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A team of students from Johns Hopkins University has successfully cracked the RFID (radio frequency identification) chips used in cars to prevent theft.

The Texas Instruments-designed RFID system is currently used by Toyota, Nissan, and Ford. Vehicles equipped with the system won't start unless a key equipped with an RFID chip is used in the ignition. IT Observer reports:

"Matthew Green is part of a team that has announced that it has cracked the security behind the "immobilizer" systems used in many modern vehicles, and created by Texas Instruments. The immobilization systems reduce car theft by only starting a vehicle when it recognizes a tiny chip in the car key. They are in use by Ford, Toyota and Nissan.

Texas Instruments executive Tony Sabetti denies that cracking the vehicles is possible, saying that they "have been fraud-free and are likely to remain fraud-free."

However the researchers disagree. In a demonstration, the researchers were able to stand next to someone holding a valid key for just 1-2 seconds, about an hour of number crunching and then the car was completely theirs for the taking.

The implications of the Hopkins finding go beyond stealing cars.

The security technology is widely used for everything from highway tools to credit cards and inventory tracking."

The students, led by professor Aviel D. Rubin, feel they were providing a much needed service: ensuring security measures provided by technology companies actually works.

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