Latest “Game Boy” device linked to luxury car thefts in Japan (Nintendo unaffiliated) 

Japanese news outlets such as FNN Prime Online have been reporting on cases of luxury cars being stolen using the latest model of the so called Game Boy. The device can apparently use signals emitted by a car to unlock the doors and start the engine. 

The conventional methods used in keyless car thefts in Japan include relay attacks, in which radio waves from smart keys are intercepted and amplified, and CAN (Controller Area Network) invaders, which infiltrate the vehicle’s internal network and trick the car’s security system into unlocking the vehicle. 

However, a new device has been in circulation among car thiefs since the beginning of 2024. It is traded under the name Game Boy, and is described as a “key emulator.” While the Game Boy has been reported on in the past in relation to car thefts, it appears that a brand-new model is being used this year. This latest model is priced at 30,000 EUR or 4.9 million yen, and retailers of the Game Boy claim that it is only meant to be used as a backup for lost keys, emphasizing that use of the device for illegal activities is prohibited. 

Past Game Boy models are said to have had a cross-shaped button on the left side and two buttons marked “A” and “B” on the right side, with their overall shape being reminiscent of Nintendo’s handheld video game console of the same name. On the other hand, the latest Game Boy model is reported to look like a walkie-talkie. 

FNN Prime Online reported on a case in which a Land Cruiser belonging to Junko Mihara, a member of Japan’s House of Councillors, was stolen from her home using the new Game Boy. According to the report, the police have an understanding of how the Game Boy is used and are looking into other potential cases. 

Translated by. Amber V (original article’s publication date: 2024-04-17 13:41 JST)