3 ms·

First thing I do in any rental car is turn off any remote tracking, mobile apps, clear out bluetooth and turn off wifi if equipped.

_sbrk 7y ago
While always good to turn non-essential features off, this doesn't mean that you can't be tracked. Many vehicles, even if non-rental, now come standard with cellular voice/data connections. GM pioneered this with OnStar in the mid-90s[1], and other manufacturers soon followed. Combined with the "black box" recording of _every_ sensor in your car, there can be some pretty damning evidence against the driver in the event of a wreck, etc. There are no switches for the driver to disable regarding the data inside your ECU[2], or Event Data Recorder[3]. It's not that you can't get away with anything anymore, it comes down to minor infractions are now enforceable (with the lucrative fines that follow) and that your car can present evidence against you. [1] https://smart.gi-de.com/automotive/a-brief-history-of-car-connections/ https://smart.gi-de.com/automotive/a-brief-history-of-car-co... [2] https://www.plaintiffmagazine.com/recent-issues/item/beware-the-black-box https://www.plaintiffmagazine.com/recent-issues/item/beware-... [3] https://www.jstor.org/stable/26167752?seq=1 https://www.jstor.org/stable/26167752?seq=1
- river99 7y ago
  Some cars have a tracking toggle switch. I believe BMW is one such example.
- ReptileMan 7y ago
  Can't you just cut the antenna? Or just improvise a Faraday cage around it.
  - reaperducer 7y ago
    Good luck finding it. And then, good luck getting to it.
    - kop316 7y ago
      While a pain, it isn't impossible. There will be an FCC ID that it has (due to transmitting receiving). Based on that device, you at least know what to look for (a PCI card? An entire board? an Antenna?). Since FCC testing is expensive, I would not doubt that many manufacturers just make one card to install into multiple cars (to lower the FCC testing cost). That would be the best case, as all you need to do is find and remove that card.
      - _sbrk 7y ago
        Instead of doing that, I'd simulate "network loss" by substituting a 50 ohm dummy load for the output antenna. This assumes that it is a connector, not soldered right to the board. This way, there is no "fault" other than not being in a cellular-coverage area.
        kop316 7y ago
        That's a good way too. Didn't think of that.
kylec 7y ago
I once turned off remote tracking on a Turo I rented. Within a few minutes I got a text from the owner asking me to turn it back on, pointing out it was part of the agreement for renting the car. I did, but it did make me wonder just how closely I was being watched.
reaperducer 7y ago
First thing I do in any rental car is turn off any remote tracking, mobile apps, clear out bluetooth and turn off wifi if equipped. The first thing I do when I rent a car is adjust the mirrors and the seat, and then get out of the airport as quickly as I can. I might think about resetting stuff when I get to the hotel, but if I'm renting a car I have better things to do with my life. I doubt that even 1% of the people in the world reset anything in a rental car. Including people on HN who state that they do. This is why pressure should be put on the rental companies to do this as part of the check-in process.
- juskrey 7y ago
  Rental car GPS is pretty much one of the few tracking things I actually want to be there. It makes my rental MUCH cheaper and road help much better. If you need to hide from the radars, chose another method of transportation.

_sbrk 7y ago

While always good to turn non-essential features off, this doesn't mean that you can't be tracked. Many vehicles, even if non-rental, now come standard with cellular voice/data connections. GM pioneered this with OnStar in the mid-90s[1], and other manufacturers soon followed. Combined with the "black box" recording of _every_ sensor in your car, there can be some pretty damning evidence against the driver in the event of a wreck, etc. There are no switches for the driver to disable regarding the data inside your ECU[2], or Event Data Recorder[3]. It's not that you can't get away with anything anymore, it comes down to minor infractions are now enforceable (with the lucrative fines that follow) and that your car can present evidence against you. [1] https://smart.gi-de.com/automotive/a-brief-history-of-car-connections/ https://smart.gi-de.com/automotive/a-brief-history-of-car-co... [2] https://www.plaintiffmagazine.com/recent-issues/item/beware-the-black-box https://www.plaintiffmagazine.com/recent-issues/item/beware-... [3] https://www.jstor.org/stable/26167752?seq=1 https://www.jstor.org/stable/26167752?seq=1

river99 7y ago
Some cars have a tracking toggle switch. I believe BMW is one such example.
ReptileMan 7y ago
Can't you just cut the antenna? Or just improvise a Faraday cage around it.
- reaperducer 7y ago
  Good luck finding it. And then, good luck getting to it.
  - kop316 7y ago
    While a pain, it isn't impossible. There will be an FCC ID that it has (due to transmitting receiving). Based on that device, you at least know what to look for (a PCI card? An entire board? an Antenna?). Since FCC testing is expensive, I would not doubt that many manufacturers just make one card to install into multiple cars (to lower the FCC testing cost). That would be the best case, as all you need to do is find and remove that card.
    - _sbrk 7y ago
      Instead of doing that, I'd simulate "network loss" by substituting a 50 ohm dummy load for the output antenna. This assumes that it is a connector, not soldered right to the board. This way, there is no "fault" other than not being in a cellular-coverage area.
      - kop316 7y ago
        That's a good way too. Didn't think of that.

kylec 7y ago

I once turned off remote tracking on a Turo I rented. Within a few minutes I got a text from the owner asking me to turn it back on, pointing out it was part of the agreement for renting the car. I did, but it did make me wonder just how closely I was being watched.

reaperducer 7y ago

First thing I do in any rental car is turn off any remote tracking, mobile apps, clear out bluetooth and turn off wifi if equipped. The first thing I do when I rent a car is adjust the mirrors and the seat, and then get out of the airport as quickly as I can. I might think about resetting stuff when I get to the hotel, but if I'm renting a car I have better things to do with my life. I doubt that even 1% of the people in the world reset anything in a rental car. Including people on HN who state that they do. This is why pressure should be put on the rental companies to do this as part of the check-in process.

juskrey 7y ago
Rental car GPS is pretty much one of the few tracking things I actually want to be there. It makes my rental MUCH cheaper and road help much better. If you need to hide from the radars, chose another method of transportation.