GPS Car Tracker

PROTECTION AND EXTRA SECURITY FOR YOUR CAR, PEACE OF MIND FOR YOU.

Make an informed decision for your car’s safety and your peace of mind today.

Unfortunately, even with most new cars having alarms built-in, it is still way too easy for them to be stolen. In the US alone, according to FBI data in 2020, 873,080 cars were stolen. This is a 9.2 % increase when compared with data from 2019. With rising economic uncertainty came an increase in auto thefts.

We treasure our cars, so it's time to stop relying on our instincts when it comes to their safety. Car thieves are always inventing new tactics for stealing autos such as keyless car theft (relay attack), cloned key attacks, radio frequency (rf) jamming, and OBD port theft attempts.

While there are so many new options for car thieves due to the rise in wireless devices, many are still using “old” methods of stealing cars as well. “Old” methods include breaking in and trying to push the car to a safe location, hot-wiring the vehicle, or simply robbing and burglarizing.

Car theft is occurring daily. We describe the methods car thieves are using a bit later in this article as well, but the point is this: It is up to us to secure our property. There are often situations when our livelihood depends on our vehicles , which is why we have to take it seriously.

Our number 1 tip (out of 10) to keep your car safe is to secure your car keys. Insurance information institute (III) reports there were 229,339 vehicle thefts that occurred with keys or fobs left in the vehicles between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2018.

Car security issues don’t stop at car theft. Our cars are exposed to damage and vandalism every day while being parked outside or even in parking garages. Even mechanics who are supposed to take care of our cars can sometimes do more damage than good.

Peace of mind is becoming quite a rare commodity.

Let’s highlight some of the options that are available to keep your car safer from theft or other unfortunate events.

1. ANTI-THEFT SOLUTIONS BEFORE CARLOCK GPS CAR TRACKER

1.1. STEERING WHEEL LOCK

The steering wheel lock functions as a visible theft deterrent system. Fixed on the steering wheel, it immobilizes its movement and prevents the possibility of the car being stolen. The tool usually includes a physical key for the system to lock. However, some locks can also be digitally coded.

Most steering wheel locks are brightly colored, which increases their visibility and prevents possible break-ins. As the system comes big in size, it is generally hard to break while it’s almost impossible to remove it without noise.

Despite its numerous benefits, this solution also has several disadvantages. Since it only disables the car from being manipulated via the steering wheel, it does not prevent the possibility of towing the car away. Furthermore, the installation often takes time and so does the removal. Also, not every company provides universal products, which requires time to find the right fit for a certain vehicle brand.

1.2. CAR ALARM

A car alarm is an electronic system installed in a vehicle, serving as a theft-deterrent and preventing unauthorized access into a vehicle. The most basic version of a car alarm combines at least three main components: a sensor, a siren, and a control unit. Sensors are installed in various parts of a vehicle and are activated by any vibrations and movements sensed on or inside the vehicle. Once the unusual movement is detected, sensors activate a siren, a noise-making feature. Many modern-day alarms come in a variety of more sophisticated forms and are equipped with advanced features such as a mobile notification system that provides notifications in the event of a theft-attempt.

The worrying aspect regarding car alarms, however, is the fact that people are becoming immune to car alarm noises due to a rising number of false alarms activated on a daily basis. This is especially the case in highly populated urban areas, where alarms can be activated just by passing trucks and other vibrations. False cars alarms, therefore, undeniably add to noise pollution. What is more, professional thieves familiar with car-stealing methods are capable of disabling most alarms in just seconds.

1.3. GPS CAR TRACKER/TRACKING DEVICE

A GPS car tracker is a small navigation device equipped with a GPS receiver that enables determining the position of the object the tracking unit is installed into. The position of the monitored object is determined with the help of reference points - the satellites that send information to the ground. Each tracking device is in charge of sending signals to satellites which then transmit the location details to a server. This makes it possible to display a specific object on a map, which can be done by any authorized person.

GPS tracking systems generally include the following crucial components: a tracking unit, a server that receives tracking information from satellites, and a user interface that enables displaying the location of the monitored object.

The demand for car tracker solutions has increased in recent years, primarily due to a dramatic rise of vehicle thefts in urban areas. GPS car trackers are primarily being used for security reasons - to obtain a car’s location and enable vehicle tracking in case of a theft. GPS car tracking systems also serve as a great fleet monitoring solution that facilitates vehicle tracking for any large car or truck fleet company. Moreover, car trackers can also be of great relief for parents of teenagers, especially if a car tracking solution provides reports of teens’ actions behind the wheel.

