Tesla mitigates car-stealing key fob problem

Hackers can easily clone key fobs on Model S Teslas sold before June, according to researchers at KU Leuven university in Belgium.

The details: As the researchers outlined to Wired, the old key fobs used 40-bit encryption. "40-bit" describes the size of the cryptographic key used to secure the system. Each bit makes it exponentially more difficult to hack.

• To prevent an attack, owners of older Teslas can either now set their cars to require a PIN before starting or replace their fobs with the souped-up new one.
• 40 bits is not enough. The KU Leuven team reverse engineered Telsa's security system, and with the help of a few hundred dollars in technology, their technique can guess the key.

Be smart: If you have a Model S, set up a PIN or get a new fob.