Paranoia in your car? (Onstar)
Paranoia in your car? (Onstar)
I got to thinking while in my car today. (I know, but ya gotta think once in a while. LOL)
After making a rather interesting comment inside the car, about another driver. I thought to myself, "good thing nobody heard that". Then I noticed the Onstar button, and this got me to thinking some more.
If your car has Onstar installed in it, you have a microphone of some kind in your car. Even if you don't subscribe to Onstar (like me -- never subscribed to it), there's a microphone of some kind in your car.
To anyone who has Onstar installed in any of their cars:
Do you ever wonder if a bored Onstar operator punches up a car at random and just listens to conversations inside the car? Just for kicks and giggles. If this is even possible. Can you imagine the conversations they would here? If you worked for Onstar, would you like to eavesdrop on people's conversations like this?
What do you think? Is this going to make you think twice before saying something inside your car?
After making a rather interesting comment inside the car, about another driver. I thought to myself, "good thing nobody heard that". Then I noticed the Onstar button, and this got me to thinking some more.
If your car has Onstar installed in it, you have a microphone of some kind in your car. Even if you don't subscribe to Onstar (like me -- never subscribed to it), there's a microphone of some kind in your car.
To anyone who has Onstar installed in any of their cars:
Do you ever wonder if a bored Onstar operator punches up a car at random and just listens to conversations inside the car? Just for kicks and giggles. If this is even possible. Can you imagine the conversations they would here? If you worked for Onstar, would you like to eavesdrop on people's conversations like this?
What do you think? Is this going to make you think twice before saying something inside your car?
RE: Paranoia in your car? (Onstar)
[align=center]Yes, Moderator `Taz,[/align][align=center]OnStar is listening, and so is BIG BROTHER[/align][align=center]and I heard certain Space Aliens can listen `in : )[/align][align=center]
yeap it's true.[/align][align=center]Sure is `Space....
[/align][align=center][:-][/align]
Boycott All GM Vehicles with OnStar
www.onstarprivacy.com • www.boycottgeneralmotors.com • www.boycottonstar.com
www.dontbuygm.com • www.gmprivacy.com
Why Did You Make This Website?
The purpose of this website is to encourage you not to purchase any GM vehicle that is equipped with OnStar or any other type of spyware that you cannot easily remove and disable on your own, without additional cost and without seeing your dealer. According to the GM website, all GM vehicles will come with OnStar as part of their standard equipment package. This means that you cannot order a car without it, just like you cannot elect not to have seatbelts (which should be your right as well, but that's a topic covered on one of my other websites).
Why Wouldn't I Want OnStar? [:-]
You very well may want to use OnStar in your vehicle. It is great if you frequently lock yourself out of your own car. It is also useful for recovering your vehicle if it is stolen, but then again so is LoJack. Common sense (like taking the detachable faceplate of your several thousand dollar stereo system with you) and careful parking (such as not parking in bad areas that are poorly lit) are also a great theft prevention tools.
But OnStar is also one of the best tools available that the government and big business could use to invade your privacy. In some cases, OnStar data has been used against the owner of the vehicle. Below are some examples of how data collected by the OnStar service and/or other devices similar to it in operation have been used:[ul][center]In the Scott Peterson double murder case, police obtained a warrant to secretly place GPS transmitters on his three vehicles. GPS devices report the exact location of an object to a network of satellites constantly. While the devices were not OnStar units, this case clears the way for OnStar data to be used in California courts and possibly elsewhere.
Information is circulating on the Internet that tells you how to get at your OnStar unit and download its databank. This information can also be used by anyone else.
OnStar can be used to listen to all conversations within a vehicle[b], despite assertions by OnStar representatives to the contrary. A recent court decision has by the 9th Circuit Federal Appeals Court has declare
yeap it's true.[/align][align=center]Sure is `Space....[/align][align=center][:-][/align] Boycott All GM Vehicles with OnStar
www.onstarprivacy.com • www.boycottgeneralmotors.com • www.boycottonstar.com
www.dontbuygm.com • www.gmprivacy.com
Why Did You Make This Website?
The purpose of this website is to encourage you not to purchase any GM vehicle that is equipped with OnStar or any other type of spyware that you cannot easily remove and disable on your own, without additional cost and without seeing your dealer. According to the GM website, all GM vehicles will come with OnStar as part of their standard equipment package. This means that you cannot order a car without it, just like you cannot elect not to have seatbelts (which should be your right as well, but that's a topic covered on one of my other websites).
Why Wouldn't I Want OnStar? [:-]
You very well may want to use OnStar in your vehicle. It is great if you frequently lock yourself out of your own car. It is also useful for recovering your vehicle if it is stolen, but then again so is LoJack. Common sense (like taking the detachable faceplate of your several thousand dollar stereo system with you) and careful parking (such as not parking in bad areas that are poorly lit) are also a great theft prevention tools.
But OnStar is also one of the best tools available that the government and big business could use to invade your privacy. In some cases, OnStar data has been used against the owner of the vehicle. Below are some examples of how data collected by the OnStar service and/or other devices similar to it in operation have been used:
Information is circulating on the Internet that tells you how to get at your OnStar unit and download its databank. This information can also be used by anyone else.
OnStar can be used to listen to all conversations within a vehicle[b], despite assertions by OnStar representatives to the contrary. A recent court decision has by the 9th Circuit Federal Appeals Court has declare
RE: Paranoia in your car? (Onstar)
If I had a choice, I wouldnt have onstar equipped on any of my vehicles. It it had to be installed, I would find a way to disable it somehow. I dont think I would use it ever, I wouldnt pay for it. One thing I dont like about it is I was working on an Audi one time that had onstar and it started talking to me out of the blue when I was working inside. It freaked me out cause I didnt know why. I still dont know why it just randomly started talking to me. It was like a welcome to onstar greeting or something like that. It was playing a recorded conversation over onstar that someone had showing what it could be used for.
RE: Paranoia in your car? (Onstar)
Hey Space, thanks for the info. If they are infact using Onstar data the way your info claims, maybe the powers that be will finally realize how bad the freakin bumper to bumper traffic is around here. My driver information thingy on the inside roof of the car says my average speed is 35 kilometers per hour. The speed limit on city streets is 50 kph. [:'(]
Monte Of The Month -- August 2007
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,231
RE: Paranoia in your car? (Onstar)
We now have 2 with Onstar. Driving 2 hrs a day, and using it a couple of times, I appreciate it being there. Is it "big brother"? It's annoying at times, that's for sure. As long as I'm doing LOTS of driving, I will continue to subscribe, as I do to Sirius radio, and LadyT does to XM. "Staying connected".
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 784
RE: Paranoia in your car? (Onstar)
I don't know though...I would think with [federal]privacy laws OnStar would have kind of a system to prevent employees to do that. I don't know OnStar at all, never owning a vehicle new enough. Good thoughts though!
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,295
RE: Paranoia in your car? (Onstar)
"Hello, Mr. Massey. This is Diane with OnStar. Hi!"
"OnStar? My car don't even have OnStar."
"All domestic made cars were wired for OnStar after 9/11. It's part of Homeland Security"
"What can I do for you, Diane?"
"Well, you can slow down for one thing. Where's the fire? I'm telling your wife you were speeding, again!"
"Go ahead. She knows. She drives faster than I do."
"Are you going to tell the guys in Monte Carlo Forum that we listen-in on all your private conversations?"
"They already know. Paranoia strikes deep."
"Damn, ... and we were having so much fun listening to Taz!"