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Internet-connected cars fail privacy and security tests conducted by Mozilla

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Re: Internet-connected cars fail privacy and security tests conducted by Mozilla

#161
post #84

The more I read about these things, the more I think I'll be driving my 23 year old Toyota 4Runner until the end of my life

I am still driving my '09 4Runner. Cheap to own/maintain, ridiculously reliable. And no touch screen. Perfection! Anything made after about 2015 feels WAY over-engineered, for my tastes at least.

Depending on your climate, you should probably have the right front frame member inspected for rust. My father had an '09 4Runner & got into a front-end crash. In the process that member was exposed, and while it looked fine on the outside, it was full of rust from the inside and quite thin.

Don't get me wrong, I drive an '01 Ranger that is more rust than steel at this point, but it is still good to know what you have.

Re: Internet-connected cars fail privacy and security tests conducted by Mozilla

#162

Earlier quoted context omitted.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2019/08/apple-and-google...

Thanks for linking to a 4 year old story. Now link to the follow-up stories to where Apple no longer does this and they were sued for breaking their privacy policy. Google still does it, as in their TOS they basically say "yeah, we're going to be looking over your shoulder at everything you do, as that's how we make our money".

Do you know of any similar story at Google since 2010?

Re: Internet-connected cars fail privacy and security tests conducted by Mozilla

#163
post #2

I've got a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee and I've been searching for where the sim card is for the built in cellular modem so I can rip it out. It astounds me that there aren't more people interested in cutting off the constant telemetry and to be honest it wouldn't surprise me if the car refuses to operate correctly when I do figure out where it's at and pull it.

I am pretty sure that is (or soon will be) illegal in EU. Car needs to be able to call emergency, if accident is detected.

Is there some EU police that go around arresting people if you clip it?

Re: Internet-connected cars fail privacy and security tests conducted by Mozilla

#164

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am pretty sure that is (or soon will be) illegal in EU. Car needs to be able to call emergency, if accident is detected.

The manufacturer may have to legally include the functionality in cars they sell but in pretty sure the owner isn’t obligated to use or keep the functionality untouched. By comparison if your seat belts are all frayed and you don’t wear them anyway that’s on you, manufacturer sold you a car with seat belts in good condition and that as far as the “compliance” requirement goes.

Frayed seatbelts won't pass an MOT in the UK. (Don't know about any other country).

Re: Internet-connected cars fail privacy and security tests conducted by Mozilla

#165

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The manufacturer may have to legally include the functionality in cars they sell but in pretty sure the owner isn’t obligated to use or keep the functionality untouched. By comparison if your seat belts are all frayed and you don’t wear them anyway that’s on you, manufacturer sold you a car with seat belts in good condition and that as far as the “compliance” requirement goes.

Might depend on the wording of the law and how that system is tied into the rest of the car. For example in the states, it is illegal to tamper with any part of the emissions control system on your car. This is mostly about making sure emissions testing via OBD II can’t be gamed, but it also would target modifications like “rolling coal” or turbos and superchargers that allow user controlled fuel mapping. But in the…

it is illegal to tamper with any part of the emissions control system on your car.

Can you cite the law? I know the EPA has civilly pursues companies that make products that bypass emission controls. But haven’t seen or heard anything that goes as fat as you suggest.

E.g.: https://www.dinancars.com/products/software-tuning/engine-tu...

This allows you to change the engine programming on a BMW. They do note it is not legal in California.

Re: Internet-connected cars fail privacy and security tests conducted by Mozilla

#166
> The worst offender was Nissan, Mozilla said

this is ironic; my wife bought a brand new 2020 model year Nissan 370Z 50th anniversary edition in 2021, and it feels like it is from the late 90s.

no touch screen (actually no screen at all!), no GPS/navigation, no tracking, no Bluetooth audio streaming(!!) it does have mobile phone Bluetooth connectivity and a terrible backup camera but those are the only bits of modern in-car tech it has.

it feels like a very analog modern sports car without any of the crap that most modern sports cars have.

more of this please!

sadly, seems like the new Z coupe went all-in on the in-car tech, much like Nissan's other offerings.

Re: Internet-connected cars fail privacy and security tests conducted by Mozilla

#167
post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not sure what you're suggesting here.

people are tired, stretched thin, even in the most powerful nations. information access has become so ubiquitous that it has become more challenging to filter than to find. for many people, there are far more pressing concerns to address than if nissan knows how the back seat was used last night. they would need the time and space to slow down and consider the information, and likely have means to do something, for i…

None of that matters when the info is either routinely sold to others with more time and motivation on their hands, or simply leaked to the public whether on purpose or not.

Re: Internet-connected cars fail privacy and security tests conducted by Mozilla

#168

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The touchscreens are really a dealbreaker on new cars. They’re not just prone to quick obsolescence, they’re dangerous.

I hate them so much. Otherwise great cars are completely ruined by touchscreens. What was wrong with tactile knobs you could operate one handed without looking? You’re driving for fuck’s sake. It’s why things like the GR Corolla are nearly miraculous in 2023, it even comes stick shift only.

I assume it's a cost thing.

Slapping a tablet everywhere and letting the code monkeys figure it out is probably cheaper than making various knobs and buttons.

I dread the day I have to get a new car. Even Subaru, who are usually behind the curve, have gone all touch screen.

Re: Internet-connected cars fail privacy and security tests conducted by Mozilla

#169

The more I read about these things, the more I think I'll be driving my 23 year old Toyota 4Runner until the end of my life

2012 mustang here, one reason I got it instead of a camaro (which I like better) was because every single camaro I looked at had onstar.

Re: Internet-connected cars fail privacy and security tests conducted by Mozilla

#170
post #2

I've got a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee and I've been searching for where the sim card is for the built in cellular modem so I can rip it out. It astounds me that there aren't more people interested in cutting off the constant telemetry and to be honest it wouldn't surprise me if the car refuses to operate correctly when I do figure out where it's at and pull it.

There's likely five Sims at various places and even 3d printed into the frame.

They're eSIM these days, so it's actually zero physical SIM cards.
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