What does it mean when a car dashboard displays a key icon?

[StRhett]

A key icon displayed on the car dashboard indicates that the vehicle's anti-theft system has been triggered. When the anti-theft system light is on, the following phenomena should be noted: 1. If the anti-theft system light is on and the car fails to start, it means the vehicle cannot be activated. The anti-theft indicator light includes both the factory-installed anti-theft indicator and any aftermarket anti-theft system indicators. The anti-theft indicator has armed and disarmed states, and its flashing frequency varies between these two states. 2. It's important to note that if the engine anti-theft light flashes once every 1 to 2 seconds, this is normal. It indicates that the vehicle's engine has entered the anti-theft mode, and the engine immobilizer is functioning properly. This is a normal condition that doesn't require the owner to deactivate it. Moreover, the power consumption is negligible and poses no problem for the battery.