Hacker News Reader

Comment by dreamcompiler | Hacker News Reader

Has anybody built a website with easy instructions for finding and disabling the cellular modems in various models of cars?

View on HN

Predictably, manufacturers keep making this harder and harder. They make money from the data and don't want to lose that. In my old corvette, it was a simple as pulling fuse 27. In the 2022 model that breaks other things (compass, Bluetooth), so I’m going to go find the lte antenna connectors and replace them with 50ohm resistors whenever I have a free weekend next.

That's exactly the fix I want: Make it impossible for the software to know it's been disabled. It should behave as if the car is perpetually in a tunnel.

I don't care if it stops maps from being downloaded--most cars have vastly inferior navigation software compared to phones.

That is a great idea, just make it think it's always in a tunnel.

alternatively you can flash the computer to basic trim or international models. On Ford, it's quite easy to remove.

But for Mercedes/BMW I doubt so, even 20yrs ago they had advanced telematics/telephone/sos that integrated nicely into everything.

One example: https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/disabling-fordpass... you can find more via good old fashioned car forums.

Bob's site is endlessly useful.

It does have to have a SIM card somewhere in it, right? Can't you just pull that out? And if it refuses to work without one, put a SIM card that's disconnected or is from a foreign country.

SIMs don't have to be removable; there are re-programmable versions called eSIMs. I assume cars are more likely to use these.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESIM

Yes, I know, my current phone has one in it but I haven't used it yet, but should be handy for traveling (you can use it in dual-SIM mode by keeping the physical SIM card installed). This is a relatively new technology, and I keep seeing people say that the automotive industry really likes to stay behind on hardware. So I don't think it's likely they're putting these into cars just yet.

Trouble is the car has GPS too, so if it saw you were in the US with a non-US SIM card it might decide to insist you take it to a dealer. That's why I like the 50 ohm resistor idea.

Right, I tend to forget that most devices come with malware preinstalled these days.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com