Start Kia's With a USB Cord?

[ldusseau]

I just saw in the news today there is a "TikTok challenge" where they showed how to start a vehicle with a USB cord. There was scant information in the article regarding which models were vulnerable (2008 and later? That's a lot of cars!), probably because they didn't want to jeopardize any more vehicles. The video supposedly was taken down but of course there are now copycats on other social media sources. Prospective thieves are breaking windows and if they aren't successful they are destroying the steering columns in the process. The only advice was to "park in well lit areas, put in garage, etc. Anyone else heard any more? The last thing I want is to drive to an event and have someone target my beautiful GT2.

 

[G70LEbyAdoom]

I just saw in the news today there is a "TikTok challenge" where they showed how to start a vehicle with a USB cord. There was scant information in the article regarding which models were vulnerable (2008 and later? That's a lot of cars!), probably because they didn't want to jeopardize any more vehicles. The video supposedly was taken down but of course there are now copycats on other social media sources. Prospective thieves are breaking windows and if they aren't successful they are destroying the steering columns in the process. The only advice was to "park in well lit areas, put in garage, etc. Anyone else heard any more? The last thing I want is to drive to an event and have someone target my beautiful GT2.

well create a USB drive via the instructions in the video and see if it will start your car. if it doesn't, then you don't have to worry about it being stolen.

 

[ldusseau]

Nothing like giving more views to the problem video...

 

[G70LEbyAdoom]

Nothing like giving more views to the problem video...

Well, as someone who works in this specific field, you have to re-create the problem to be able to fix the problem.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Well, I never heard! (which is normal) Hopefully this is only a piece of clickbait, in other words not destined to become a common thing.

 

[stoopid]

Well, I never heard! (which is normal) Hopefully this is only a piece of clickbait, in other words not destined to become a common thing.

It's is a common thing, hence the national news stories.

I've read a couple articles on the issue (but have not watched the video or other copycat videos in question). It would seem like a valid issue [removed slightly erroneous assumption from this post]. Also, many reported cases are kids going for joy rides. Similar to guns in the wrong hands, giving a kid unfettered access to a vehicle is a recipe for disaster.

 

[oddball]

I'm not bothering to spend more than 10 minutes looking for details......
It appears there's a USB shaped port hidden inside the console on some models that bypasses the tumblers in the ignition lock.

So it needs to be a model that uses a standard key (not a keyless car), doesn't have an immobilizer, and has that port thingy. I might have to do some poking next time I'm at the junkyard to see what's up with that port and just WTF they were thinking with it.

 

[G70LEbyAdoom]

I'm not bothering to spend more than 10 minutes looking for details......
It appears there's a USB shaped port hidden inside the console on some models that bypasses the tumblers in the ignition lock.

So it needs to be a model that uses a standard key (not a keyless car), doesn't have an immobilizer, and has that port thingy. I might have to do some poking next time I'm at the junkyard to see what's up with that port and just WTF they were thinking with it.

with that being the case, then we dont have to worry about it as none of our cars have a turn key ignition anywhere. case closed.

 

[ldusseau]

Well, I never heard! (which is normal) Hopefully this is only a piece of clickbait, in other words not destined to become a common thing.

I read a few articles this morning that indicated Kia and Hyundai vehicle-specific thefts were increasing. Not clickbait.

 

[ldusseau]

I'm not bothering to spend more than 10 minutes looking for details......
It appears there's a USB shaped port hidden inside the console on some models that bypasses the tumblers in the ignition lock.

So it needs to be a model that uses a standard key (not a keyless car), doesn't have an immobilizer, and has that port thingy. I might have to do some poking next time I'm at the junkyard to see what's up with that port and just WTF they were thinking with it.

Thank you. Why that information couldn't have been included is beyond me.

 

[JSolo]

Details are indeed scant, but my understanding is cars using keyed ignition cylinders have no immobilizer function built in. That is key doesn't need to be validated by the ecu to unlock fuel/ign. They peel the steering column to break some part of the lock cylinder, then because of the shape of the key hole, it apparently accepts a male usb type A shape (rectangular), rotates unrestricted to the start/run position.

As mentioned earlier, keyless ign is a bit more for the amateur thug to 'hotwire'. They require a properly authenticated radio signal instead. Which, in the hands of the pro is quicker and easier to steal than the usb cord method

Make sure you all carry comp coverage on your insurance with a low deductible.

