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Comment by ksynwa | Hacker News Reader

What I am wondering if to what extent (if any) I can protect myself as an end user from this kind of spying by just not connecting these smart devices to the internet.

A while I read about smart TVs bypassing pihole-style blockers by using hardcoded IP addresses and DNS server addresses.

I don't even know how smart cars work. Do they have their own SIM card or something like that? Either way there are so many ways they can subvert obstacles. For example a car could scan for unprotected WiFi networks and connect to one if found.

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Every new car has a SIM card. Apparently in Europe used for emergency automatic calls. But having SIM card in the car is not mandatory. All the information in other cases is saved in the car. And when you bring the car to the dealership the information is transferred over the wire in old fashioned way. Safest thing is to have an older car without much electronics, that can be repaired outside dealership network. Some cars like a Teslas have very normal cameras filming interior. Apparently to monitor the driver. But who knows.

I intentionally bought a used car with only a 3G network connection, knowing (at the time, almost 3 years ago) it would soon shut down in the US. I smiled at the "Your OnStar will soon stop working" messages, and intend to hold onto it for a good long time.

> Some cars like a Teslas have very normal cameras filming interior.

Wow is this real?

Cars that offer driver assistance have to have some way of determining that the driver is awake and paying attention. One way is to monitor steering wheel input which is how older Teslas do it another is to use a camera to monitor the driver's face and that is done by several brands not just new Teslas.

Absolutely! As well as 1€ camera covers from AliExpress.

Yes a mobile as a government tracking device in your car is mandated in Europe.

my understanding is for things like eCall that the phone only gets activated when it's actually needed (i.e: an emergency), but never found a check/analysis of this on cars (though i only looked for 2 mins when i checked)

Not yet. But soon, when cars are required to transmit data about emissions.

Which directive is that, and what's the point of it vs emissions point monitoring at annual inspection time?

2024/1257 [0], for checking fleet compliance, not the individual vehicle, anonymously. How a car is supposed to connect to a cell tower anonymously isn't explained though.

"6. The OBM systems installed by the manufacturer in the vehicles shall be capable of: [...] (b) communicating data on exhaust emission performance and battery durability data of the vehicle via the OBD port, including for the purpose of roadworthiness tests in accordance with Directive 2014/45/EU and technical roadside inspections in accordance with Directive 2014/47/EU, and anonymously over the air for the purpose of monitoring compliance of vehicle types;"

[0] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELE...

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