2024 spyware

You still do use the phone, right?
Every time you get online, you are sharing data, knowingly or otherwise.
I am saying its a good thing to worry about privacy, in all aspects, But worrying about what your car collects about you doesn't make sense when we all share far more with our online activities.
And unless you are living off in the woods with no internet access, you are sharing your data online.

 

I'm (was?) a super nerd, I know about all the tracking this, fingerprinting that and I can take steps to not necessarily eliminate but reduce those too.

I can choose what services and social media I interact with, I can use a VPN to hide my rough location from sites and what my ISP collects, I currently use an iPhone and plug it in to move files around locally so that cuts off direct in-depth phone use metrics to Google* (yes Apple has analytics but at least has more toggles), I vary my search engine choice, etc.

We can't "trust" any massive corporation farther than we can throw it but currently Apple takes some more pains than the feasible alternatives in service of privacy such as the design of the Find My network and how Maps route metrics are chopped up and anonymized, functions such as face recognition (for matching photos with individuals) and location history (also switchable) being kept solely on the device for example. (but of course, that comes with other non-privacy-related Apple cons)

I don't share much about my driving habits or where I necessarily drive when I browse craigslist. It's an uphill battle but I prefer to minimize who has my data where I can. Just because Facebook might have a shadow profile of me with all my sci-fi media habits doesn't mean I shouldn't bother keeping my car's data to myself. I might be leaking more overall data online, but that's a largely separate set of data than what our vehicles generate.

And if say, I'm sharing location data both to Toyota and Google, I rather cut down on what has it anyway. Data breaches, company policies on the handling/access/sale of data all vary and despite my Google misgivings, I would trust their cybersecurity more than any legacy automaker. (throwback to a Mazda supplier's radios not sanitizing inputs and bricking when tuned into a specific radio station)

* I know about custom ROMs and GrapheneOS, etc. I also know that Alphabet/Google is quietly messing with RCS on rooted devices so while I won't have to deal with Apple's shenanigans, I would instead have to deal with SafetyNet flipping at any time, breaking some apps, using SMS for everything to ensure messages get through, etc.

 

As close as I can get!

Don't want or need my vehicle to spy on me or record me or try to help me. As I said, among the first mods will be the "spyware delete" mod.

 

Sad that not wanting a security threat embedded in your vehicle has to be explained.

 

He is right. Call Toyota and demand they turn it off.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a60175396/connected-cars-driver-data-tracking-insurance/

 

Not sure if you do any of these things (you mentioned "I can", not "I do"). If you do use VPN more power to you. I gave up trying to make it work with apps on my phone, TV etc. I don't understand what "varying search engine choice" buys you

I tried using VPN, don't use any of the social networks, don't use googles services except search. I am however under no such notion that I am not sharing my data online. It is inevitable. I work for one such companies, trust me the amount of data they have on you does not compare to what toyota can collect. It is massive.

You missed the most important of all and that is "ask apps not to track". I do agree apple is better at this than anyone else.

 

how did you jump from privacy / data sharing to security threat?

 

security threat is different from data leak. Not sure how sharing your driving data is a security threat. Are you worried about hackers remotely controlling your 2009 designed 4Runner. Don't be. They have much easier targets in newer vehicles that allow remote access, implement drive by wire than a 4runner. Sure worry about 4runner sharing your data with toyota if you are totally disconnected with the internet, but "security threat" to me is a reach.

 

Of course.

This is why I asked what exactly is going on, in both directions. In other words, outgoing as well as what might be incoming, especially through the shark fin.

 

This data becomes pay-walled but public. Individuals can purchase it and associate with other data to gain deeper insights into any given individual. This is a problem for undercover law enforcement officers, intelligence community individuals, and very wealthy individuals targeted for ransom and blackmail.

 

An excellent point!

I also pointed out that it can be abused. You are going .01 MPH over speed limit based on the data collected. Accident occurs. Instruction to the jury in the case: "He was speeding." No context provided by the data collection mechanisms. Things like this can be twisted unfairly by parties in the legal system. Happens every day.

 

I am sorry what!? Someone will use my driving data and perhaps somehow get my name and then do what? Ask for random or else they tell everyone I speed? We are really reaching here in this thread.

 

Not reaching. Geolocation information. Speed collection. Driving habits. Who knows what other information. 1) For sale to potential wrongdoers, 2) Subject to abuse by many parties in many ways, we have given just a few examples, 3) Privacy rights, 4) Freedom, 5) Values.

Whatever Toyota would like to collect, I say no and will disable.

 

How? Logic, pragmatism, critical thinking, take your pick. Reminds me of the milgram experiment. Some just don't get it.

 

Excellent Milgram reference. Don't forget Solomon Asch Conformity Line Experiment. Humans are as predictable as the sunrise...

 

Walk me through your critical thinking process of going from data privacy to security threat. Clearly I don't get it, I want to understand.

 

Why should we have to pay for something not needed because others don’t follow the law?

 

I really don't think you do. Begone.

 

OP wait until you put it in drive or reverse with the door open

 

You still "pay" for when seat belts are not put on the vehicle chimes. Sometimes its not so much as the intention is wrong, but that one needs to be reminded.

 

so really..no critical thinking went in it then.
going by this logic, literally getting a coffee at starbucks is a security threat -- because you know, they have your name!

 

All this Big Brother stuff has me worried too.

I'm thinkin' on going this route, who's with me!?!

 

When you boil it down to fundamentals, the purpose of privacy is to protect security. To desire privacy is to recognize your vulnerability. Animals don’t walk quietly and discreetly in the forest, looking to avoid detection, simply to exercise a right. They know that being indiscrete can get them eaten very quickly. It’s only the animals that have nothing to fear that walk around carefree and unconcerned about their environment.

Anyone that isn’t concerned about the privacy violations going on nowadays, simply doesn’t recognize the dangers of allowing anybody and everybody to know your business.

 

The degree of privacy violations social media, any online service that is "free" exposes us to is multiple times higher than what toyota data collection ever could. My point is that it is right to be worried about privacy, but the worry should be proportional to the amount of data at risk in using a service/feature. What I have read here seems quite disproportionate.

 

purpose of privacy is to protect personal data, not "protect security". Not sure if that is what you meant, but I think that is what privacy means.

 

To be clear, a "security threat" is different than "data breach". Unauthorized access to an account (by guessing easy password, or other means) would be a security threat. A data breach would be someone accessing personal data on toyota servers that they collected through monitoring of driving behaviors.

 

It's wasted breath. There are enough chromosomes in here to power the entire Chinese army.

 

lol sure. What we don't understand, "must be the commies!"