from Hacker News

Hyundai Faces New Theft Threat from "Game Boy" Hack

by based2 on 9/28/24, 9:56 AM with 22 comments

  • by strangecasts on 9/28/24, 10:41 AM

    My first thought was that "Game Boy" was a very generous description of a Flipper Zero, but the linked device [1] is indeed much more similar to the Anbernic-style emulator handhelds, which makes me wonder whether plausible deniability [2] was the main goal of the design, or just a convenient bonus on top of having shells and designs readily available.

    [1] https://www.thedrive.com/tech/34817/this-25000-game-boy-is-m...

    [2] The aerial is kind of a giveaway, admittedly.

  • by foldor on 9/28/24, 10:55 AM

    It's interesting, because when I bought my electric vehicle recently, the insurance agent told me my rates would actually lower because they found that electric vehicles were almost never stolen. Up here in Canada at least, the vast majority of car thefts happened to trucks and luxury cars and end up in shipping containers to Africa or the Middle East. The value of electric cars there was minimal because they don't have the charging infrastructure to support it, so the electric vehicles just aren't as valuable for theft.

  • by hi-v-rocknroll on 9/28/24, 6:59 PM

    This is like a replay of the security level disparity between American cars and German cars in the 80's and 90's. I'm wondering if nonzero Kia and Hyundai owners may resort to The Club proactively, or if it's an issue the vast majority don't think about only in retrospect after it's too late.

  • by laweijfmvo on 9/28/24, 10:43 AM

    I've heard about iPhone theft being worthless because of the locks that make them bricks after stealing... how in the world do thieves handle something like a modern (connected) EV? You can't just sell it. Maybe you can part it out? but even maintenance of EVs seems pretty locked down these days...

  • by sharpshadow on 9/28/24, 10:39 AM

    Steering wheel security inspired by the sword from the movie Blade would be fun.

    But really seems like one needs to deploy additional security measures in- and outside the car to avoid theft. What are the options?

  • by MrVandemar on 9/28/24, 11:02 AM

    You know what: I own a Hyundai and I want a low-tech version of this.

    My key fob got damaged. Hyundai quoted me $600 for a new key. That's half my wages for a fortnight. For a key. Used to be you could go and get a new key cut for $10.

    So yeah, if there's a way to break into my own Hyundai for way less than $600, I want one.