Privacy

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Is it possible to have privacy in a modern car? (lemmy.ca)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by WtfEvenIsExistence@lemmy.ca to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

56 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Edit: Just asked because of curiosity. I'm not actually looking for such vehicles.

Edit 2: So for context, my parents new Toyota has this feature that allows the GPS location of the car to be sent to toyota, then you can see the location via an app on android/ios (it's supposed to be an anti-theft feature). The data is sent via an antenna that connects to cell towers, which then connects to the internet, and to the toyota servers. "Diagnostic" and "maintenance" information is also sent via those same antennas.

The dealer said it could be turned off, but who knows if they are really off. There's not a hard switch on the car.

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[–] darcy@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

is it possible for the car to connect to internet without u letting it? maybe just never connect?

[–] WtfEvenIsExistence@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It has to connect to the internet somehow. Otherwise how could I see where the car is are using the Toyota app? I could see the tire pressure in each tire and the amount of fuel.

There is also this button at the top (the ceiling?) of the car that basically acts like an emergency button. Pressing it connects your car to someone at toyota that calls for roadside assistance. But idk why then even have that since most people have phones anyways.

[–] darcy@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

i would highly recommend never connecting it to internet. a small inconvinience for much better privacy. zero trust rule: only enable an abusable feature like internet on things which absolutely need it
the emergency button probably connects to any cell tower, regardless of your provider (like a phone with no sim), or maybe even satellite? i highly doubt that toyota would use this for anything besides emergencies (although one can never be sure)
some people still dont have phones, and that is not a bad thing.

[–] WtfEvenIsExistence@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You don't need touch anything in the car for it to connect to the internet. It's a brand new car, and the car salesperson just put the VIN in the app and you can see the location of the car. Which means, it was already connected right out of the factory.

[–] darcy@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago

damn that sucks