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Hackers manage to unlock Tesla software-locked features

electrek.co

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Re: Hackers manage to unlock Tesla software-locked features

#361

Post by whelp_24 »

dktoao wrote: post #351
logifail wrote: post #324

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Game theory at play. Tesla and its customers are adversaries, vying for the same dollars Umm, I think this is more like "airlines vs passengers" when passengers read about "hidden city ticketing" in a travel blog, think it sounds cool yet haven't properly understand it, yet decide to go to town on it anyway.[0] Since most providers are entirely at liberty to tell a customer they're no longer welcome, as a customer…

Fascinating article, didn't know skip lagging was a thing or that it is illegal. It definitely shouldn't be, just seems to be government protecting entrenched corporate interests at the cost of the populace. aka par for the course.

Skip lagging isn't illegal, iirc a recent court case reaffirmed that. Airlines don't like it though so they may cancel you.

Re: Hackers manage to unlock Tesla software-locked features

#362

Post by fragmede »

BonoboIO wrote: post #283
technothrasher wrote: post #203

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This market already exists for things like enabling Navigation on VW/Audi cars. People were offering to enable the hidden Android Auto support on my Porsche Macan for $600, which I almost went for until I found the scripts and instructions to do it myself.

$600 is not cheap. What model year do you have? Does Porsche not provide an update or possibility to upgrade.

If you're in the market for a recent Porsche, which go for let's say ~$100k, $600 is cheap to you. Cheaper than the time you'd spend on doing it yourself really, but doing it yourself is half the fun.

Re: Hackers manage to unlock Tesla software-locked features

#363

Post by ryathal »

liendolucas wrote: post #348

> Software-locked features that need to be activated by the owner paying or subscribing to a service are becoming increasingly popular in the auto industry. Sorry, WHAT? People should absolutely boycott companies that try to squeeze bucks in this miserable way.

You better be ok with building your own car then, because every major player is adding subscriptions for various features. Remote start and remote lock/unlock are the most common, along with satellite radio.

Re: Hackers manage to unlock Tesla software-locked features

#364

Post by overnight5349 »

filcuk wrote: post #138
jjulius wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cheaper to manufacture, yes, but the cost of the hardware is still included in what you pay for the software-locked car. You've paid for the hardware and you own it, even if it's software-locked. At that point, you're just being asked to fork over $1k or whatever the additional charge is for what essentially amounts to an "on/off" switch. Edit: Hell, to make it sound even more stupid, you're being asked to fork over…

That's no different to paying $1K for a CAD licence. People just need to come to terms with the fact that the line between HW and SW is becoming blurry. Obviously, I don't like up-paying for features I don't get to use. The price of the product must be the same, having benefited from mass production. With that being the case, I'm actually glad I have the option to save money now and upgrade later. The concept isn't a…

It's closer to using a CAD package and finding out you need to pay extra to save files.

Which is a real thing that has actually happened.

The functionality exists, the code already has been written, but it's disabled so as to extract more money.

The arguments about cheaper manufacturing is pretty well pointless. If the cost of adding seat heaters is negligible, what justification is there for charging extra? You pay for the hardware either way. This is rent seeking and nothing more.

This is a topic that's been beaten to death in the electronics industry for years. Oscilloscope manufacturers design and sell a 500MHz scope, but cripple it to 200MHz unless you pay 50% more. Or they put 16MSample of memory in and restrict you to 8 unless you pay $400 for an "upgrade". The cost of buying the lower model and upgrading it later is usually much higher than just buying the high end model.

In any case, it's not like manufacturers are selling the lower tier model at a loss. They're taking lower margins on the crippled hardware, yes, but then they charge you ridiculous prices that are orders of magnitude above the real cost of the additional hardware.

