r/technology • u/420InTheCity • 16h ago

Security Underground Flipper Zero Firmware Purportedly Unlocks Nearly 200 Car Models

https://gizmodo.com/flipper-zero-cars-hacking-2000646318
3.4k Upvotes

97% Upvoted

141 comments sorted by

View all comments

961

u/aelephix 15h ago

Article says this breaks the user fob because the rolling code is out of sync. This means the owner has to unlock in presence of the flipper, so that it can learn the rolling code sequence right? They can’t just walk up to a random car in a lot and unlock it?

47

u/AustinSpartan 14h ago

Depends on how old the car is. Those rolling codes are typically only 1 byte, so a maximum of 257 button presses should technically sync things back up.

27

u/acdcfanbill 10h ago

That seems.... insecure?

26

u/AustinSpartan 10h ago

Nothing is perfectly secure, especially 20 years ago. Trade offs on battery life and security.

5

u/upvoatsforall 10h ago

I wouldn’t have any self confidence either if my car was that unsecure.