VOA科学技术2024--How to Protect Your Car from Being Stolen

Most recent cars have an electronic key that lets the owner get into and start the car.

The electronic key is called a "fob" to those who know about the technology. The fob sends a short-range signal to the car. As the owner gets close, the fob unlocks the door.

But the new technology also makes it easier for criminals to open the car without the key.

When you lock your car and take the key with you inside your home, the fob does not stop sending its signal.

Thieves, who have special equipment known as scanners, will pass by streets with a lot of cars. If the scanner shows that a fob is sending a signal, the thieves use a device that clones the signal and opens the car doors.

Government officials around the world have asked carmakers to warn car buyers of the risks of the new technology. They also have asked them to make the fobs more secure.

Until then, what can you do to prevent your car from being stolen?

Steve Launchbury has some suggestions he shared with the Associated Press. He is the head engineer of automotive security company Thatcham Research based in Britain.

Place your key in a protective bag

"It's relatively² easy for drivers to protect themselves," he said.

The first tip is to put your key into a protective container or bag when you get home. One kind is called a Faraday bag. They are not very costly³. The bag is made from a special metal material called mesh⁴ that blocks the signal from the fob. Just do not forget to put any extra keys you have into that bag, too.

Some advice that is easy to find online says people should put their keys into the microwave or freezer to prevent their signal from being stolen. Launchbury said that does not work and it could harm your key.

Get a steering⁵ wheel lock

You may have seen large locks that go across the steering wheel in television advertisements many years ago. It turns out they are still useful. They may be considered "old school," but the presence of big locks that are easy to see makes car thieves turn away. The only problem is that you must take extra time to unlock the device and put it away before you can drive away.

Change the settings

Some car makers¹ permit owners to deactivate⁶ the signal sent out by the fob. For Ford⁷, Honda and Audi, owners can use their car's touchscreen system to find the correct way to turn off the signal. For Toyota, you can turn off the signal by pressing a combination of buttons on the fob.

Read your car's owner's manual to be sure how to do this.

Some car makers include motion sensors⁹ on their key fobs. If the fob has not been moved in a while, the fob turns off.

If you buy a used car, some experts suggest that you get your keys reprogrammed in case the earlier owner still has a key.

New theft techniques

Launchbury said some cars have a new system called a controller area network, or CAN. The network permits different parts, or components¹⁰, of the car to communicate with each other. He said some thieves are trying to join the CAN through some physical electronic connection to unlock the car. They can do this by removing a headlight and plugging in a device that lets them in the car's network.

The device can send a signal, such as "unlock" or "start" to the central system.

Launchbury said this is where the physical lock can cause thieves to change their mind and force them to move on. Owners can also consider electronic immobilizers. These devices prevent a car from moving even if a thief gets into the internal system. However, immobilizers can be costly.

Words in This Story

range -n. distance

thief -n. a person who steals

clone -v. (technology) to make a copy digitally

relatively -adv. when compared to other similar things

old school -idiom in an old way or used by older people

touchscreen -n. a flat electronic screen that people touch with their fingers and use to control a computer

manual -n. a book or file that give instruction about how to use and maintain a device or product

sensor⁸ -n. a device that identifies a physical force such as motion, heat or light and communicates it electrically to another device

1 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

3 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

4 mesh   

n.网孔，网丝，陷阱；vt.以网捕捉，啮合，匹配；vi.适合； [计算机]网络

参考例句：

• Their characters just don't mesh.他们的性格就是合不来。
• This is the net having half inch mesh.这是有半英寸网眼的网。

5 steering   

n.操舵装置

参考例句：

• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration. 他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。
• Steering according to the wind, he also framed his words more amicably. 他真会看风使舵，口吻也马上变得温和了。

6 deactivate   

v.使无效；复员

参考例句：

• Russia is deactivating some of its deadliest missiles.俄罗斯正在拆除其一些最危险的导弹。
• I go through several complex steps to try to "deactivate" my profile.我尝试了那些复杂的步骤，试图“撤销”我的个人资料。

7 Ford   

n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过

参考例句：

• They were guarding the bridge,so we forded the river.他们驻守在那座桥上，所以我们只能涉水过河。
• If you decide to ford a stream,be extremely careful.如果已决定要涉过小溪，必须极度小心。

8 sensor   

n.传感器，探测设备，感觉器（官）

参考例句：

• The temperature sensor is enclosed in a protective well.温度传感器密封在保护套管中。
• He plugged the sensor into a outlet.他把传感器插进电源插座。

9 sensors   

n.传感器，灵敏元件( sensor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There were more than 2000 sensors here. 这里装有两千多个灵敏元件。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Significant changes have been noted where sensors were exposed to trichloride. 当传感器暴露在三氯化物中时，有很大变化。 来自辞典例句

10 components   

（机器、设备等的）构成要素，零件，成分； 成分( component的名词复数 )； [物理化学]组分； [数学]分量； （混合物的）组成部分

参考例句：

• the components of a machine 机器部件
• Our chemistry teacher often reduces a compound to its components in lab. 在实验室中化学老师常把化合物分解为各种成分。