Remote Kill & Track

chmod a+wrx · Aug 24, 2012

Has anyone else speculated whether the "phone" app will be able to remotely kill the Model S and track if stolen???? Seems like this could be done with a strong pin or password with encryption if the remote app would be able to control other aspects of the car.....

W.Petefish · Aug 24, 2012

The Model S is almost impossible to steal. The thief would need to have the key fob in their pocket. Even if they managed to get into the car, there is no switch to break, no wires for being able to hotwire the car since the authentication is done over CAN, and it has an immobilizer.

With having an app that can track the car, they'd have to have intimate knowledge of the car's inner workings in order to even think of messing with it. (not to mention at least a week plugged into the CAN busses.)

In my point of view, it is cost prohibitive. A thief would rather target a Honda or Toyota than Model S.

(BTW this has been documented in a white paper submitted by TM to an agency, I think it might have been the NHTSA.)
(Docket# NHTSA–2011–0174)

Adm · Aug 24, 2012

As more (luxury) cars get sophisticated anti theft alarms, stealing the key is the easiest way to steal the car. Car thieves will burglarize a house to steal the car keys and the car of course.
A way to stop the car from your smart phone would be effective and another threshold to steal the car and get away with it.

SCW-Greg · Aug 24, 2012

Adm said:
... A way to stop the car from your smart phone would be effective and another threshold to steal the car and get away with it.

Or enabling pranksters the ability of random disabling real Model S cars and their drivers out on the road.

NigelM · Aug 24, 2012

It's a feature of OVMS to track a Roadster (that has OVMS installed), and if some hard working Tesla owners can come up with that in their own time I'd be very surprised if Tesla couldn't do the same thing. If "Valet" mode is PIN controlled that should be easy too (OVMS and Tattler both have that remote feature).

DriverOne · Aug 24, 2012

I heard the battery takes less than ten minutes to change out. Is that an item susceptible to theft?

NigelM · Aug 24, 2012

DriverOne said:
I heard the battery takes less than ten minutes to change out. Is that an item susceptible to theft?

Only if you first stole the lift and the proprietary tools from a Tesla service center. Also it's not something that could be done in the street, so you'd have to steal the car first. The battery is also very heavy (over 1100lbs IIRC) so you'd need several guys to lift it (or a forklift) and a truck to transport it away.....but who would you sell it to?

MikeK · Aug 24, 2012

Adm said:
As more (luxury) cars get sophisticated anti theft alarms, stealing the key is the easiest way to steal the car. Car thieves will burglarize a house to steal the car keys and the car of course.

The guy who burglarized Steve Jobs' house apparently stole the key to the Mercedes SL, but didn't take the car. Maybe he grabbed it by accident, or maybe he planned to come back. Anyway, just a nugget of trivia.

unclfuzzy · Aug 24, 2012

I'd be more worried about someone (an angry ex?) getting access to the app while I'm in the car than stealing the car while I'm not.

NigelM · Aug 24, 2012

unclfuzzy said:
I'd be more worried about someone (an angry ex?) getting access to the app while I'm in the car than stealing the car while I'm not.

Password protect your phone and be nice to your ex. :wink:

wycolo · Aug 24, 2012

> The thief would need to have the key fob in their pocket. [wpetefish]

Unless you chose the High Tech package, you just get a regular key (apparently what I ordered).
--

Doug_G · Aug 24, 2012

wycolo said:
Unless you chose the High Tech package, you just get a regular key (apparently what I ordered).

No, the key fob is the same for all cars. The tech package just makes it more automatic.

rdunniii · Aug 24, 2012

If someone really wanted to steal the car the easiest way would be wheel rollers and a flatbed. Not something amateurs would do. Stealing an S until there are a good number of them on the road would be really stupid unless the thieves have something specific in mind like using it in a bank robbery or... No matter where in the world it showed up it would really stick out.

NigelM · Aug 24, 2012

rdunniii said:
If someone really wanted to steal the car the easiest way would be wheel rollers and a flatbed. Not something amateurs would do. Stealing an S until there are a good number of them on the road would be really stupid unless the thieves have something specific in mind like using it in a bank robbery or... No matter where in the world it showed up it would really stick out.

There's a plus side to buying a Signature!

stopcrazypp · Aug 24, 2012

Remote track (kind of like Lojack) would be useful. Not sure about remote kill as that is a security concern within itself.

Trnsl8r · Aug 24, 2012

stopcrazypp said:
Remote track (kind of like Lojack) would be useful. Not sure about remote kill as that is a security concern within itself.

I'm with that. Track yes, kill no. Accident risk is just too high.

Brian H · Aug 25, 2012

W.Petefish said:
The Model S is almost impossible to steal. The thief would need to have the key fob in their pocket. Even if they managed to get into the car, there is no switch to break, no wires for being able to hotwire the car since the authentication is done over CAN, and it has an immobilizer.

With having an app that can track the car, they'd have to have intimate knowledge of the car's inner workings in order to even think of messing with it. (not to mention at least a week plugged into the CAN busses.)

In my point of view, it is cost prohibitive. A thief would rather target a Honda or Toyota than Model S.

(BTW this has been documented in a white paper submitted by TM to an agency, I think it might have been the NHTSA.)
(Docket# NHTSA–2011–0174)

IIRC, the hi-tech way is to read and poach the keyfob's activation signal when it is approaching/unlocking the door. Then trail the car home, use a re-broadcaster. Don't know if that would work with slightly more sophisticated "handshaking" protocols or not.

chmod a+wrx · Aug 25, 2012

Trnsl8r said:
I'm with that. Track yes, kill no. Accident risk is just too high.

I disagree....

It would be feasible to program it so that when the automobile is stopped that it shuts down....

- - - Updated - - -

W.Petefish said:
The Model S is almost impossible to steal.

I think this is really overstretching the technological feat demonstrated by Tesla here....

...to suggest that a computerized/electrical system can't be overcome by some fancy programming is really missing the boat....

I understand that trying to steal the Model S is unlike stealing any other conventional car out there.....but, honestly....an expansive imagination and some basic skills can outsmart 99% of computers out there these days.....

jerry33 · Aug 25, 2012

chmod a+wrx said:
...to suggest that a computerized/electrical system can't be overcome by some fancy programming is really missing the boat....

I understand that trying to steal the Model S is unlike stealing any other conventional car out there.....but, honestly....an expansive imagination and some basic skills can outsmart 99% of computers out there these days.....

All that is true but if you have the skills to do so, you'll make more at a real job then you will as a car thief. Theft hasn't been a problem with the Prius, so i don't think it will be a problem with the Model S.

dsm363 · Aug 25, 2012

I think a feature that could only be implemented by Tesla (owner would have to call in and verify who there were-not foolproof of course) that would disable the car after X number of miles. I could send a large message on the 17" screen "This car has been reported stolen by owner-you have 5 miles to pull over to a safe location".

Remote Kill & Track

Member

Active Member

Active Member

Active Member

Recovering Member

Member

Recovering Member

R#129, TSLA shareholder

Member

Recovering Member

Active Member

Lead Moderator

Member

Recovering Member

Well-Known Member

S85 2012-2018, X90 since 2016, 3 since 2018

Banned

Member

(S85-3/2/13 traded in) X LR: F2611##-3/27/20

Roadster + Sig Model S

Similar threads