Here’s how I understand the issue:
A keyfob is a radio Transmitter. To unlock your car you need the radio transmission to reach the car. The keyfob doesn’t transmit a signal when at rest. Therefore putting a keyfob in a Faraday bag achieves nothing.

  • FuglyDuck@lemmy.world
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    24 hours ago

    fobs don’t turn off. but the car sends a signal to the fob, the fob responds in kind. fobs don’t constantly transmit

    the farraday cage blocks the intial signal sent by the car. Or as already noted; by the guy standing near enough to get it. (frequently still outside the house.) who then relays it to a guy in/at the car.

    • CondorWonder@lemmy.ca
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      18 hours ago

      Yes I simplified. Some(? I’d hope all but probably not) new fobs do turn off (ignore the car broadcast) if they are not moved for a time. I proved this to myself with my 2020 car by putting my keys down by my car door, I could only unlock the car for a minute or two after I put it down, after that keyless entry didn’t work until I disturbed the fob to wake it up.

      This is to mitigate the relay attack at home (and I’m sure other times, like if the key is in a purse), one avenue was that attackers would count on people hanging their keys by the door, so accessible to selective standing on the stoop with a relay. By turning off at rest they can’t be exploited this way.