ENGINE IMMOBILISERS

An aftermarket immobiliser is an electronic anti-theft device used to prevent unauthorised starting of a vehicle’s engine.

While similar in operation to factory-fitted immobilisers they differ in many areas such as -

1. They work independently to your factory-fitted systems meaning they are not influenced or disarmed by the presence of your vehicles key or is signal. With many modern theft methods exploiting the vulnerabilities of keyless entry and start systems this is important as it’s what makes them effective at preventing digital theft methods such as relay attack and key cloning.

2. Many modern immobilisers when paired with a tracker can utilise over the air communications, as such the vehicle’s engine can be immobilised remotely. You can find these product and more information on them below-

   Combined Tracker and Immobilisers

3. Most car engine immobilisers are passive systems that arm and disarm automatically without any input from the driver. This is achieved through proximity and communication of an ID tag. Unlike the factory vehicle key, the ID tag uses a different technology for communication, which makes it less vulnerable to signal relaying due to its security architecture. The increased theft rate of modern vehicles fitted with keyless entry/start systems is due to the vulnerability of the factory vehicle key's signal, which can be easily relayed to the vehicle at a distance.

4. At present when it comes to vehicles fitted with keyless entry/start systems, aftermarket immobilisers are superior to factory-fitted car immobilisers. Aftermarket immobilisers are not compromised with the use of modern digital theft methods such as ‘relay attack’. Any factory fitted immobiliser can now be disabled in as little 30 seconds, and that’s all the your vehicle’s factory security systems not just the immobiliser.

If you're looking to increase your vehicle's security, the aftermarket now offers many systems that are far superior to anything fitted at the factory. Unfortunately, vehicle manufacturers are well behind the curve in regard to the advances and threats made in vehicle theft techniques. Vehicle manufacturers are heavily invested in keyless entry/start systems, making it unlikely a transition to a different technology will come any time soon. As a result, vehicle owners are turning to the aftermarket for new advances in vehicle security products and technologies to secure their vehicles against theft.

Most modern automatic driver recognition (ADR) engine immobilisers arm and disarm with the presence of an ID tag. This ID tag transmits a signal that the immobiliser responds to either by arming or disarming. The process is proximity based so when the ID tag is out of range the immobiliser will arm, when the ID tag is present at the vehicle the immobiliser will automatically disarm and allow the vehicle to start.

This process ensures that vehicle starting authorisation is controlled by a unique ID tag that operates independently from the vehicle's factory-fitted systems. As the factory key signal can easily be relayed by thieves allowing them to gain entry and start your vehicle in as little as 30 seconds, its imperative to take control of the engine start authorisation by using an immobilisation process that works independently from the factory-fitted systems. This is what a modern aftermarket engine immobiliser is intended to do.

Currently, the authorisation process is more secure with an aftermarket proximity-based immobiliser. This is because the immobiliser and ID tag use Bluetooth Low Energy technology to communicate, which utilises a more secure signal compared to the technology used in a standard vehicle's factory remote. The latter can be relayed over long distances, which makes it easier to steal modern keyless vehicles. The security architecture built into the Bluetooth Low Energy signal used by these aftermarket immobilisers and ID tags is proven to resist signal grabbing and relaying or ‘relay attack’ which now accounts for 9 out of 10 thefts for vehicles fitted with modern keyless entry and start systems.

There are many car engine immobilisers available on the market. Most of them are simple one-circuit products with different arming and disarming technologies and procedures.

There are also CAN bus engine immobilisers available in the market, such as the well-known Autowatch Ghost 2, which uses a PIN sequence entered via existing vehicle buttons to disarm. The Ghost 2 is a TASSA approved product with a strong reputation and is recognised by UK insurers. We stock the Ghost 2 and can advise on whether it or one of our ADR proximity-based systems is the right fit for your vehicle and circumstances. Both approaches have genuine merits and the right choice depends on your vehicle type, how you use it day to day, and what your insurer requires.

Specialist Trackers UK also offers reliable, tried and tested modern proximity-based car immobilisers. These engine immobilisers are single-circuit and feature No Tag, No Start technology. The arming and disarming procedure is done automatically with the presence of an ID tag, no input from the driver of the vehicle is required.

The engine immobiliser arms automatically once the vehicle's ignition is switched off and the ID tag is out of range. The engine immobiliser then disarms automatically on approach to the vehicle with the driver bringing the ID tag back into range (<5m). The car engine immobiliser is therefore armed and disarmed via proximity of the ID tag and requires no input from the driver so is a completely passive system.

We offer stand-alone car engine immobilisers such as Meta AUTOBLOK for customers looking for an engine immobiliser product only and also offer combined systems that include both a tracker and immobiliser in one system such as Meta Trak S5 DEADLOCK and SmarTrack S5 iMOB.

Combined tracker and car engine immobiliser systems offer more functionality than stand-alone engine immobilisers as they can be controlled remotely via the telematics device (tracker).

In a combined system the engine immobiliser works much in the same way as mentioned previously for a stand-alone engine immobiliser, No Tag, No Start, proximity arming via ID tag etc. However, it can be controlled remotely so specific commands can be sent to the immobiliser directly such as to arm or disarm the immobiliser. This is useful in a theft situation whereby a command can be sent to the vehicle to arm the immobiliser when the vehicle comes to a stop, preventing it from being driven any further by thieves. Some systems can also override the presence of the ID tag when an arm command is sent to the car immobiliser, such is the case with Meta Trak's DEADLOCK range of products. For instance, if you were to go away on holiday and leave your vehicle key and ID tag at home, if your house was broken into and thieves presented the vehicle key and ID tag to your vehicle it would ordinarily start the engine as the engine would disarm with the presence of the ID tag. However, if before you left for your holiday you sent the command to arm the immobiliser remotely, this tells the engine immobiliser to arm but ignore the presence of the ID tag if it sees it. So this time if thieves break into your home, take your vehicle's key and ID tag and present those to your vehicle, it will not start as the engine immobiliser has been instructed to ignore it and remain armed.

All communication with the engine immobiliser is done through the tracker, which communicates via the mobile network. Emergency disarming of the engine immobiliser can be done via a secure Bluetooth link inside the product app in the event mobile network coverage is not available.

All in all, deciding on the best car engine immobiliser comes down to your own personal preference, budget, and what security you might already have in place on your vehicle. For instance, if you already have a tracker fitted but need or would like an engine immobiliser installed then maybe a stand-alone engine immobiliser such as Meta AUTOBLOK would be best suited and be the most cost-effective option. If you are looking at a complete aftermarket system such as a tracker and immobiliser system, perhaps for insurance requirements or your own needs, then products from Meta Trak's DEADLOCK range or SmarTrack S5 iMOB would fit the bill. Again, if you want remote engine immobilisation capabilities, you'll need a combined tracker and car immobiliser system to perform those remote commands.

If you're still unsure give us a call, we can answer any questions you may have regarding engine immobilisers and combined tracker and immobiliser systems. Click the 'Call Now' button in the top right of your screen and we'll get you onto the right product for you in no

Pairing your aftermarket car immobiliser with a Thatcham S5 tracker has great benefits.

Some of these benefits include remote immobilisation capabilities, extra security measures and other advantages through layering of security.

Remote Immobilisation

Pairing your engine immobiliser with a tracker can enable remote immobilisation functionality. As the tracker is connected to the mobile network, commands can be sent to the tracker over this network for it to then output to the aftermarket engine immobiliser. Such commands can instruct the immobiliser to arm and disarm, useful in theft situations. Once the vehicle has reached a standstill with the ignition switched off, an immobiliser arm command can be sent to the vehicle to stop the vehicle from being driven any further by thieves.

Extra Security Measures

Modern stand-alone proximity-based engine immobilisers normally require you to carry an ID tag for automatic arming and disarming of the immobiliser. As Thatcham category S5 trackers feature automatic driver recognition they also require you to carry an ID tag, operating both products as stand-alone products would require you to carry x2 ID tags, one for the immobiliser and one for the tracker.

Combining these two systems together enables you to carry just one ID tag but with dual functionality. A combined S5 tracker and immobiliser system uses the same ID tag for both arming and disarming the immobiliser and for driver recognition.