 

[JSolo]

Here's an article I found mentioning similar as my post above. Be sure to read the comments.

Years ago we used the club. Maybe time to do so again. Won't stop, but slow them down slightly.

Kias And Hyundais All Over The Country Are Getting Stolen By People With USB Cables - The Autopian

Kia and Hyundai vehicles are being stolen at a record rate. The reason? The automakers' vehicles are so easy to steal that you can do it with a USB cable.

www.theautopian.com

 

[stoopid]

What sucks about this is the dumbasses who will target ANY Kia, because anyone droopy lipped enough to try this isn't going to much bother with 'details' and 'exceptions', they'll just see a Kia and give it a whack. FFS

 

[JSolo]

6Mt's ftw. I recall reading some online news articles about folks getting car jacked. Thief passed on the car because it was a manual and couldn't drive it.

 

[Transmetal]

I work at an Impound lot. This is not fake news, this is real. We went from literally zero Kia/Hyundai stolen to insane amounts of cars coming in for this. Between 3 shifts yesterday, I probably edited paperwork for about 35-40 stolen Optima, Forte, Seltos, Soul, Elantra, Sportage Tucson and various other models of Hyundai's and Kia's. Like I said, we went from basically zero to 40 or more per day. All the cars have actual keys. One Kia Sportage was stolen and it crashed into a Toyota killing an 80yo woman.

I have yet to see a Telluride or Stinger or any more expensive model come in for this. The dashes are usually ripped to pieces and you'll always find a USB or a cell phone charger in the ignition. This is basically like the new Honda Civics of old when people used to tear out the ignition and use a screwdriver to start them. It's mainly just kids but my coworkers Mom who works at a school had her Elantra stolen using this method and the thief who ended up getting caught was much older. So I think it's trending towards anybody and everybody doing it cuz it's easy and they can.

The crazy part is I didn't think newer 2020, 2021, 2022 Kia's would still be having regular ignitions but the multiple Seltos and Forte's that came in yesterday would say otherwise.

 

[stoopid]

6Mt's ftw. I recall reading some online news articles about folks getting car jacked. Thief passed on the car because it was a manual and couldn't drive it.

I remember that (true) news story for a couple years ago.

 

[bfglitch]

I remember that (true) news story for a couple years ago.

The first time I brought a couple of my co-workers to lunch in my xB, one of them commented "I see you have a millennial anti-theft device"...."a what?" "A manual transmission". Totally believe it.

 

[ScorpionStinger]

I work at an Impound lot. This is not fake news, this is real. We went from literally zero Kia/Hyundai stolen to insane amounts of cars coming in for this. Between 3 shifts yesterday, I probably edited paperwork for about 35-40 stolen Optima, Forte, Seltos, Soul, Elantra, Sportage Tucson and various other models of Hyundai's and Kia's. Like I said, we went from basically zero to 40 or more per day. All the cars have actual keys. One Kia Sportage was stolen and it crashed into a Toyota killing an 80yo woman.

I have yet to see a Telluride or Stinger or any more expensive model come in for this. The dashes are usually ripped to pieces and you'll always find a USB or a cell phone charger in the ignition. This is basically like the new Honda Civics of old when people used to tear out the ignition and use a screwdriver to start them. It's mainly just kids but my coworkers Mom who works at a school had her Elantra stolen using this method and the thief who ended up getting caught was much older. So I think it's trending towards anybody and everybody doing it cuz it's easy and they can.

The crazy part is I didn't think newer 2020, 2021, 2022 Kia's would still be having regular ignitions but the multiple Seltos and Forte's that came in yesterday would say otherwise.

Unfortunately a majority of the morons that tok tik do not have the mental ability or intelligence to discern between a push button start Kia and a key required Kia..so in my mind no Kia is safe. So I am sure there are push button start Kia's out there that have had attempted break ins and related damage just because of the Kia badge.

I am stressing because I have to go to Milwaukee WI this Friday and rent a UHAUL to move my adult recently graduated from college son to a new crib. Trying to work out a deal with UHAUL to park my baby in one of their storage units for the duration of my four hour rental. The fear is real for me and it is a sad state our society is in...social media....the destruction of society as it was known years ago. Off my soapbox now...post is strictly IMO.

 

[JSolo]

Take an uber to the uhaul place?

 

[ScorpionStinger]

Take an uber to the uhaul place?

I live 100 miles away in a small resort town - so unfortunately no Uber for me.