https://www.washingtonpost.com/techn...hevy-find-out/

yikes.
an interesting read about how much data manufacturers are collecting on you as you drive.
oh and maybe why you suddenly can't get a decent insurance rate anymore.
Maybe your car's manufacturer sold your personal data, i.e. your driving style to your insurers...

let's keep it out of politics if we can, eh?

 

Hard to read a restricted article. I ain't signing up to read an article or subjecting myself to advertisers on any website where I can avoid it.

Washington Post is synonymous with politics.

-- Chuck

 

^Paywall won't let me see the article.

 

OK in short, automakers are quietly generating tremendous amounts of data; how fast you go, how hard you brake, where you go, what's in your phone, even what radio stations you listen too.
it's largely unavailable to you or even what data is being acquired.
And there are no restrictions on what they c an do with the data, like sell it to your auto insurer who set your insurance rates.
or maybe a radio station should be advertising to you for brand xyz.
In the world of big data it's kinda terrifying. there are companies out there that specialize in aggregating public data.

imagine an employer who likes your resume.
they call data service. data service has bulk subscription to GM,
They already know what car you drive from public registration records.
GM says you tend to go to bars, gay bars, a lot and you drive real fast, frequently over the speed limit.
You never get an interview and never now why.

of course may be you live next to a bar and happen to use their parking lot frequently.
or the bar has been closed for 5 years and it's an empty lot.

 

Is all of this data stored in and acquired by the ECU?

 

Mine is 20 years old,probably does not have,this kind of gadget.

 

Some competent person could possibly get rich after mapping the systems to identify the locations of the devices and devising a way to neutralize them...

This info brings to mind a personal story, that has been a puzzle to me. A year ago some of us Jeepers took an 11,000+ mile trip to the Arctic Ocean. I had bought a new Jeep JLU for the trip, and it had only a bit over 1000 miles on the odometer when we left Durango for Alaska. After we got back I got a letter from the local State Farm representative that inferred that I might be exceeding my lower rate miliage figure for a vehicle that was stored in Durango and only driven occasionally. So — I was scratching my head about HTF they knew about the odometer reading for the month of July. Suddenly it is a bit clearer now, maybe. After an explanation they didn’t pursue the matter, but now I know that they know when my odometer is churning lol

 

^
That's scary, Jim! We get low mileage discounts and the insurance company seems to get the mileage info from our MA inspection. We used to have to mail a letter on a yearly basis. We don't anymore, so I'm guessing, they are able to get the info as mentioned.

 

You apparently go there often enough to be out of free articles for the month.

 

My newest cars are an 08 BMW and an 09 CR-V. No internet connections. Thank God.