Re: Hackers manage to unlock Tesla software-locked features

#365

Post by logifail »

dktoao wrote: post #351
logifail wrote: post #324

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Game theory at play. Tesla and its customers are adversaries, vying for the same dollars Umm, I think this is more like "airlines vs passengers" when passengers read about "hidden city ticketing" in a travel blog, think it sounds cool yet haven't properly understand it, yet decide to go to town on it anyway.[0] Since most providers are entirely at liberty to tell a customer they're no longer welcome, as a customer…

Fascinating article, didn't know skip lagging was a thing or that it is illegal. It definitely shouldn't be, just seems to be government protecting entrenched corporate interests at the cost of the populace. aka par for the course.

> Fascinating article, didn't know skip lagging was a thing or that it is illegal

It's not illegal, but it is against the airline's T&Cs ... which you have to agree to when you purchase a ticket.

Re: Hackers manage to unlock Tesla software-locked features

#366

Post by zapdrive »

fho wrote: post #353
wongarsu wrote: post #319

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Against face recognition you could use CV dazzle makeup [1] to look less like a face. However I wouldn't recommend using that approach for your vehicle 1 https://dangerousminds.net/comments/foil_facebooks_facial_re...

I think that's actually quite common on new car models. The dazzle paint job makes it harder for the press to see the shape. E.g.: https://www.bmw.com/en/automotive-life/prototype-cars.html

I don't want my car "harder to see" going at 100 miles down the highway.

Re: Hackers manage to unlock Tesla software-locked features

#367

Post by fwip »

waterheater wrote: post #337
gcanyon wrote: post #197

Because what could possibly go wrong hacking a hunk of metal that transports you at lethal speeds...

Everyone accepts a certain risk simply by driving, and we all have relative risk tolerance. Point in case: I knew of a 20-year-old driver who owned a nice, safe vehicle but was too afraid to drive on an interstate highway because they were afraid. That's not a "hunk of metal" issue but a risk-comfort "issue," which really is relative. Regardless, your point highlights the eternal fight between liberty and "safety and…

> why am I required to purchase a vehicle equipped with airbags?

The same reason that you can't sell food that's sweetened with lead. You can add lead to your own food if you want, just like you can drive a car without airbags.

Re: Hackers manage to unlock Tesla software-locked features

#368

Post by Night_Thastus »

bhauer wrote: post #298
Night_Thastus wrote: post #217

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The supply and install problem clearly isn't that hard, auto makers have been doing it for many decades at this point. Plus, it seems backwards from a business standpoint. You always have the cost of installing the hardware, but now you only get a % of users who agree to pay for the additional cost? The only way to "fix" that is to artificially raise the price of the product so effectively everyone is paying, which m…

> The supply and install problem clearly isn't that hard, auto makers have been doing it for many decades at this point. Are you referring to the legacy auto manufacturers that still can't make EVs profitably in 2023? Perhaps Ford with its negative 58.9% EBIT margin on their EV division [1]? Of course you can "solve" a more complex supply-chain and multiple vehicle configurations. It just costs more money. And theref…

Installing heated seats or these common add-on features has nothing to do with EVs vs ICEs. It's not specific to either, or harder/easier for either.

Re: Hackers manage to unlock Tesla software-locked features

#369

Post by jancsika »

zapdrive wrote: post #282
jcuenod wrote: post #270

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's why I also rotate license plates and repaint my car twice a year.

I also change my facial hair style 4 times a year. Will start getting plastic surgery twice a year starting next year.

That's why I wear an rpi connected to four lcd's on my face that display randomly chosen beard tiles.

It's also why I started Our Lady of the Anonymity Pool where we gather for music and fellowship, and to recharge and distribute beard screens to our congregants and visitors.

Re: Hackers manage to unlock Tesla software-locked features

#370

Post by steelframe »

coolspot wrote: post #248
ddalex wrote: post #216

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> you could anonymize your location on Tesla's servers I already anonymise my location on Tesla's servers by simply not owning a Tesla

Your car is filmed and recognized by other teslas.

That's why I cycle everywhere. With my phone switched off and stowed in a Faraday bag.
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