2024 spyware

Or what if your car is being attacked by a mob of people and you need to plow through them to escape with your life? It would be sad indeed if your vehicle prevented you from fleeing and it cost your life. And that's not just a hypothetical considering what we've seen out of rioters in the last few years.

I wonder if there's a fuse to simply disable those features.

 

Its mainly for the new generation of drivers. Who dont even know how to write in cursive.

 

I unplug my cable and wi fi every night to reset it. Prob should do it in your new 4R's too?

 

Thats what they do in Mexico every day. They shut it down at noon and then reboot the country.

 

This guy speaks my language. It's near impossible to buy a vehicle where I live that's old enough to not have spyware in it. The rust makes sure of that. So, if I'm going to get the spyware, might as well make it a new vehicle wihout any rust issues. I've already removed the DCM fuse, but I'm sure there are many other things I would like to disable to make the vehicle privacy friendly. I'm considering disconnecting the head up completely and maybe putting a "dumb" radio in it and then just using a decentralized, portable, GPS when I need one. 4R Florida, do you have a list of things you disabled you can share with me?

 

My guess is that deliberate accelerator application would still let it accelerate.

But if not, or if you want to be sure, you can toggle the PCS system off via menu if there’s time or before you enter a seemingly dangerous area.

Or hit the traction control button which I believe would take PCS with it instantly but I’d have to check.

That’s a pretty far out case still, millions of folks drive in cities (okay probably more like tens of thousands if we’re talking the US, maybe six digits) daily and it would suck to always feel like some out-of-the-blue mob is about to strike.

Good chance you can find out about anything that might draw crowds ahead of time and just stay away or hunker down too, just like inclement weather if you have the option.

 

There's no way to test the theory of whether or not deliberate acceleration would still work. But I am interested in the traction control button idea. If it's heat of the moment, there's no way to quickly scroll through the cluster options and disable PCS. But a single button that's just a push away? That's doable.

Just looked at the Owner's Manual. Page 244 says that if the PCS braking is engaging, it will be overridden if the accelerator is strongly depressed. So, you can plow through the rioters, but you have to do it really fast. Hah!

 

That's me!

I am only 90 days into ownership and still checking things off of my list after a relatively lengthy warranty claim (about 10 days into ownership) that the dealer didn't want to handle but Toyota ultimately did. I did my break in oil change at 1k miles Saturday whether "needed" or not.

1) Declined all "connected services" in writing at the time of delivery at the dealer.
2) Pressed the emergency button or whatever it is to make sure it did not work the next week.
3) Called Toyota a week after that to make sure.
4) Laughed at the letter from Toyota "alerting me" sometime after that that I was not taking advantage of their "valuable safety features."
5) Did not subscribe to any of the satellite radio services and will pull the plug from the "shark fin" if and when I drop the headliner or at least the rear portion of it.
6) My next plan is to remove the plugs from the DCM as described in this thread, leaving only the one necessary to get sound from the stereo speakers. I have to get behind the glove box to do that and I have not gotten there yet as I have been doing a list of about 30 other modificiations and customizations. I forgot to pull the fuse. Oops. Maybe tomorrow.
7) Although the sound quality from the in-dash head-end unit is atrocious, even after replacing the speakers, I hope to not replace the head end unit because the aftermarket console adapters look awful in the pictures I have seen. If anyone disagrees and can send pics that it does not look bad, please send to me. Charcoal color not silver. I don't have GPS navigation, so I'm not too concerned about the head end unit tracking much so long as I remove the wires from the DCM, which is the cellular modem.
8) No phones allowed in my 4R. Anyone with a phone will have to place it in a steel "cash box" in the back. There is zero need for anyone to have a phone in the car unless there is an emergency, in which case it can be retrieved from the steel cash box. People who conduct business meetings while driving need to reconsider their safety and that of others as it is by definition distracted driving.
9) No connection to "streaming" music services. Nope. No music from a phone either. If you want music, use the USB port with a thumb drive.
10) Certainly never connect a phone to the 4R itself. Ditto for "wi-fi." There is no need. If you have kids, let them do what we all did instead of playing with a phone. Play cards, read a book, or play auto bingo like this:

$6 Regal Games The Original Travel Bingo Game Card

https://www.amazon.com/Regal-Games-...=se&keywords=auto+bingo&qid=1719901113&sr=8-3

Thinking and paying attention to things outside your phone is good for your brain.