Back in 2013, only passive vehicle GPS tracking systems were available, meaning that the monitoring was possible only for the time when the vehicle was moving. Our aim was to build an active car tracking system that would be capable of providing real-time information and vehicle monitoring even when a vehicle is stationary.

2. HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT GPS TRACKING DEVICE

Today’s car trackers are capable not only of tracking, but they also include other features that are designed to make life easier and safer for you.

When you are buying a GPS tracking device, there are certain characteristics you have to consider.

If you are buying a GPS tracker for security reasons, you have to make sure the chosen system includes features that will provide your car with as much protection as possible.

2.1 EASE OF INSTALLATION

First off, what kind of device would you like? You can choose between wired GPS trackers, portable trackers, or OBD port GPS trackers. We touched on this in one of our previous blog posts already, but let's go more in-depth here and cover the advantages and disadvantages of each type of tracker.

2.1.1 HARDWIRED GPS TRACKERS

The hardwired option is a great solution for those wanting to install the car tracker in a hidden place. This way, the car tracking device is concealed behind the car’s interior and it’s almost impossible for anyone to tamper with it. It is connected to the vehicle’s electrical system, so you don’t need to charge it.

Since these devices are attached to a vehicle, they usually require professional installation which is costly and of course offers no flexibility as the unit cannot be moved or calibrated quickly.

2.1.2 PORTABLE

On the other hand, portable battery-powered trackers are the easiest way to monitor your parked car while travelling or when the car is not in use seeing as they don’t require installation. While being powered by a battery is this tracker’s biggest advantage, it could also be a major disadvantage since you would have to charge it regularly. Not to mention, using the battery-powered tracker to extensively record driving routes is not optimal; the battery has its limits.

2.1.3 OBD PORT GPS TRACKERS

Another option is using a plug-in OBD Connection. The OBD II port is a computer-based diagnostic system available in any car model manufactured after 1996. It is generally located under the car's steering wheel and it allows the repair technician to access the vehicle’s diagnostic information.

Connecting the plug-and-play GPS device is a very simple process. All you need to do is to find out the location of the onboard diagnostics (OBD) connector in your car and plug in your device. No tools are required.

If you would like to move the location of the device to an area of your vehicle where it won’t be as noticeable or you just want it out of the way, you can choose to buy extension cables for the OBD II port. These cables will plug into the port while also providing you with the additional length needed to change the location of the GPS tracker device.

Again, you’ll just need to plug the device into the end of these cables for it to start working. The installation of this car tracker is fast and easy.

With this option, you won’t need to charge the device and it doesn’t take much battery power. Your car can stay in the same place for weeks or even months without an OBD GPS tracker draining its battery. However, we would advise you to drive the car every week for battery health and general motor maintenance. This ensures that the oils, fluids and lubricants are circulating regularly.

2.2 FEATURES

When selecting features for your GPS tracker, the decision will come down to what attributes you are looking for. Is it only tracking? In this case, the refresh rate and real-time location will be the most important for you. However, if you are looking for some extra security features, take some time to think about these scenarios:

• Will I be notified if something happens such as another car hitting mine in the parking lot? What about vandalism?
• Will I know if someone breaks into my car and starts the engine?
• Will I know if they drive away and will I know where they end up? How quickly will I be notified if this happens?
• If someone notices the tracker and tries to disconnect it, will I know about it?
• Can I hide the tracker, so no one finds it?

Those are some of the most common scenarios. Some trackers on the market are missing certain security features that you might want to have so be sure to review the details of each offer thoroughly.

If you are more interested in car health, teen driving, or fleet management make sure these use cases are covered:

• Is my car battery charged and will I be able to normally start my car?
• How safe are my teens or the employees who are driving my car? Are they accelerating too fast, cornering, or braking too hard?
• Are they complying with the speed limit?
• Where did my employees or teens actually go and when? Did they go where they said they would?
• How long do I keep my trip history?

Those are some of the most common features that you might like to see your GPS car tracker have. There may also be some special cases where you would like access to other data as well such as oil control, fuel control, tire pressure, or geo zones.

Think about your use case and make a list of what is most important to you as pricing can change dramatically depending on the features. You might even have to choose another type of device (hard-wired, portable, OBD).

2.3 PRICE

It’s difficult to compare the pricing of different GPS car tracking options since some offer cheaper or even free devices (with more expensive monthly or yearly subscriptions) while other trackers are expensive but without a subscription.

