Today’s cars are essentially computers on wheels. How you feel about that depends on how you view computers.
The California Privacy Protection Agency is not a fan. They are looking into whether all that sophisticated technology that delivers a smoother, more reliable, and more comfortable ride is also invading your privacy and collecting personal data about your location, your personal preferences, and other details about your daily life.
If a recent study by Mozilla is any indication, your car may be doing all that and more. The company researched 25 major automotive brands and found that all of them are sticking their gears into your business – and letting others know what they learn about you.
What Do They Know?
Your car has an app – that app can connect to your phone – how much personal information could someone find if they got hold of your cell phone? There’s a reason why scammers prize cell phone numbers over any personal content besides a social security number.
Your car’s computer can collect or exchange more information about you through Sirius XM and Google Maps. They know where you go, where you work, and where you pick your kids up from school. If you listen to talk radio they can guess your politics and who will get your vote in the next election. After a few weeks of driving, it would be possible to create an entire dossier that even a private detective couldn’t assemble.
What Will They Do With That Content?
Share it, of course, or sell it. Information is currency, and marketers will gladly pay, as will data brokers. If the police or the government asks for that information, that request will also be granted – and probable cause is not required to respond to an informal request.
What Can You Do About It?
Nothing – unless you like exotic European imports. According to Mozilla only Renault and Dacia (which are owned by the same parent company) provide drivers with the right to have their personal data deleted. To the rest of the automakers, you are fair game.
So if you can’t stop them, what you can do is make sure the brokers and other sites that acquire this data won’t make it accessible – that’s what IronWall360 online privacy protection does. We also offer tools that mask your email address, cell phone, and online search and browsing activity – together, these preserve much of your privacy by flooding the market with false data that cannot be traced back to you.
We can’t stop your car from spying on you. But we can help to protect you from their under-hooded activities.
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