Some combined S5 tracker and Immobiliser systems can also have the system ignore the presence of the ID tag for extra security. For instance, if going away on holiday and leaving your vehicle’s key and ID tag at home, if your house were broken into and these two items presented to your vehicle then thieves would be able to start and drive it away. This is because the engine immobiliser is only looking to see the presence of the ID tag to disarm the immobiliser. However, if before you leave for your holiday you remotely armed the immobiliser this tells the system or the immobiliser to ignore the presence of the ID tag if it sees it. Now if the vehicle’s key and ID tag are presented to the vehicle while you are away the vehicle will not start as the immobiliser has been instructed to ignore the presence of the ID tag and stay armed until disarmed remotely.

Layered Vehicle Security

Layered vehicle security is a term used to describe installing different types of vehicle security measures into a vehicle to make vehicle theft more difficult. The combination of a category S5 tracker and an engine immobiliser is a good example of this. The first line of defence against a theft attempt would be the engine immobiliser, without the ID tag present the vehicle can't be started (keyless theft, relay attack etc.) If for whatever reason the vehicle is stolen, then the S5 tracker can alert to this and be used to locate and hopefully recover the stolen vehicle.

The advantages are clear for combining and layering your vehicle’s security measures –

- Increased resistance to vehicle theft with the use of an aftermarket engine immobiliser.

- Professional 24/7 monitoring and theft recovery service for Thatcham category S5 trackers.

- The combination of these two security measures produces a professionally tracked and monitored No Tag, No Start system.

- When purchased as an integrated system (S5 Tracker and Immobiliser) the benefit of remote engine immobilisation and extra security features can be enabled (versus using both as stand-alone products).

Vehicle Insurers are also now seeing the benefits of combining aftermarket engine immobilisers with Thatcham S5 trackers for theft prevention and vehicle recovery purposes. After mandating the fitment of solely Thatcham category S5 tracker for many years, insurers still had excessive amounts of vehicles stolen as trackers do not prevent theft of a vehicle. Vehicle insurers as of this year (2023) are now actively mandating that more and more customers install combined Thatcham S5 tracker and immobiliser systems to gain insurance against vehicle theft and ensure compliance with their policy.

After many installations of tracker and immobiliser systems nationwide, vehicle insurers are seeing results in regard to reduced vehicle thefts and failed recoveries.

Conclusion

Whilst stand-alone aftermarket engine immobilisers are effective at preventing modern vehicle theft, adding a professionally monitored Thatcham S5 tracker ensures peace of mind in the event the vehicle is somehow stolen. Without a tracker to track a stolen vehicle, it's very unlikely and very difficult to locate and recover it.

The combination of a Thatcham S5 tracker and engine immobiliser is the recommended minimum needed to prevent modern vehicle theft and to facilitate professional stolen vehicle recovery if required. Thatcham S5 trackers are professionally monitored and have direct lines into police control centres, which results in quicker and more confident police responses compared to reports from members of the public.

Factory-fitted engine immobilisers are electronic security devices installed in vehicles to prevent unauthorised individuals from starting a vehicle's engine. They are designed to deter theft and enhance the security of the vehicle.

How does a factory-fitted immobiliser work? (for older turn-key system, see the modern keyless systems below)

• A transponder chip with a unique identifier is embedded in the vehicle's key fob which is required to start the engine.

• When the key or key fob is inserted and turned to the "on/ignition" position, the immobiliser sends a signal to the Engine Control Unit (ECU).

• When you turn the key to start your vehicle, the ECU checks the code or identifier from the transponder against a database of authorised codes. If the code matches, the ECU allows the engine to start. However, if the code doesn't match or is absent, the engine remains immobilised, and the vehicle will not start.

• Immobiliser systems often have anti-tamper measures to prevent bypassing or disabling of the system. These measures may include immobiliser codes that change regularly or algorithms that make it difficult for thieves to replicate the transponder signal.

Whilst factory-fitted immobilisers have worked well since the 90s to prevent mass vehicle theft (although key cloning has become problematic over the last 10 years), even more so the recent adoption of keyless entry and start systems has rendered the factory-fitted engine immobiliser useless with today's modern theft techniques.

