Who has OnStar?

[peppy]

If this is true, are they trying to ruin their sales?

OnStar Tracks Your Car Even When You Cancel Service | Threat Level | Wired.com

Navigation-and-emergency-services company OnStar is notifying its six million account holders that it will keep a complete accounting of the speed and location of OnStar-equipped vehicles, even for drivers who discontinue monthly service.

OnStar began e-mailing customers Monday about its update to the privacy policy, which grants OnStar the right to sell that GPS-derived data in an anonymized format.

Adam Denison, a spokesman for the General Motors subsidiary, said OnStar does not currently sell customer data, but it reserves that right. He said both the new and old privacy policies allow OnStar to chronicle a vehicle’s every movement and its speed, though it’s not clear where that’s stated in the old policy.

“What’s changed [is that if] you want to cancel your OnStar service, we are going to maintain a two-way connection to your vehicle unless the customer says otherwise,” Denison said in a telephone interview.

The connection will continue, he said, to make it “easier to re-enroll” in the program, which charges plans from $19 to $29 monthly for help with navigation and emergencies.

The privacy changes take effect in December, Denison said, adding that the policy reinforces the company’s right to sell anonymized data.

“We hear from organizations periodically requesting our information,” he said.

He said an example of how the data might be used would be for the Michigan Department of Transportation “to get a feel for traffic usage on a specific section of freeway.” The policy also allows the data to be used for marketing purposes by OnStar and vehicle manufacturers.

Collecting location and speed data via GPS might also create a treasure trove of data that could be used in criminal and civil cases. One could also imagine an eager police chief acquiring the data to issue speeding tickets en masse.

Jonathan Zdziarski, an Ohio forensics scientist, blogged about the new terms Tuesday. In a telephone interview, he said he was canceling his service and making sure he was being disconnected from OnStar’s network.

He said the new privacy policy goes too far.

“They added a bullet point allowing them to collect any data for any purpose,” he said.

Photo: OnStar Command Center in Detroit, Michigan. Associated Press/Gary Malerba

[stomachmonkey]

Yeahhhhh, no thank you.

Had it in the Tahoe but it was the analog system which has been turned off for 4 years now. Was considering one of the new self contained mirrors but really see no need and now this.

When we first got the truck and they were setting up the OnStar they asked how we would like to be greeted. I said, you mean they'll answer however we tell them to? I want them to answer my calls with "yes Batman".

[patssle]

I already have OnStar for emergencies. It's called my cell phone. Or the other people on the road.

[legion]

I pulled the fuse for OnStar on the way home from the dealership.

[mgatepi]

Onstar
I have to say...we like it. And we have been GM haters for years! We purchased a Denali earlier this year and paid for the Onstar concierge and navigation service. We did not buy the phone time. I really think the price wasnt too bad.
Did you guys really give it a try? And with the GM nav system, you cannot change the navigation unit while driving. So the only way to add a route is to call Onstar and have them download it...which is alot easier than using the system to search.
We like it.

[Radioactive]

I looked into it.
After reviewing the schematics for my truck I see you can't disconnect it. The GM LAN goes through the OnStar module. Removing the fuse does not disable it. The only way to remove it is to jumper the LAN past the module. After disassembling the ONstar module, I see the cell xmtr is a separate module inside. After disconnecting the xmtr everything works but I had to put a piece of tape over the red light on the mirror.

Now excuse me while I go get some more tin foil.....

[Tobra]

I would not even think about buying a car with that onstar deal

[ErVikingo]

It has been very useful for us. I don't like the privacy situation though.

[GH85Carrera]

Can't you just disable the antenna?

[Radioactive]

If you disconnect the antenna it still works. I'm guessing that there is signal through the blue tooth antenna and I still wanted to use BT. It makes sense, what If you were in a rollover situation and lost the external antenna.

[plumb4u2]

I watched a show that discussed the onstar system and they said it is almost impossible to disable. The module is buried deep in the chassis

It makes perfect sense why they do this cause the main advantage to the system is to find your car if stolen

If it where that easy to pull the fuse thieves would love it and consumers would have no confidence in it

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by plumb4u2

I watched a show that discussed the onstar system and they said it is almost impossible to disable. The module is buried deep in the chassis

It makes perfect sense why they do this cause the main advantage to the system is to find your car if stolen

If it where that easy to pull the fuse thieves would love it and consumers would have no confidence in it

That makes sense.

I guess I don't have to worry about it with my mid 80s cars

[Mark Henry]

They're already tracking your every move with your cell phone, so what's the big deal?

[t951]

Had it on my Vette. Never used it. When the service was over, I didn't renew.

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by Tobra

I would not even think about buying a car with that onstar deal

BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Lexus, Audi have all used OnStar under their own label 'Lexus Link' 'BMW Assist' etc.

Toyota/Lexus/Scion has now developed their own, so has Ford/Lincoln via Microsoft, so has Hyundai/Kia.

I guess you'll have to keep that Miata for a while!

[crustychief]

He said an example of how the data might be used would be for the Michigan Department of Transportation “to get a feel for traffic usage on a specific section of freeway.” The policy also allows the data to be used for marketing purposes by OnStar and vehicle manufacturers.



Ah yes, the migratory habits of GM vehicles. Speaking of tinfoil hats , I guess they could also monitor what is going on inside the car as well?

[plumb4u2]

Onstar is now advertising that you can have system installed in any vehicle

I agree with Mark Henry, I think we all need to face the fact that with todays technology there is no escaping Big Brother

[Mark Henry]

Originally Posted by plumb4u2

Onstar is now advertising that you can have system installed in any vehicle

I agree with Mark Henry, I think we all need to face the fact that with todays technology there is no escaping Big Brother

Sure there is...drive old cars and don't have a cell phone

[plumb4u2]

Originally Posted by Mark Henry

Sure there is...drive old cars and don't have a cell phone

Yeah but what about cameras at all the stop lights, parking lots, stores,etc,etc,etc

then what happens when your wife tries to hide a GPS in your car (didnt happen to me )

what about cable companies tracking everything we watch on TV

All this stuff doesn't bother me that much but it is like there is nothing we do in this world that goes unseen by someone

Of course you could move to the mountains of West Virginia and live without electricity and all other modern comforts. (you might be safe)