Tyre Sensors Enable Undetected Vehicle Tracking, Warns Andorra Agency
Research reveals TPMS in modern cars broadcast unencrypted IDs, allowing cheap, stealthy driver surveillance without line of sight.
Key Points
- TPMS sensors emit unencrypted unique IDs receivable by basic radio equipment.
- Signals tracked 20,000+ vehicles' patterns over 10 weeks, penetrating obstacles.
- Low-cost ($100) roadside receivers captured 6M+ signals for movement surveillance.
- Experts urge encryption and authentication in future TPMS designs.
Andorra's National Cybersecurity Agency (ANC-AD) has highlighted new research showing that tyre pressure monitoring sensors (TPMS) in modern vehicles can enable undetected tracking of drivers.
The warning stems from a study by researchers at IMDEA Networks, working with European partners. Over 10 weeks, they analysed signals from more than 20,000 vehicles, uncovering a previously overlooked privacy risk. TPMS systems, mandatory in many countries to boost road safety, rely on wireless sensors in the tyres that transmit data to the car's onboard computer. Crucially, these sensors broadcast an unencrypted unique identifier, which anyone with a basic radio receiver can capture and use to recognise the same vehicle repeatedly.
Unlike camera-based surveillance, this method needs no line of sight. Signals penetrate walls and other obstacles, allowing discreet monitoring from afar. The researchers described it as cheaper and potentially more invasive than traditional tracking tools.
To demonstrate, the team set up a network of low-cost receivers—around $100 each—in roadsides and parking areas. They captured over six million signals, revealing drivers' movement patterns, such as daily routes and habitual schedules.
The ANC-AD emphasised that without safeguards like encryption or authentication, these sensors risk becoming tools for passive surveillance. Experts are urging car manufacturers and regulators to prioritise data protection in future TPMS designs.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources: