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Mozilla review of 25 car brands finds they're "a privacy nightmare"
(foundation.mozilla.org)
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this post was submitted on 06 Sep 2023
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Maybe a dumb question, but if all of the vehicle's bells and whistles are meticulously recording my every move... how do those data get back to the auto manufacturer anyhow? I read the article and the "how that works" link, and sure it mentioned phone connectivity, but if I don't connect my phone, then my car presumably has no way to communicate what it collects... or are there a bunch of extra radios that phone home (satellite, cellular...)?
Many (if not most) new cars have their own cellular service built in. They spin this as being able to hotspot to your vehicle if you pay for data or being able to remote lock/start your vehicle with their app. However, the vehicle manufacturer has their own plan allowing them to relay back telemetry data regardless of whether you buy a data package.
But isn't an ongoing cellular plan a cost for the manufacturer? How do they afford it?
Miniscule amount of data. Probably cheap AF negotiated prices
They offset the cost with services. My pickup has a service where, for $15/month, I can replicate everything the key fob does for free, but with longer range using my phone. I don't pay for it; in 9 years of owning the truck, not once have I had a need to unlock the doors or remote start it from farther away than the key fob reaches, but each person who does pay for it - and you know there are many out there that are all in - probably offsets the cost for several who do not.
If it offered more features, like letting me know how much fuel is in the tank or the condition of the filters and tire pressures - all of which is available in the on board computer - I'd be more interested, but I'm still not sure I'd pay $15/month for that.
Jokes on them, though - it has a 2G radio in it, which is now useless. They keep trying to get me to buy their upgraded radio for it "so I can keep using those services" that I don't use. I was like, send it to me free and I'll consider it, but they want me to pay $150 or something for it. Pass.
I intend to keep that pickup as close to forever as possible.
Well, they sell your data to 3rd party companies, completing the cycle that resulted in this article.
Cars don't need much data, they should be fine on something like £10 per month plan. £10 * 12 = £120 per year. £120 * 10 = £1200 per 10 years. Car manufacturer can simply add £1200 to the price of a new car and you won't even notice that. But they are definitely negotiating B2B tarrifs, so it's probably even cheaper.
There are a ton of 12v signal jammers you can use to block this stuff. If manufacturers put tracking in everything these are going to become standard aftermarket equipment.
I already have one in my Mom's car. She can't use her cell phone while driving but that's just an added bonus.
Bruh those are highly illegal. At least in not backwards countries.
Youre also jamming other peoples services. what happens in an emergency?
Yes the thing blocking only my vehicle is a barrier in the event of an emergency. Never mind that it turns off with the car or that the driver can pull it out of the cigarette lighter at any time.
God you folk are dummies.
These things only have the signal strength to block a 5ft radius. That barely extends past the driver door and doesn't if it's still a steel paneled vehicle. Frankly you would probably need two for some SUVs.
And chinese laser pointers are also exactly the mw that is specified.
The signal is imperceptible outside a 1980s truck.
On a modern vehicle if you are more than a foot away from the door it can't be measured.
They are cheap devices without much long range punch, but effective for the range they cover.
Yes most are made in China, Taiwan, or Vietnam, but that doesn't matter if you are checking them. Frankly the cheaper one don't even cover that range. For these you have to check that they at least block the radio.
Long range stuff like radar jammers are doing very different shit.
Edit: at a certain point you realize it's time to stop wrestling the pig. Have fun getting tracked folks. There is a sub 100$ solution.
I for one appreciate the information you've shared here.
Maybe people just don't 100% trust the word of someone they don't know on the internet, when they make claims without any supporting evidence. That's not dumb; it's appropriately cautious. Do you have any evidence to back up what you say?
That's highly fucking illegal and extremely dangerous. You're a fucking idiot
There were a beautiful few weeks when Lemmy was a more pleasant place with better quality of discussion than reddit. Unfortunately that time seems to have passed.
How is it unsafe. You shouldn't be on your phone if the engine is running.
As to illegality, it's a 5ft radius dead zone. I will worry about it when the FAA detects it and can prove the containing vehicle. In the Western US that should be sometime in 2100. For everywhere else outside of Europe who the fuck knows, but it won't be soon.
I'm pretty sure those are illegal.