New technology arriving in Australia has the potential to allow a generation of tech-savvy thieves to break into cars and homes with the click of a button, police have warned.
Queensland Superintendent Robert Fleischer says the “Flipper Zero” and similar gadgets can be used to scan and copy electronic car keys and swipe cards.
The devices are capable of opening garage doors, stealing card information, crashing phones with bluetooth spamming, and controlling televisions.
Superintendent Fleischer said police recently seized a Flipper Zero scanner in Boondall.
He said the technology had legitimate uses, such as testing one’s home security, but could easily be used for nefarious purposes.
The police officer said the devices were legal in Australia and could be easily bought off the internet.
“It looks like a little gaming device, something you’d see a young child play, like a Nintendo device,” he said.
“We’re seeing this as an emerging technology, [since] overseas we’ve seen similar technology used to read the code on cars to gain access.”
He said residents should keep their keys, cards, and other devices in a safe place, as the Flipper Zero needed to be in close proximity to scan their code.
‘Like a game console’
Cybersecurity consultant Joshua Riesenweber said there were also powerful long-range devices that could scan from metres away.
The Division 5 co-director said the technology had existed for decades but it had become more widely available, easier to use, and more affordable, with some devices costing as little as $100.
“There are guides out there, and it is relatively straightforward just for someone with a bit of technical knowledge to be able to use one of those tools,” Mr Riesenweber said.
“Something like the Flipper Zero looks like a game console, so it does capture a lot of traction on social media.”
The Flipper Zero user interface features a cartoon dolphin, and users can work their way through levels on the device like a game.
Joshua Riesenweber says people aren’t aware of how easily their systems can be hacked.(ABC Radio Brisbane: Kenji Sato )
Mr Riesenweber said some hotels, homes, and electronic locks were full of vulnerabilities, while others had several layers of security to thwart would-be thieves.
The Canadian government proposed a ban on the Flipper Zero in February but has since walked back those plans.
Earlier this month, Flipper Zero’s creators published a blog post refuting claims the device could be used to break into cars.
“Instead of banning cybersecurity tools capable of finding vulnerabilities in security systems, these vulnerabilities must be fixed,” they stated.
Steering wheel locks offer protection
While some thieves may be going high-tech, Superintendent Fleischer said police data suggested one in three home break-ins still involved walking through an unlocked door.
But for homeowners looking to protect their property from technology like the Flipper Zero, Superintendent Fleischer recommended locking internal doors leading from the garage to the house, in case the garage door was hacked.
Superintendent Fleischer said people could always fall back on reliable, old-fashioned physical locks.
Police say traditional steering-wheel locks are still useful.(Unsplash: Dane Deaner He said car-wheel locks also served as an excellent layer of protection for cars with electric keys.
“It is very much a legitimate crime prevention tool, the good old club lock,” Superintendent Fleischer said.
“I know when I got my first XY falcon, my father gave me the good old club lock and it held me in good stead.”
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