Your Car Is Spying On You What It’s Collecting and Who It’s Telling

I used to think of my car as just a tool to get from point A to
point B. But after this conversation, I can’t help but see it as
something else entirely, a powerful data collection device that
knows far more about me than I realized. From where I go and who
I text to how I drive and even what’s on my phone, today’s
vehicles are gathering a staggering amount of personal
information.


In this episode, I talk with Andrea Amico, the founder
of Privacy4Cars. Andrea is one of the leading voices in
automotive data privacy and someone who’s spent years uncovering
the hidden ways cars collect, store, and share our information.
He breaks down how connected cars work, what’s actually being
tracked, and why it matters not just for your privacy, but for
your safety and finances too.


We get into everything from rental car risks and data left behind
when you sell a car, to how automakers and third parties might be
profiting off your data without your knowledge. If you’ve ever
paired your phone with a vehicle or assumed your texts disappear
when you disconnect, this episode is going to change the way you
think about driving and how to take back control.
Show Notes:

[01:28] Andrea started Privacy4Cars because cars collect a
lot of data. There were zero protections for privacy and
security. He's dedicated to turning your car into a more private
space and giving you more choice, understanding, and control.

[02:25] We talk about when cars started collecting data.
OnStar started about 25 years ago. Things really began to evolve
when Bluetooth and navigation became common.

[03:12] Things really exploded with modern telematics which
is like putting a cell phone inside your car that calls home all
the time. The average car collects around 25 GB of data per day.

[04:08] We talk about the type of data that is collected by
cars from GPS to having your phone collected and the car even
knowing your weight.

[05:26] The sensors in your car know exactly how you drive.

[06:46] Informed consumers are better off. These data
collecting policies are usually hidden in the car manufacturers
privacy policies.

[08:46] You can find your car's privacy policy at Vehicle
Privacy Report.

[10:21] The goal is to make the car manufacturer's behavior
visible to consumers, because that's the way to drive better
company behavior.

[11:26] When you rent a car and when you sell a car, your car
is like a giant unencrypted hard drive that contains your data.

[12:06] We should wipe the data in our cars the same way we
wipe the data in our phones when we replace them.

[13:05] You can find a tool to help remove data from your car
at Privacy4Cars.

[14:21] We talk about what rental cars get from your
connected phone. 

[17:24] Found data can be used in targeted spear phishing
attacks.

[19:18] Most cars since 2017 have a SIM card. If a prior
owner consented to data collection, that data is still being
collected when you take over the car.

[22:15] Ford estimated that they would make $2,000 per car
per year from data services.

[24:17] It's common for cars to even have a camera that looks
at you. In a few years it might be common for vehicles to monitor
for things like intoxication.

[26:56] Organizations creating standards like the Future of
Privacy Forum.

[29:09] Cars have an EDR electronic data recorder. It's like
a black box for when an accident happens.

[34:05] Delete data when you buy, rent, or sell a car. Opt
out if you can.

[36:33] Think about your car just like your computers and
your phone.

[37:15] Andrea shares a story about how an ex-spouse was able
to duplicate her key. The dealer wanted $1,000 to reset her car.

[40:23] Parting advice includes looking up your car's VIN at
Vehicle Privacy Report.



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Andrea Amico - Privacy4Cars

Privacy4Cars

Vehicle Privacy Report

Andrea Amico - LinkedIn

Future of Privacy Forum

Endpoints-On-Wheels – Protecting Company And Employee Data In
Cars. Ciso Mitigation Strategies For Fleets, Rentals, And
Personnel-Owned Vehicles