Immobiliser

Immobilizers are devices on motor vehicles which are designed to prevent these can be taken in an unauthorized operation. A distinction mechanical immobilizers, electronic immobilizers and including involuntary immobilizers.

Mechanical Immobiliser

• The so-called anti-theft device is mounted on the steering wheel lock means that it is not possible to turn the steering wheel. In another construction, a steel rod between the steering wheel and a pedal is spread, so that the pedals can not be operated. Although these simple methods are not easy to use, but have the advantage that they are inexpensive and easily visible so that thieves of opportunity may be held.

• The gear shift lock is firmly in the center console to the body by means of demolition screws. The operation is made by inserting a steel pin. This blocks the movement of the transmission in reverse gear. Even cars with automatic circuit can be protected in this way in the position P Parking. The lock is equipped with a hardened lock.

Involuntary immobilizer

The so-called valve guard brings the air to the tire when the bike is 200 m to 500 m totally for the escape. This immobilizer is used by municipalities and regulatory agencies to call on delinquent customers to numbers (eg, motor vehicle tax, caution money). Critics argue, however, that the valve guard can be a hazard if it is not noticed or vehicle-mounted warning was removed as an empty tire complicates the control of the vehicle and can cause accidents. The major disadvantage of the valve guard but in particular the possibility to make it inoperable by driving slowly. To open the valve, the valve guard requires a sufficiently powerful centrifugal force, but which is reached only after about 15 km / h. So you can set a fixed with a valve guard vehicle continues to move by driving at walking pace. Furthermore, the valve guard does not prevent the driver from changing the wheel. Many municipalities that use the valve guard for a long time, consider this approach because of the high loss factor for failure. The trend since around 2005 to parking claws ( wheel clamps ) that make any movement of the vehicle and also a changing of the tire impossible. For such purposes, even partial wheel clamps are used, which are clamped and blocked by the police about the wheels.

Electronic immobilizer

The term immobilizer is meant in most cases GST, electronic immobilizer. This goes back to the Allianz Center for Technology initiative, the installation of electronic immobilizers in the 1990s after their standard demanded by the manufacturers.

Since 1 January 1998 the cars newly registered in Germany must be equipped with an electronic immobilizer ( § 38aStVZO ). Even before other insurance immobilizers have called and deductions in the case of theft associated with it, as the car thefts increased rapidly especially after the end of the Cold War.

The immobilizer is automatically activated after switching off the ignition. In order to put them when the ignition is again out of order, an RFID chip is usually used. Individual car manufacturers were also a key ring with galvanic contacts or a number keypad with PIN code. Ultimately, passive RFID transponder in the key have generally enforced.

First generation

The first models of the immobilizer from around 1991, as well as retrofit systems worked in most cases, after the so-called " triple-circuit interruption ." These interrupts usually via relay:

• The ignition
• Fueling
• The starter

The three-circuit interruption provides only moderate protection and is easy to overcome for thieves, since only the relay must be bridged again. However, this cost so much time that amateur thieves are deterred.

Second generation

More modern immobilizer (starting about 1994) no longer work with the three-circuit interruption, but give the engine control unit via an electronic communication a release without the engine will not start. This communication usually takes place over the vehicle bus system (now mostly the CAN bus) and is more or less strongly encrypted.

The use of RFID chips in the keys are in most cases, simple read-only transponder, as they are also used for the identification of animals and only a fixed serial number cyclically send in plain text, or rewriteable transponders which an identification number can be assigned.

The immobilizer may itself be a separate control unit or integrated into another, in the majority of vehicles in the cluster, or the onboard computer.

Third Generation

In current immobilizer third generation, both the communication between the RFID transponder and immobilizer to authenticate the authorized driver by its key, and the communication between immobilizer and engine control unit to release the vehicle is protected cryptographically.

Alcolock

A Alcolock is the technical connection of an electronic immobilizer with an apparatus for breath alcohol analysis. It is designed to prevent ignition interlock by means of a car driving under the influence of alcohol.

See → Main article: Alcohol Zündschlosssperre

View

The race between car thieves and car manufacturers will probably go on and the systems to prevent theft will always have to be further developed. These would be because:

• Immobilizer with even deeper integration into the vehicle electronics so that a stolen vehicle is virtually worthless
• Alarm systems to deter the thief
• Systems for the retrieval of stolen vehicles via GPS and GSM

Immobilizer systems include not only electronic components also hardwired software and may pose operational business secrets. Under certain circumstances, therefore, the ownership and use of devices with which such systems can be overcome, punishable in many countries, for example in Germany according to § 17 UWG or § 263a StGB.

In the fourth generation of the immobilizer electronic chip in the key or in the speedometer be integrated. This chip contains a digital key, without which the car will not start. An algorithm verifies the correctness of the key. Only if it is correctly identified the vehicle may be started.

The problem here is that it usually is, according to security experts a repeatable key, which is easily recorded by thieves or radio keyloggers today at the opening of the cars while they're blocking the signal to close the car with a jammer. The solution here to make expected only next-generation systems is that with the auto - generated from a safe box out, himself a one- time pad random codes work, which are transferred periodically in the key and eg only for every minute of the day are even valid.

Principle, however, could save enough one- time pad code from the factory, car keys already, ranging over the entire life of the car, especially since the necessary data for memory chips cost only pennies today in GB size.

A large trade with technical spare parts and reprogrammed ECUs will take place at home and abroad. After the immobilizer fourth-generation already the fifth generation immobilizers are now installed in modern vehicles. Now that there are some foreign companies who have specialized in overcoming immobilizers, it is only a matter of time before this technology is obsolete.

Terms of Use

Carrying a device to overcome electronic immobilizer can be a criminal offense.