Some have activation fees, and some have their subscription under a different name. There are also hardwired devices that are more expensive and require professional installation.

Be sure to calculate all costs (the device, activation fees, monthly or yearly subscription fees, one-time fees), and don’t succumb to marketing tactics. Think about what each service is

Keep in mind that it is unlikely for any service to be free. Pricing in this instance works similarly to the way your mobile phone does. (connectivity and sim cards). Make sure to double-check for any hidden (or low quality) costs if the offer seems too good to be true.

2.5 EASE OF USE and CONVENIENCE

The system you choose can’t help you if you are not using it. If possible, test out the web app and mobile app you will use before purchasing the tracker.

Experiment with the interface and ask yourself - is it intuitive? Do I see myself using it daily?

Does the chosen system offer you convenient and advanced possibilities such as a smart lock that automatically protects your car during the night?

What about Bluetooth tags that allow for hands-free arming and disarming?

The design and ease of use of the software will tell you a lot about the company that lies behind the product as well. Are they trying to make it easy for you? Are they making sure things run smoothly?

If so, they are more likely to take care of everything else you need as well.

2.6 NOTIFICATIONS

Next are some very important questions. How and when does your GPS tracker notify you of what is going on?

Do you get notified in-app both quickly and reliably?

Do you have the option to get SMS notifications? Can you receive a call when something happens?

These are all questions to consider as they have a tremendous impact on the usefulness of your tracker.

When choosing your device, make sure you look into all of the options that are available to you.

2.7 REPORTING AND LOGS

Having the option to review past data and logs could be very important. When making your choice, see if you have access to reports of your driving history and how far back.

Access to reports varies greatly between providers and depends on the plan you choose. A plan could offer only 30 days of history or to up to a year or more. You would likely have to pay extra for histories exceeding a particular time frame as most of the plans offer reports with limited information.

Sometimes it can also be useful to export reports; see if this is an option for you.

Perhaps you log your trips for tax purposes; a GPS tracker could make this easier for you.

Consider your needs and see which offer fits your desires and budget.

3. CARLOCK BRAND HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT

WHAT WAS MISSING - MOTIVATION TO CREATE THE CARLOCK GPS CAR TRACKER

If a GPS tracker is something you are thinking about investing in, we invite you to get to know CarLock, its history and development, and some other important aspects of car security.

We have industry-leading security features. It is highly likely you will come to find that CarLock is the best solution for the safety and security of your vehicle.

Back in 2013, only passive vehicle GPS tracking systems were available, meaning that the monitoring was possible only for the time when the vehicle was moving. Our aim was to build an active car tracking system that would be capable of providing real-time information and vehicle monitoring even when a vehicle is stationary.

3.1. Loud real-time phone notification

When CARLOCK entered the connected car market, only cheap car tracking solutions that provided basic functionalities were available for purchase. The existing GPS car trackers, mainly used by B2B fleet management companies, could only notify users of any changes via SMS, which might easily be ignored, and did not include the alarm feature that would be activated if any unusual event were detected on a vehicle.However, GPS vehicle tracking systems at that time provided call alerts directed via special calling centers. The calls were actually received any time the GPS system detected a possible issue, but customers were generally not favorable towards that kind of indirect communication.

As soon as Android and iOS operating systems enabled push notifications, CarLock engineers added an advanced real-time notification system to the CarLock app with the possibility of allowing loud alarm-sound alerts. In addition, a new notification system was designed to provide details regarding to every event that has triggered the alert.

3.2. Real-time location

At the time when CarLock car tracker was in development, most traditional anti-theft solutions, such as factory alarms or steering wheel locks, could not provide real-time location info. GPS tracker solutions that were able to do so were rare while the updates they provided at the time usually came with a long lag time, e.g. on a 5-minute basis or even later. The CarLock car tracker, however, enabled real-time notifications with a possible delay of max. 1 minute and the refresh rate of 30 minutes if the vehicle is stationary. Besides, the system also records the whole trip history, which provides access to the history of all notifications detected for any vehicle.

3.3. User interface via an easy-to-use mobile app

The GPS car tracker solutions once available on the market were mostly customised for fleet management, providing SMS notifications but not enabling any form of monitoring via mobile app. To check the vehicle location or manage the account, the user was required to log in via a personal computer. The CarLock team thus aimed to develop a more comprehensive system that would enable vehicle monitoring and account management simply via the iOS or Android app on the phone.

