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

gizmodo.com

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

#471

Post by redbell »

> Many people think of their car as a private space — somewhere to call your doctor, have a personal conversation with your kid on the way to school..

The above quote was 100% true just a few years ago but it appears to be vanishing in speed light as the tech advances and the race to collect private data reaches its peak.

I’m afraid we will have to check the “I Agree to Terms and Conditions” in our new cars and before even leaving the dealership parking or getting the usual message: “Hey there, we’re updating our terms and conditions, accept to unlock your car”

I’m afraid that once we reach fully-autonomous driving, Ads will start showing up in the car’s digital cockpit and/or head-up display.. probably, based on your current location, mood, the radio station you’re currently listening to.. you name it..

What a time you might not want to live to see!

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

#472

Post by connicpu »

cduzz wrote: post #413
ImprovedSilence wrote: post #348

Earlier quoted context omitted.

this was always a key point from people who drove automatics but claimed to like manuals. i daily drove a manual in some of the worst traffic the US has to offer. but so what, guess what else sucks in traffic? Automatics!! when you're stuck in traffic, everything sucks, so you might as well drive something thats enjoyable the rest of the time.

I've never really seen the issue with "manual in traffic" -- there's almost always a gear or two that allow you to go a the speed of traffic without tons of shifting. Stop and go? 2nd probably goes from "creep" to "moderate speed" Anyhow, electric cars are better all around -- at least those with "one pedal driving" where the speed pedal goes all the way to zero or nearly zero. My dislike of automatics is the indeter…

"Semi-automatic" cars (aka an automatic transmission with a manual gear override available) are a nice compromise for those of us who want the simple convenience most of the time, with the ability to take control when we want to. Plus once the order comes in, those servo motors can shift the gear way faster than I can depress a clutch.

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

#473

Post by bonestamp2 »

tristor wrote: post #132

Of all the horrible things go on with privacy these days, this is the one I hate the most. I’m a “car guy”, but not the sort that obsesses over old cars (although I do love 60s and 80s cars). I like new tech, I like the advances in engineering we’ve made in new vehicles, I like EVs even. Nonetheless I’ve been in the market for a new car for months and haven’t bought because it’s hard to find any cars that meet my req…

The touchscreen is great for some things of course, but most regular people that comment seem to agree that tactile controls for radio and HVAC are their preference. The only explanation for why manufacturers are dropping the tactile controls is for cost savings/higher profits. Because it sure doesn't seem like most people want those items on the screen.

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

#474

Post by foxyv »

cduzz wrote: post #413
ImprovedSilence wrote: post #348

Earlier quoted context omitted.

this was always a key point from people who drove automatics but claimed to like manuals. i daily drove a manual in some of the worst traffic the US has to offer. but so what, guess what else sucks in traffic? Automatics!! when you're stuck in traffic, everything sucks, so you might as well drive something thats enjoyable the rest of the time.

I've never really seen the issue with "manual in traffic" -- there's almost always a gear or two that allow you to go a the speed of traffic without tons of shifting. Stop and go? 2nd probably goes from "creep" to "moderate speed" Anyhow, electric cars are better all around -- at least those with "one pedal driving" where the speed pedal goes all the way to zero or nearly zero. My dislike of automatics is the indeter…

Ahh sweet summer child. Traffic that has a speed isn't really traffic in my book. It isn't really traffic until you spend more time stopped than moving.

Joking aside, the worst traffic is when you stop every 4 seconds and then creep forward ten feet before stopping again. If I wasn't planning to go car-less I think I would buy an electric car for that nonsense.

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

#475

Post by sifar »

neogodless wrote: post #308
cpursley wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

We just bought a 2023 Mazda CX-5 Select for $29k. No touchscreens in the whole car! And no dealer markup - we paid slightly under MSRP. But... it is certainly satellite connected (you can manage locks, windows, etc. from your phone, as well as remote start). Wish it was included in this privacy investigation. I'd love to know more about what they do with what they know about our car and how we use it.

You can disable the connected services from the settings. It still has an annoying pop-up every time you start the car to enable them.

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

#476

Post by kccqzy »

redbell wrote: post #471

> Many people think of their car as a private space — somewhere to call your doctor, have a personal conversation with your kid on the way to school.. The above quote was 100% true just a few years ago but it appears to be vanishing in speed light as the tech advances and the race to collect private data reaches its peak. I’m afraid we will have to check the “I Agree to Terms and Conditions” in our new cars and befor…

Ads in cars are already a thing in China: https://carnewschina.com/2021/10/18/does-nio-play-advertisem...

(It has gradually occurred to me that without the safeguards of privacy ingrained in western societies, the state of ad tech in China has already surpassed the U.S. and Europe in its sophistication.)

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

#477

Post by HumblyTossed »

gonehome wrote: post #470
HumblyTossed wrote: post #440

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>It really is imo. It really is not IMO. A touchscreen UI is a visual medium. That is not what you want/need while operating a vehicle. You should be able to change the AC by feeling for the button and not taking your eyes off the road. This isn't just HN being HN again. Driving enthusiasts are pushing back on touchscreens.

I'd bet most people look at the tactile buttons when adjusting them, to see the temperature, fanspeed, etc. and that the difference between this and swiping on the tesla display isn't an important difference.

I bet they don't. Muscle memory is a thing. Do you look down at your blinker lever to change it? How about your wipers? If you have controls on your steering wheel, do you look at those to press them?

I bet not.

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

#478

Post by wing-_-nuts »

LeifCarrotson wrote: post #462
wing-_-nuts wrote: post #183

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>I drive an '01 Ranger that is more rust than steel at this point You poor man. I had a 3.slow 6 cyl. 0-60 in 16s was almost an accomplishment. I guess that's what you get when you have a 155hp motor trying to pull a 3800 lb vehicle.

Poor man? Sounds like a happy man to me! I drove a '93 Ranger with the 98 horsepower 2.3L 4-cylinder and the 5-speed manual in the late 2000s from 130,000 miles to 280,000 miles; it carried the supplies to paint dozens of houses and got me through college without any debt on car payments or tuition. My wife still mocks me for the purple pinstripes and the fact it was shorter than her, but I was driving it when she wa…

the 4cyl was about as fast as the 3.0 6cyl but got much better fuel economy. I didn't hate that it was slow. I hated that it was slow and only got 20mpg lol

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

#479

Post by dieselgate »

scott_w wrote: post #401
cpursley wrote: post #322

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Manuals suck in traffic. Americans sit in a lot of traffic. And I say this as somebody who loves manuals (I’m an amateur race car driver).

That’s odd because I like the control a clutch pedal gives me in heavy traffic. And I drive a 15 year old diesel!

15 years is almost kinda young for many diesel engines

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

#480

Post by tristor »

tiffanyh wrote: post #354
cpursley wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

Do you ever use your mobile phone while driving? Call, talk, text, maps, etc. How is it any more dangerous than how a typical person uses their phone today while driving? For safety: all common systems are accessible on most steering wheels (e.g. radio, etc) so that your hands never have to leave the steering wheel.

No. Using a phone while you're driving is peak stupid. I keep both hands on the wheel unless I'm operating the shifter or touching a knob, then both hands go back. This is how you are supposed to drive. If you need to take a call or change where you are navigating, you pull off in a gas station or parking lot for the couple of minutes needed before going back on the road.

The world will not end if you are not accessible via internet-based communications for an hour or less. You can wait to answer that text message.

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