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Can I disable all data collection from my vehicle?

rivian.com

291–300 of 367 posts

Re: Can I disable all data collection from my vehicle?

#291
post #269
post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I wonder what happens if you disable the e-SIM (in the US) and then a safety recall appears via software update - do dealers have any way to update control modules besides OTA? I would assume so. Even on older cars, service techs can typically manually push firmware updates over the OBD-II / J2534 port. Rivian's OBD-II port actually hides an Ethernet signal inside of it - so the interface is certainly there. Fun fa…

> Even on older cars, service techs can typically manually push firmware updates Older cars have no concept of such updates. Happy with my 70s and 80s and early 90s cars.

Actually almost any fuel injected vehicle can accept flash updates through the port to at least the ECU and PCM, frequently the BCU is also write enabled.

Re: Can I disable all data collection from my vehicle?

#292
First thing I do on rental cars is pull out any devices plugged into the OBD port and follow the wiring for a bit to see if the port is duplicated. I'll plug it back in when they ask for it, that way I know it is not a bad actor at play.

Second thing is to do a factory reset on the infotainment and press "deny" on anything.

Third thing is to use a USB sanitizer so plugging in the USB-port doesn't sync any of my data with the car or initiate a pairing.

Final thing is to check tire pressure, unrelated to above but 9 out of 10 times the tire pressure on rental cars is incorrect. I have a little pen tester in my travel kit.

Re: Can I disable all data collection from my vehicle?

#293
post #251

Disabling internet connectivity disables lane keeping assistance. I wonder if this is a dark pattern to punish users who opt out or because they feel they need reports of crashes ahead to do it safely.

Lane keeping is often hard to disable and you have to do it each and every drive, so getting that off permanently and putting the car offline then that is an unexpected bonus. Probably the same also applies for the speed limit beeper that partially relies on GPS maps. Taping over the front camera also works.

On an enthusiast forum someone made a little circuit board that plugs into the control panel of the steering wheel. When you get in the car, you press one button, and that simulates the button press sequence required to turn off the lane keep assist, speed warning and multiple other systems.

Re: Can I disable all data collection from my vehicle?

#294
post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or trying to get ahead of competition such as slate.

I’m weighing whether I should get a Slate or R2 next. Yet, somehow, I feel like these don’t compete directly much. Perhaps I’m wrong. My friends with R1s would never consider a Slate. Maybe the R2 is more of a match even at twice the price.

I think that: 1) Slate will still not be available for a while, and 2) Once you get everything you want on it, the price won't be that much better. But that's just my take.

Don't get me wrong, I look forward to Slate being available and think it's compelling, but just my cynical take.

Re: Can I disable all data collection from my vehicle?

#296
post #250
post #33

> limit or disable certain functionality in the vehicle: ... over-the-air updates, which provide new ... safety enhancements ... I wonder what happens if you disable the e-SIM (in the US) and then a safety recall appears via software update - do dealers have any way to update control modules besides OTA? This is a huge unresolved issue with EVs IMO; ICE cars are required to provide emissions-relevant updates over sof…

My experience is J2534 support is sketchy and if you want to do the things you actually want to do you need a manufacturer approved device with an insane markup. Also the subscriptions are insanely expensive, not even close to reasonable and you need to be a company (at least you used to be with Ford last time I checked, but they accept the UK or Dutch royal residence as a valid company location so there is that...)

What about using ForSCAN? It allows anyone with the software and a dongle to monitor and to update modules in the ECU AFAIK. I paid under $100 (can't remember) for a dongle and downloaded the free software and it is extremely handy working on one of my vehicles. The other two Fords I own are both pre-OBDII so there is less bullshit on them to begin with. Ford forums are full of owners who use ForSCAN to modify their vehicle's operation. Lots of hacks available.

Just do as /u/bigfatkitten suggests and get the service manuals when you purchase the vehicle.

Re: Can I disable all data collection from my vehicle?

#297

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe they researched customers’ backgrounds and only screwed the ones they thought wouldn’t lawyer up

This doesn't require research. Just reject by default and concede if a lawyer shows up. It doesn't cost any money to have a default denial policy and saves millions.

Same case goes to the same court too many times and you are gonna raise eyebrows.

Re: Can I disable all data collection from my vehicle?

#298
post #169

Related: Mozilla did a review of different cars for privacy: ( https://www.mozillafoundation.org/en/privacynotincluded/arti... ) >Nissan earned its second-to-last spot for collecting some of the creepiest categories of data we have ever seen. [Their privacy policy] includes your “sexual activity.” Not to be out done, Kia also mentions they can collect information about your “sex life” in their privacy policy. Oh, and…

Main reason why I will never buy an EV, and keep driving my Internet-free Honda until it dies, which will likely be after me.

A real car wouldn't track your sex life or your genome. They effectively stopped making real cars. We will drive the real cars and never buy fakes as long as this remains the case.

Re: Can I disable all data collection from my vehicle?

#299

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What ever happened to take it to a dealer or authorized repair place to have it done? While I may be willing to take certain things apart that, the one thing in life I have resisted is any kind of monkeying with my car. There are certain things where I'm willing to accept that I took it apart and it no longer works because I bricked it, shorted something, or otherwise damaged it beyond my skill set to undo. My car is…

The perfect modern consumer/sucker... My car needed another key. The stealership quoted me >$400 for it. I took it as a personal insult and did the research and ordered an OBD device and also discovered you can order replacement keys on aliexpress, and they'll even cut them for you with a good picture of your existing key. It was actually a fun project and very satisfying when I was able to successfully program and l…

>May not be feasible with more locked-down modern cars which I wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole

What's your plan for the future? I have an old car, but I know it won't last forever.

Re: Can I disable all data collection from my vehicle?

#300
post #269
post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I wonder what happens if you disable the e-SIM (in the US) and then a safety recall appears via software update - do dealers have any way to update control modules besides OTA? I would assume so. Even on older cars, service techs can typically manually push firmware updates over the OBD-II / J2534 port. Rivian's OBD-II port actually hides an Ethernet signal inside of it - so the interface is certainly there. Fun fa…

> Even on older cars, service techs can typically manually push firmware updates Older cars have no concept of such updates. Happy with my 70s and 80s and early 90s cars.

You can adjust the ECU for these 80s and 90s cars and “flash” them like anything else. There’s just a lot less settings! Not sure about the 70s but I’m sure some resto-mods also allow for this.
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