Factory-fitted immobilisers and keyless entry and start technology.

The main problem is that to disarm the factory-fitted immobiliser on a modern vehicle fitted with keyless entry and start technology you simply walk up to the vehicle with the key and all the factory-fitted security is disarmed after a handshake between the key and the vehicle. You need not do anything but have the key on your person and you’ll gain entry and be able to start the vehicle, albeit you’ll need to be very close to the vehicle with the key.

Thieves exploit weaknesses in modern keyless entry and start systems by using sophisticated transceivers to pick up your vehicle keys signal from inside your house, or wherever it may be, and transmit or ‘relay’ that signal to your vehicle. The vehicle’s systems are then fooled into thinking the key is very close to the vehicle and commences to deactivate the factory-fitted security including your quite complex 2/3 circuit factory immobiliser. Using this modern digital theft technique known as relay attack, thieves can gain entry and drive away with most modern vehicles in as little as 30 seconds.

What was once a reliable, tried and tested factory-fitted security device preventing opportunist theft for decades, the factory-fitted engine immobiliser can now be bypassed in little under 30 seconds with today's modern theft techniques.

As covered in many other ways in these ‘Engine Immobiliser Q&A’s’, the simple answer is independence.

Factory-fitted immobiliser.

A factory-fitted engine immobiliser fitted to a vehicle equipped with keyless entry and start technology simply requires the vehicle to see the key signal to disarm and allow the vehicle to be started.

This approach has led to exploitation by thieves whereby transceivers are used to pick up the key fob’s signal, amplify it, and transmit it and an increased range to the vehicle. This fools the keyless entry and start system into thinking the vehicle's key is close by, disarming the factory-fitted engine immobiliser and allowing thieves to gain entry, start, and drive your vehicle away all in as little as 30 seconds.

Aftermarket immobiliser.

An aftermarket proximity-based engine immobiliser or No Tag, No Start immobiliser/system works independently from your vehicle's factory-fitted security equipment and most importantly is not disarmed via communication from the vehicle's keyless entry and start system.

While the factory-fitted immobiliser basically uses the vehicle's now compromised (with modern theft techniques) key fob signal to disarm, an aftermarket proximity-based immobiliser uses a unique encrypted ID tag for the disarming procedure. This ID tag uses a more secure Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) signal to communicate with the aftermarket engine immobiliser, this BLE signal isn’t susceptible to the ease with which thieves simply relay the current RF signals used in modern vehicle key fobs due to its security architecture.

During a theft attempt with a vehicle equipped with an aftermarket proximity-based engine immobiliser, thieves can relay the vehicle's key fob signal and gain entry to the vehicle. By doing so they’ll also disarm all its factory-fitted security equipment but crucially they still will not be able to start it as the aftermarket immobiliser is still armed as the ID tag is out of range (likely inside your house). It’s also still armed because it doesn’t disarm in the presence of the vehicle's factory key fob signal, nor from communication from the keyless entry and start system, it works independently remember, the aftermarket immobiliser only disarms with the presence of the ID tag carrying that BLE signal. The thieves didn't have access to the ID tag, mainly because it was likely inside your house, they also won't even be aware you have an aftermarket immobiliser installed and also because they didn’t/couldn’t relay its signal to the vehicle in the same way they did with the factory key fob signal.

The fact that aftermarket immobilisers stay armed even when all your vehicles' factory-fitted security has been disarmed denies thieves the opportunity to steal your vehicle by exploiting the weaknesses in modern automotive keyless entry and start systems.

With all this in mind, we can now understand why aftermarket engine immobilisers have come full circle to now become the go-to security devices for combating modern digital theft methods such as relay attacks, key cloning and even software compromising via OBD attacks.

Its simple!

1. Select the product you wish to have installed and either add it to your bag or go straight ahead and purchase it.

2. Once purchased Specialised Trackers UK will contact you that same day to arrange a date and time for your installation.

3. Once your product has been installed your engineer will explain its operation and give you a demonstration.

4. Your all set and secure.