The Achilles' security system is smaller, cheaper and less familiar • Does it provide cool protection and peace of mind from the younger generation that takes the family on a trip with the guys?
• We went out to check
Illustration
Photo:
GettyImages
Although a large part of the Israelis went to the IDF, there are some who unfortunately are still "workers" - car thieves. These have continued in recent months, and in some cases even increased the "output". Against the background of the increase in car thieves, who have already learned how to quickly overtake The connection to the car computer (via the OBD connection), offers the company "AKEYLESS" a comprehensive security solution for the car that protects the car from burglary on the one hand, and also provides upgraded detection capability. The new service, HUNTER, is offered at a significantly lower price than the old competitors in the market. For private customers as well as for commercial customers and car fleets.Cheaper is necessarily inferior? We went out to check.
Size does matter
The first thing that catches the eye in the HUNTER system is its size - the length of a pen and the width of about two, 4 times smaller than similar systems of "Ituran" for example.
The small dimensions and the fact that the system can interface with almost any wiring along the car, give the possibility to install it in a variety of places on the vehicle that thieves will have a hard time finding, under the rear wing let’s say.
One of the key elements in car theft is time: when a thief takes too long to break in and move the vehicle, many times he will just give up.
The fact that the system is not installed in the "classic" locations of these systems - under the lapel or under the hood - can make a thief think twice about starting to disassemble the entire car.
The technology - electronic blocking
The tiny system is equipped with a variety of sensors designed to minimize the possibility of burglary of the vehicle.
The central and perhaps most important element in the system is a component designed to prevent an external device from connecting to the vehicle computer and enabling propulsion.
Today, for a few hundred dollars, a device that can connect and hack into almost any car computer can be obtained through the diagnostic socket (OBD), where the code required for a specific car can be purchased on the black market on the Internet, down to the serial number level.
In new vehicles that are driven at the touch of a button - the break-in takes less than two minutes, and up to a minute to bypass the immobilizer.
The HUNTER prevents anything from the original vehicle key from connecting to the vehicle computer.
In addition, the HUNTER is equipped with a motion sensor that alerts if the vehicle is moving, a sensor that detects a shake in the vehicle, an alert for disconnection of the electrical voltage and of course - a GPS sensor that monitors the vehicle's position at up to 10 meters at any moment.
An internal backup battery keeps the component active even if the vehicle is not powered for several days.
Full control from the smartphone
A simple initial connection connects the HUNTER to the personal smartphone, via a dedicated app, which actually connects everything that happens in the car online - directly to the phone.
This includes all the types of alerts you can choose whether to receive via the app or via SMS message: moving or towing the vehicle, moving or shutting down, sharp driver behavior (speeding, etc.), changing door condition, long parking, on the immobilizer and more and more .
The app also allows you to predefine a geographical area in case the vehicle enters an alert, such as Area A, city or neighborhood definition - or any area that can be defined via the map in the app.
Through the app you can also track the car online, via the GPS map or via google maps, and see at any given moment where the vehicle is, at what speed it is traveling, when it stops and more.
You can also see the traffic history of the vehicle in a "video" on the map for the period that can be defined.
How it works in real life
Due Diligence: No attempt was made to steal my vehicle during the trial period, nor am I a skilled vehicle burglar.
I tried to simulate a number of situations in which the system would go into action, including: vigorous shaking of the vehicle, towing and moving the vehicle when it is off and locked in neutral, disconnecting the battery, exiting a defined area and driving slightly different from the so-called "administrative" (and not specified).
In all cases, even when the vehicle was in an underground parking lot under the building, the system immediately alerted to the exceptional situation.
In day-to-day running, I left the SMS alerts on only in a state of start-up or shifting, excess information can be oppressive.
Photo: Achilles
The surveillance system provided a number of more amusing moments (for me) or less - for my partner, who felt like “Big Brother” was watching her and monitoring her every move in the vehicle.
About her answer when I called to ask her to take a foot off the gas while galloping to Tel Aviv - I will not return here.
The surveillance system is of course not intended to track my partner's "performance" on the road, but addresses a situation where many parents like me find themselves: End the escort period - and take the family car for a ride with the guys. No parent wants to be the "big brother" of their children, and no boy or girl wants to be monitored. But just knowing that the installed system monitors their driving style makes them More aware of how to drive, and parents - a little more peace of mind.
The price - less than the market
Without going into details about the pricing of various brands, well-known or less in the field of car security, and for such and such promotions, according to our test, the "Achilles" system is significantly cheaper than most competitors: installation at the customer's home will cost NIS 499 including VAT. And includes warranty.
Summary: How much is peace of mind worth?
The new vehicles come with a variety of built-in safety systems, and more that the insurance company requires, depending on the type of vehicle and its price.
No system constitutes a hermetic defense, and even with those that, unlike the Achilles, offer a manned center - it is worth finding out: how many scouts are there, where they are located and how many cars are in their jurisdiction.
The "Achilles" system is less common in the institutional vehicle market, for reasons I can only assume, because technologically and in terms of user experience it does not fall short of the competition - and even surpasses some of them.
And yet for the private client it is an additional expense, though not particularly high, beyond the standard insurance and safeguards.
Is it worth the peace of mind from stealing the car or lending it to the younger generation?
It is an individual decision, for us the answer is clear.
