the theft was a direct result of the driver failing to secure their vehicle (refer
http://www.iol.co.za/theft-by-remote-control-1.1016317 and http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6484145.stm for
example). Miranda explains that the transmitter of a wireless door chime can be used to "jam" the signal from the vehicle's remote control, leaving the car unlocked and its contents unsecured. Miranda doesn't mention it, but the remote control (the transmitter) of some other equipment will also work to prevent the signal of the vehicle remote correctly reaching the receiver in the vehicle. Whether a vehicle is vulnerable to this attack depends on the transmission frequency of the vehicle's remote locking system. I think Miranda has done a public service by describing this method so that vulnerable vehicle owners can take precautions against this method.
The "Bumper" and a Piece of String
"What is a 'bumper'?" I hear you ask. Well, a "bumper" is a stripped down R/C toy car that is used as a remotely controlled mechanical actuator. Specifically, the steering mechanism of the R/C toy is adapted to provide a means of remotely operating the locking mechanism on the interior of the target vehicle. The stripped-down R/C toy has double-sided adhesive strips attached so that it can be expeditiously attached to a suitable surface on the vehicle's interior. As a defence against this attack Miranda suggests liberal application of ARMOR ALL® to potential target surfaces of the vehicle's interior. I'm uncertain how effective this would be as a counter-measure since a cleaning wipe will quickly prepare the surface for good adhesion. Apparently this method originated in Germany and has spread around the world. Miranda tells us that it has been used to facilitate the theft of rental cars, test-driven cars and valet parked cars.
Miranda demonstrates how a length of string can be used (eg. by a valet parker) to set-up a vehicle for an easy open for a partner-in-crime. The dangling string serving also to mark those vehicles with valuable contents.
Internal Trunk Release
The internal emergency trunk release can be exploited to gain entry to the trunk. Plumbers "Drain Snake" is used to demonstrate this method on one make of vehicle.
There is no general method regarding this attack as the design of the trunk release and the means of accessing it externally will vary between makes and models. Miranda uses this segment to illustrate the general concpet of a multi-stage attack. Access to the trunk may --
in those vehicles that have a hatch that leads to the rear seat -- be used gain access to the interior proper. Miranda also provides some advice on making the internal trunk release inaccessible or less accessible from the exterior without compromising the value of this safety feature.
Urban Myths and WWW Bunkum
Miranda takes some time to mock two nonsense-methods that are claimed to open auto door locks such as the "tennis ball method" popularised by a YouTube video that became so popular a Mythbusters segment was devoted to testing it.
Wrap-Up
If you aren't a locksmith and don't know anything about automotive entry then this DVD might be of interest and value to you. Don't buy it if you want a tutorial on using an auto entry kit, it is not that. It may also be of value to those engaged in forensic investigation, physical security consultancy or private investigations.
