Baltimore sues Hyundai, Kia over spike in car thefts

Re:Baltimore sues Hyundai, Kia over spike in car thefts by harimau777 on Friday May 12, 2023 @10:20AM (#35916746)

I'm not a lawyer, but as I understand it, this sort of thing is generally based on a reasonable person standard. I.e. would a reasonable person assume that if their car requires a key to start, then it cannot be started with something as trivial as a USB key?

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Re:Baltimore sues Hyundai, Kia over spike in car thefts by Fatnino on Friday May 12, 2023 @02:56PM (#35920613)

I keep hearing this vague claim that the cars can be started with a usb key. How does this work? Is there a usb port that reads some secret file off the USB key? Is it just the USB plug shape that fits somewhere in the car that forces it to turn on?

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Re:Baltimore sues Hyundai, Kia over spike in car thefts by moffkalast on Friday May 12, 2023 @03:15PM (#35920887)

Here's a demonstration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTeVgfPM0Xw

Apparently it's more of a joke, you can do it completely bare handed if you don't mind tearing some plastic and manage to grab a finicky bit. The cars have no immobilizers at all apparently.

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Re:Baltimore sues Hyundai, Kia over spike in car thefts by mattkrause on Friday May 12, 2023 @03:32PM (#35921141)

I think (not a car thief!) that starting the car just requires turning something approximately USB-shaped; the electronics in the key don't matter.

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Re:Baltimore sues Hyundai, Kia over spike in car thefts by toast0 on Friday May 12, 2023 @03:15PM (#35920875)

As I understand it, USB-A plugs fit the ignition lock cylinder and will turn it. Unknown if you have to flip it and reverse it a minimum of two times before achieving usb-a super position and being able to plug in.

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