BLOEMFONTEIN – Vehicle hijacking remains a significant challenge all over South Africa.
In the first quarter of 2025, police reported over 4 500 hijackings – an average of over 50 incidents daily. More than half of these crimes involve violence, and in some cases, the murder of drivers.
To address this growing threat, cybersecurity experts from Gazer have developed a practical checklist to help vehicle owners assess their car’s vulnerabilities, evaluate dealer expertise, and separate fact from fiction when it comes to vehicle security.
This checklist provides a basic audit of the most common security risks. While it offers valuable guidance, it does not guarantee complete protection against theft. For comprehensive security, vehicle owners should consult with cybersecurity specialists and consider implementing integrated cyber-defense systems.
- Is your key fob or keyless entry system protected from signal interception?
If you rely solely on your standard factory key to lock your car, your vehicle may be vulnerable to signal interception – commonly known as ‘code grabbing’ – or relay attacks, sometimes called ‘electronic fishing rod’ attacks. Thieves can intercept and extend the signal from your key fob, allowing them to unlock doors and start the engine even when you’re far from the vehicle. Modern keyless entry systems, while convenient, are particularly susceptible to these methods. Without a comprehensive security system, any vehicle remains a potential target.
Expert recommendation: Consider installing a cyber-defense system that includes secure tags for owner authorization. These tags use signals that cannot be intercepted or relayed. Without the tag present, door handle buttons on keyless systems will not respond. - Does your dealership manager provide comprehensive information about vehicle security?Many dealership managers focus primarily on standard factory alarms, overlooking real-world threats such as relay attacks, code grabbers, and other sophisticated theft methods. It’s important to note that the common belief that ‘installing third-party security systems voids the warranty’ is a myth – your warranty remains intact when installation is performed at authorized centers.
- Expert recommendation: Be cautious if a manager only suggests GPS tracking as a protection system or uses warranty concerns to discourage additional security measures. A knowledgeable dealer prioritizes prevention – stopping theft before it happens. They should recommend integrated cyber-security systems with features like owner authorization tags, engine-locking relays, and two-factor verification, rather than focusing solely on post-theft recovery options that may leave you searching for a damaged vehicle or navigating insurance claims.
- Does your vehicle require multiple steps to authorize engine start?
If your factory key alone is sufficient to start the engine and drive away, your vehicle faces significant risk. Without secondary verification methods – such as PIN entry using existing cabin buttons or an authorization tag – a thief encounters no additional barriers once they’ve obtained your key or executed a relay attack.
Expert recommendation: Install a comprehensive cyber-defense system with two-factor authentication (2FA). This might include entering a personal PIN using existing steering wheel or console buttons, combined with a secure wireless identification tag. - Is your engine compartment secured beyond factory settings?
If your hood relies only on the standard interior release lever, it represents a critical vulnerability. Once a thief accesses the engine bay, they can disable security systems within seconds by disconnecting the battery, damaging the siren, or replacing the factory Engine Control Unit (ECU) – allowing them to bypass nearly all electronic safeguards and start the vehicle.
Expert recommendation: Install an additional under-hood locking module. Combined with secondary hood locks, this prevents unauthorized access to the battery, ECU, and other vital components, effectively blocking bypass theft methods. - Does your security system alert you beyond a standard siren?
Factory sirens are passive defense mechanisms that passersby often ignore. Relying solely on a standard alarm may prove insufficient – you could be indoors, out of range, or unable to respond quickly enough. Even when you do hear the alarm, thieves can often disappear before you reach the vehicle.
Expert recommendation: Install a cyber-defense suite with a GSM module that maintains constant connection to a secure server. Any unauthorized activity – such as impact, vehicle tilting, or door opening – triggers an immediate push notification to your phone. If thieves attempt to use a signal jammer, the server detects the communication loss and instantly triggers an offline alarm.
Gazer’s experts emphasize that effective vehicle security focuses on prevention rather than post-theft tracking. This is why car owners should proactively consult with dealership managers about comprehensive security options designed to make theft virtually impossible.
If this checklist has revealed vulnerabilities in your vehicle’s security, take action now rather than waiting for the ‘right time’. Contact a specialist for a professional security audit or speak with your dealership manager today. Remember: the best security outcome is a theft that never happens.
