this post was submitted on 06 Sep 2023
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Privacy

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Mozilla released their studies, and I'm seeing a growing number of posts on the Internet about cars and the privacy nightmare they entail. I remember how this issue wasn't talked about earlier because "just buy an older car" was still prevalent. I'm so happy that people are taking notice. Thank you to this community and Mozilla for the work they are putting in!

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[–] [email protected] 121 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (19 children)

I'm basically in the position that I'm driving a car from 1999, and when it finally dies, I'll either be resigned to riding the bus or finding another aged used car without all this absolute bullshit in it.

Maybe it really is time for the Free Open Source Vehicle.

[–] [email protected] 52 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago

I mean.... I'd buy one. Already got a Pinecil.

[–] [email protected] 34 points 1 year ago (3 children)

You don't need a very old car, just one that is old enough the cellular network doesn't work any more.

Some vehicles were made for 3g, and can't go to 4g for example.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Just put a faraday cage around the antenna.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

My VW has carplay / android auto but the built-in Sim no longer functions (2g).

From 2011 has most modern luxuries

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

2g antenna sare still up and running. Every new generation is add on top of the previous like a new layer of the network. And telemetry can be collected through older gen network.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

TMobile recently dropped 3g I think. I have an old iphone (4 I think) and they could not get my sim to work on it because it did not support 4g.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Not everywhere in the world. Australia have turned off 2g for instance.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

TIL. But why would you do that ? Ain't it more convenient to keep every gen ?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

We're a bit mad out here, we turned off CDMA in favour of 3G. The 3G system our main telco implemented was built for England and didn't have amps built into the specifications.

Every site that was rolled out in regional areas needed to be attended to and upgraded with amplifiers (I know as I was one of such techs) doing heaps more work during the changeover period.

I believe the main reason is to reduce the volume of channels being broadcast on, to free up for other services (our analogue TV is turned off too).

[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 year ago

Maybe it really is time for the Free Open Source Vehicle.

Sure, but what it is for certain time for is making this sort of spying and tracking illegal. If I as a private citizen tracked someone this much, it would be considered stalking, which is a criminal offense.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

Getting a base model can somewhat help too. My 2020 car only has carplay. No built in navigation or any remote or homing tech (that I know of). It’s the higher trims that get all the fancy tech “features”.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago

Oh my god, no. No, no, no.

Just because they aren't making those features available to you doesn't mean they aren't still tracking all that stuff.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I mean sort of. What is "base" has also changed.

Try finding an EV that doesn't have automatic windows but has old school manual rollup/rolldown windows. You can't, even though its more environmentally friendly.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 year ago (17 children)

I’m sorry but roll windows are awful and I’ve personally seen people nearly get in accidents because they’re focused on rolling the window instead of the road.

I am willing to bet A LOT that the energy consumption of the small window servo is trivial on the ev’s battery and is a worthwhile expenditure so that the already incompetent drivers aren’t engaging in a physical task while driving down the highway.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago

Before every car had electrical windows, they was car with electric for the front seats but not the back. It's a nice compromise.

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

With a button you just press it to close the windows for a short stint of faster driving where having the windows down is uncomfortable. With a flange you'd probably be more inclined to leave them open because of the effort required to close them while driving. I think having your windows open even for a few short drives leads to more energy usage by increased drag than the window servo uses in the whole cars' lifetime. So I don't think it is any more environmentally friendly.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm sure [email protected] would be happy to welcome you if you decided to go with buses.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

That community completely ignores reality for ~~millions~~ billions of people that absolutely need a car to live a life in the thousands of cities that don't have adequate public transportation and 100% of the rural areas in the world.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago

I don't think they ignore it, they're just not happy about it.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

They are fighting for better transportations for them so, I don't think they ignore them. They are very aware of them and very keen on improving their lives conditions.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Multiple billions no. There's 1.4 billion cars after a casual google, and considering how many people have cars as a convenience or multiple cars I think it might be closer to a single billion people need cars.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

That's kinda extreme lol but I hope that companies start selling non smart cars. I don't want my car to be smart , I want my car to take me to point A and B , and be able to fix it myself.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I miss my old 1999 Grand Marquis. Plenty of power, stupid easy to work on, rode like a dream, no tech bullshit. Fuel mileage was pretty crappy (owing to the V8 and curb weight) but it was a solid car. I largely drive cars until the die (did with that one too) and am thinking forward I may do the same and try to find older vehicles.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Man I would loooooove to find an old like 95 Regal. Totally a grandpa car, but all the freaking amenities, better cushioning than your couch, leg room, bench seat half the time, a V8 that can't dump power and you can hold like 5 half racks under the hood if you needed too (tho pls don't) there's so much room.

Not a knuckle of blood anywhere to be found.

One thing I love about older cars from Detroit, definitely not the gas mileage but I can keep my spare fluids in the engine compartment lol

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I'll probably just fix up my GS500 and run that until petrol is outlawed. Possibly the last fully mechanical motor vehicle ever sold.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I get what you're trying to say but gas engines are inherently electrical. That's how they generate the spark.

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