Alarm and VOC

[Raddish]

Just curious but wondered as to the function of both.

Today we drove to small carpark for a walk in some different country side. As I entered the carpark a couple in a small battered red hatchback followed me in, whilst we changed for the walk they sat in their car. It made me feel uneasy, I noted the reg and we had a lovely walk. I returned to find all good.

I wondered if they could
(A) get my keyless signal from my key and take car. Would I then be able to find the car using VOC app.

(B) if they broke into the car. Would VOC app tell me alarm was going off.

[nu11eaf]

They probably thought you were dogging and waiting for you to flash your lights.

The car does give you a warning message if alarm was activated.
Older keys can be hacked, newer keys shut down after about 30 minutes but it would still be possible to intercept a signal as the fob is being used.

[Raddish]

Thanks. The fob never left my pocket. I used the boot close+lock button to lock the car. Can fob signal still be cloned then?

I’ve had alert on phone when I shut the car and left it unattended and unlocked for 15 minutes in the garage.

[Cull06]

There’s a thread on this forum from 2018 where a member had their xc60 nicked via the keyless method. I haven’t heard of any other Volvo’s stolen this way but I think that’s more about Volvo’s not being targeted rather than them being any more difficult to steal via these means. (They aren’t seen as small, nippy getaway cars and there isn’t the same demand for parts on the black market when compared to Ford Fiesta/Focus.

Nevertheless if your car is keyless you should really take steps to protect your car. I use a key signal blocker-box thing.

The VOC app is not considered to be a tracker, for insurance purposes etc, as a professional thief would be able to remove it quickly. But it can indeed serve that purpose if your car is nicked by your average cled: -

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/w...e-19432337.amp

[nu11eaf]

Originally Posted by Raddish

Thanks. The fob never left my pocket. I used the boot close+lock button to lock the car. Can fob signal still be cloned then?

I’ve had alert on phone when I shut the car and left it unattended and unlocked for 15 minutes in the garage.

Not sure but as you can only use the boot button if the fob is within range I assume it still gives off a signal.

It is normal to receive an alert message if car left unlocked.

[Cull06]

Just to add. When the car is being used, you can’t see where it is on VOC. VOC can see its location their side and directly inform the police though. I haven’t seen/heard that scenario being used in practice though. And I know that the police attitude for stolen cars these days is ‘off you go, your insurance will cover it’ so I can’t imagine them waiting on hold to speak to VOC tbh.

[VOLVOL0VER]

Originally Posted by Cull06

Just to add. When the car is being used, you can’t see where it is on VOC. VOC can see its location their side and directly inform the police though. I haven’t seen/heard that scenario being used in practice though. And I know that the police attitude for stolen cars these days is ‘off you go, your insurance will cover it’ so I can’t imagine them waiting on hold to speak to VOC tbh.

totall agree with you

[techwatcher]

Originally Posted by Raddish

I wondered if they could
(A) get my keyless signal from my key and take car. Would I then be able to find the car using VOC app.

(B) if they broke into the car. Would VOC app tell me alarm was going off.

(A) Getting the signal from your fob and then replaying it wouldn't work as modern cars use rolling codes which change after every use. Keyless cars can be vulnerable to a so-called 'relay attack' where an attacker uses a device to boost the signal from the car such that the car thinks the key is within range even though it could be some distance away. Cars have been stolen from car parks using this technique.

(B) Yes, the VOC app would notify you if the alarm activated, providing the security notifications option was selected in the Profile section of the app.

[Tony Harrison]

Originally Posted by Cull06

The VOC app is not considered to be a tracker, for insurance purposes etc, as a professional thief would be able to remove it quickly. But it can indeed serve that purpose if your car is nicked by your average cled: -

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/w...e-19432337.amp

I have just checked with my insurer LV and they DO consider VOC to be a tracking device so your statement above is potentially misleading.

[Moonlanders]

Originally Posted by Tony Harrison

I have just checked with my insurer LV and they DO consider VOC to be a tracking device so your statement above is potentially misleading.

My insurer, Direct Line, did not. I had to get a separate tracker fitted.