Y'all bother with Faraday Boxes for your keyfobs?

[lauren01]

Yes I use a Faraday pocket the size of the palm of my hand when I’m running errands with either the truck or Integra. Got too many options that insurance will ignore if there’s a theft.

My wallet uses RFID blocking material too.

Sponsored

 

[gpburdell]

Not a huge fan of "fear" videos, but it would realllly suck to wake up and find my truck gone, and I wouldn't put it past my neck of the woods. That said --and this is a really stupid reason-- I kinda like where the key rack currently is in the house, right inside the garage door (about 30 feet from the front door) and like it better than the idea that we have some dumb box we chuck our keys in and keep closed when we're home.

They aren't expensive (around 20 bucks on Amazon), just checking the room to see whether y'all bother or not?

Unnecessary with current key fobs which automatically go to sleep when they haven't moved for a few minutes. If truly concerned, force the fob to sleep and it won't wake up until a button is pressed.

See your owners manual:

 

[Danielc]

I have a faraday box that my family and I use for extra key fobs, and occasionally for our main fobs, but usually I just lock my fob and leave it attached to my belt on the dresser.

 

[dante116]

Saw this today:



Not a huge fan of "fear" videos, but it would realllly suck to wake up and find my truck gone, and I wouldn't put it past my neck of the woods. That said --and this is a really stupid reason-- I kinda like where the key rack currently is in the house, right inside the garage door (about 30 feet from the front door) and like it better than the idea that we have some dumb box we chuck our keys in and keep closed when we're home.

They aren't expensive (around 20 bucks on Amazon), just checking the room to see whether y'all bother or not?

I use the Faraday pouch I got on Amazon for our Tacoma. It's cheap enough so why not. I also added a bright yellow, double steel rod steering wheel lock (~$30), because I've also seen the videos where they can access the CANBus and start the Toyota that way, no fob needed. The bright yellow steering wheel lock could probably be defeated in 30 seconds, but it might just be annoying and noisy enough to make them move on to some other vehicle instead. Cheap deterrents. Of course, for a decent thief it's just a deterrent. But I'll take that over doing nothing and leaving it to chance.

 

[Bigt]

Most thieves don't clone keys. They use a tablet to program a new on that they have. The OBD port has power and connectivity when the car is off.

The attack goes like this.
Gain access (break window or slim jim)
plug in to obd port.
program new key to overwrite old keys.
wait 1-2 mins
start and drive away.

This attack works for almost all late model cars. Some cars have CanBus connections externally and you don't even break-in to program a new key.

 

[maxx075]

Hey, at least it isn't like the Kia's that can be hot-wired with a USB cable.

 

[Yotota]

No. Toyota fobs shut

Unnecessary with current key fobs which automatically go to sleep when they haven't moved for a few minutes. If truly concerned, force the fob to sleep and it won't wake up until a button is pressed.

See your owners manual:

I was about to post this same thing, and had an owner's manual screenshot ready.

Current keys have motion detection and shut off at night. There's no need for any other preventative measures.

 

[VBFD Taco]

So putting it in battery saving mode is not really needed either?

 

[Yotota]

So putting it in battery saving mode is not really needed either?

Nope. Not according to the owner's manual.

 

[gpburdell]

So putting it in battery saving mode is not really needed either?

I'd say it depends on the situation.

If I worked somewhere that there was risk of relay-attack and my fob's in my pocket I'd manually put it to sleep, since otherwise it'd keep waking up from movement.

Spare fob kept for months in a drawer that's opened regularly, I'd also manually put it to sleep just to save the battery.

At home on a key rack or side counter where it won't move until I'm heading out to the truck, I'd let it sleep automatically.

Looks like this auto-sleep feature is first documented in the 2024 owners manual, so I suspect it doesn't apply to 3rd gen models. I'm not taking any special care though being in the 'burbs with a very generic OR that nobody's taken any interest in the past nine years.

 

[Danielc]

Can anyone confirm that the 2025 SR5 Tacoma has the automatic sleep feature for its fobs? When I search online I only find info about the manual locking of the key fob. Maybe that feature is only in the higher trim models?

 

[gpburdell]

Can anyone confirm that the 2025 SR5 Tacoma has the automatic sleep feature for its fobs? When I search online I only find info about the manual locking of the key fob. Maybe that feature is only in the higher trim models?

It's mentioned in the 2025 owners manual - see above screen shots.

and with no caveats about just some trim levels, I'd expect it to apply to all.

 

[FossilHunter]

It may not be needed but I figure the box is easy, I was gonna drop my keys in a dish anyway might as well have the extra layer of security.

But as others have mentioned if you live in a place where you have extra reason to be concerned there are other methods thieves will use so you probably want OBD port locks, and a club on the wheel, and kill switches, and snipers on watch, and all that. Based on all the stories that get posted it sometimes feels like the folks within a certain radius of the southern border need to park in armored bunkers. (Especially the Canadians on their southern border, gotta look out for all the Americans after their mudflaps )

Ultimately its all just whatever extra protection gives you enough peace of mind that you feel safe parking where you do and then have good insurance that will cover you if anything does happen. No amount of precaution will stop a sufficiently determined and prepared thief, but good insurance should always make sure you can get another vehicle if a thief succeeds or damages your vehicle while trying.

 

[gpburdell]

Yeah, everyone should do what they feel comfortable with.

Fob on my '17 doesn't auto sleep and I don't worry about it. It's not what I'd consider a high demand target, and although it's parked outside, there's so many much easier or attractive targets.

Sponsored