 

There actually is a way to play with it - the same way they test these systems in closed courses!

Usually with a soft material dummy on a track or “tent” that approximates a pedestrian crossing the road or vehicle respectively.

Still shows up as a solid object to the car, but doesn’t damage the vehicle if you crash into it!

But what the criteria the vehicle is looking for is tough to say. Not sure if it’s just radar or if the camera used for lane-keeping is doing any computer vision type things to assist.

 

I hope you get the help you deserve

 

https://www.motor1.com/news/729265/toyota-gr-corolla-warranty-claims-weird-reasons/

Would you look at that, telematics being used to help screw someone.

The pertinent excerpt:

“But when he called the company to ask specifically about why the claim was denied, Toyota allegedly brushed off the accident and simply said the car was abused.

‘They said at some point in the car’s life it sent out a data packet that included the car’s speed. They won’t tell me when or where so I don’t know how relevant it is, but they said the car had gone 114 mph and that is abuse of the vehicle. They don’t care that the car comes with a track day, it’s abused as soon as it’s over a certain speed, apparently.’”

 

Have you guys found the hidden camera yet?

 

The one hidden behind the tachometer?

 

We don’t have a driver monitoring system like say, Blue Cruise, but in those cases, the hardware isn’t necessarily cameras and isn’t hidden.

 

Writing in cursive is overrated

 

lol “ in writing” what do you think that even does? Dealer is not a source of truth. They just throw that sht out once you sign the papers

 

Makes it easier to sue, as now they won't be able to claim that you somehow granted consent.

The same day I took delivery of my 4Runner I contacted Toyota both over the phone and email and created paper trail of opting out of any data collection. Now, if they collect my driving data (they won't as I also pulled a fuse on DCM) and sell it to the insurance I will have much easier times suing for damages.

 

Speaking of driver monitoring, Ford patented monitoring system snitching on speeding drivers and had to walk back that after public outcry.

To me, the trend is clear - other people want to know when and how I drive. To me, the likely reason is that they also want to control all that, so I have to be given permission to drive my own car that can be revoked for any reason. Now, there are many valid reasons to prohibit someone driving, but none of these reasons bypass courts and fair hearing.

 

Wrong on all counts. Try going to school and practicing law for a while. You might learn something.

Correct. I'm glad someone gets it.

Unfortunately, that's where we are now with the "privilege" to drive argument. Just another erosion of basic freedoms in the name of "safety" and "fairness" and other false arguments. We are now at the point where you don't own your car any more either. Of course, most people don't anyway. A bank does.

 

Dealer distributes vehicles.. they are not a ledger for consent.

the consent is between owner and Toyota… consent given “in writing” at the dealership.. lolz

This person’s “in writing” consent is akin to those those gdpr web cookie consents. Go sue lol

 

Your lack of understanding of both the law and business is shocking.

 

Will the dealer keep your consent on file? In their safe?

 

This guy on the video was awful calm thorough the whole process. No reactions. Weird.

 

You can pull all the fuses you want. But Bill Gates sold all the left over tracking chips he invented and put in the Covid vaccine to the oil companies. They put those tracking chips in every gallon of gas sold in the world. You are now tracked and your data is sent directly to undocumented workers.

They, in turn, sneak into your house while you sleep and rub their junk on your face.

The only way to protect yourself is to turn your 4runner into a wood burner and super glue your penis to your leg.

Better safe than sorry!!!

 

Despite the nagging from the dealer and the subsequent emails from Toyota, I intentionally never signed up for Toyota Connected Services. I would think that takes care of the 2024 spyware problem.

Is that correct?

John

 

No. The DCM is on all the time unless you take action to disable it as described in this thread.

 

Thanks for letting me know
John

 

My DCM fuse has been out for a couple of years now, no issues.