Revealed: car industry was warned keyless vehicles vulnerable to theft a decade ago

Experts ​alerted motor trade to security risks of ‘smart key’ systems which have now fuelled highest level of car thefts for a decade

• Gone in 20 seconds: how ‘smart keys’ have fuelled a new wave of car crime

The car industry ignored warnings more than a decade ago that keyless technology on modern vehicles risked a surge in vehicle thefts, an investigation by the Observer can reveal.

Legal and computer researchers claimed keyless entry and vehicle software would be “subverted” because of inadequate security.