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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.
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.
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.
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?
I'm pretty sure those are illegal.