Modern cars are spying on you. Here's what you can do about it • Hacker News Board

Re: Modern cars are spying on you. Here's what you can do about it

#371

Post by harambae » Wed, Dec 10, 2025, 5:47 PM UTC

owenversteeg wrote: post #369

harambae wrote: post #368

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Those are usually red, although I don’t know if it’s actually SAE standard or not, I’ve only worked for one automotive company (and we made them red)

I’ve driven a lot of different cars around the world and nearly all check engine lights are orange. Almost all the Google image search results are orange. To be sure I checked the most popular ICE car models worldwide: Toyota Corolla, Toyota Rav4, Ford F-series, Honda CR-V, Chevrolet Silverado. All of those use orange. In fact, the only red CEL that I’ve ever seen is on Minis and BMWs - not the actual physical indica…

Ah, interesting! Yeah I worked for BMW (which owns Mini Cooper now). Guess my experience was not universal.

Re: Modern cars are spying on you. Here's what you can do about it

#372

Post by MisterTea » Wed, Dec 10, 2025, 9:29 PM UTC

culi wrote: post #221

emidln wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I suspect this data is made "anonymous" and sold to insurance companies and misc data brokers. If it's linked to my insurance company, I don't want to jack my rates. Further, I've thus far avoided a CFAA conviction and I'd like to keep it that way.

Then do the opposite. Poisoned data that can improve your insurance rates

if(velocity > 55) velocity = 55;

Re: Modern cars are spying on you. Here's what you can do about it

#373

Post by EvanAnderson » Wed, Dec 10, 2025, 10:42 PM UTC

fh973 wrote: post #195

calvinmorrison wrote: post #70

nothing. And banning ALPR wont fix anything either. All cars have 4 unique serial numbers broadcast via radio at all times via the TPMS system. you don't even need a camera, just a radio receiver.

Checked how to receive those with SDR. Turns out they are very low power and you need to basically touch the tire. Also the transmit in minute intervals. Bit exactly a a smoking gun in terms of mass surveillance.

I have an RTL-SDR rig with the stock tiny omni antenna in a second story of a building adjacent a public parking lot. I'm using rtl433 and I am able to reliably pick up TPMS from the lot. I've never done any testing to see what the metes and bounds of my reception are, but it's definitely not touching the tire. My rig is at least 30 feet away from the closest parking spot.