4. TYPICAL THEFT PRACTICES AND HOW CARLOCK CAR TRACKER DIFFERENTIATES FROM OTHER SIMILAR PRODUCTS

4.1. CAR THEFT WITH THE STOLEN CAR KEY

The simplest way to steal a car is to get its original key. This is usually one of a few non-invasive techniques, mostly suitable for older vehicles that still use regular old keys and are therefore unable to be hacked from the distance. This is often not an easy task since owners usually try to do their best not to leave their keys in visible places. However, if a criminal somehow gets access to the original key of the targeted vehicle, they can easily enter the vehicle and quickly drive it away. With the original car key having been stolen, the car anti-theft recognizes the criminal as the user, which, therefore, does not trigger the alarm.

4.2. CLONED KEY ATTACK

Another method that is also used for older vehicles is a cloned key attack. It usually happens near casinos or car repair shops, where car owners leave their vehicles for a longer period of time along with original car keys. This allows relatively easy access to owners’ car key fobs that can be stolen and cloned using a key fob duplicator. This machine actually enables copying the essential data to be used on another key fob. Once the key is cloned, the criminal returns the original keys to where they were stolen from and enters the car using the cloned car key fob to steal the vehicle. Since the cloned key fob contains the exact same data as the original one, the car is tricked into recognising it as the original was therefore responds to the “door lock” message.

4.3. OBD PORT THEFT AND RF JAMMING

Over the recent years, a great number of expensive vehicles have been stolen all over the world with the help of key cloning, usually performed via the OBD II port. The OBD II port is basically a computer-based diagnostic system available in any car model manufactured after 1996. It is generally located under the car's steering wheel and allows the repair technician to access the vehicle’s diagnostic information. This information is obtained via professional OBD readers any dealership and car repair shop usually uses. However, basic OBD readers can nowadays be purchased by anyone for less than $100. This somehow enables access to the most secure vehicle information practically to anyone.

Unfortunately, the OBD key cloning process has become a rather easy task and can be performed by professional thieves in just seconds. The hardest part of the process might be getting into the car without the alarm being activated. This might be done by smashing the side window using the end of the spark plug. Corners of side windows are actually considered “black spots” and breaking this part does not trigger the alarm.

As soon as the thief obtains access to the OBD port, the OBD reader can easily be connected to the OBDII port, which enables extracting a unique car key code within just seconds. This way, the programmed remote control can easily unlock the car and enable the thief to drive it away. The sad truth is the car key coding information is often not encrypted and thus easily accessible via the OBD II port.

Having your OBD port taken could be a good thing. This is because if a potential car hacker were to unplug your device and put their connection into the port, you would be notified immediately.

RF Jamming

However, nowadays, many thieves use even more advanced methods, such as jamming technology, to get into the car without causing any physical damage on a vehicle and easily access the OBD port. Jamming attacks can actually be performed on any car that uses wireless key fobs and work by disrupting communication between the key fob and the receiver inside the car. The jamming process requires a device that operates on the same frequency as the car remote, which can easily disturb the door lock message. Moreover, many cars nowadays do not come with manual key locks, which, in the case of a jamming attack, totally disables the user to safely lock the car.

4.4. SMART KEY RELAY ATTACK

Smart key car theft, also called the “relay attack”, has become one of the most frequently used car-theft strategies in recent years, and has drastically contributed to the increasing rise in car theft cases, especially in areas with cars being parked close to houses during the night.

The process is relatively simple and involves two thieves working together. It does not require expensive professional tools, but only two radio-frequency-based gadgets - the relay amplifier and transmitter - that are available for purchase on the black market. One of the thieves first places the amplifier as close as possible to the house to detect the signal from the key fob. If the signal is successfully detected, it is then sent to the transmitter placed next to a vehicle. The transmitter actually works as a key fob and fools the car into recognising alternative signals as the ones coming the original key fob. This can all be done in less than a minute and as soon as the car is unlocked, it can easily be started and driven away.

5. HOW CARLOCK GSP CAR TRACKER CAN HELP?

Traditional car alarms might not or even cannot detect any of the above-described advanced theft methods. The reason lies in the fact that the factory alarm automatically disactivates any warnings once the keysignal is detected - even the one transmitted via the transmitter during the relay attack process. The CarLock car tracker, on the other hand, detects any unusual car vibrations and will notify the user even if the car engine is started or vehicle has been moved. It also provides advanced trip tracking and enables its users to track the routes the car has taken. It is, therefore, considered highly effective vehicle protection that enables car users to react promptly once notified of any unusual activity being performed on their vehicles.