Big Brother/Data logging/black boxes
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From: Lo$t Angele$
Car: 1987 Chevy Camaro Z28
Engine: 305, 4bbl, A/C, T-Tops
Transmission: 700R4 4speed Automatic
Supreme Member
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Yes it is real. The "black boxes" are wired to the ECM and air bag switches. In the event of a crash it takes a "snapshot" of what was happening, speed, RPM, force of the impact and things of that nature.
Now as to why these devices were put in the cars...who knows, but the info there can not be used against you if you did not consent to it being retrieved. The worry now is that the "black boxes" may get more sophisticated and start transmitting data without you knowing, ala the first proposals for OBD III.
Now as to why these devices were put in the cars...who knows, but the info there can not be used against you if you did not consent to it being retrieved. The worry now is that the "black boxes" may get more sophisticated and start transmitting data without you knowing, ala the first proposals for OBD III.
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Winnebago - 871' ASL
The factory first called them "Air Bag" or "Deployment" modules. They've been around for almost ten years now.
That's just another reason to avoid communications on your vehicle before buying. OnStar "services" can pinpoint your location to within about six meters anywhere on the planet, remotely disable your vehicle, remotely unlock the doors, and could probably tell what your speed is at any given moment. They can probably also monitor what kind of music you're listening to, tell whether your car is polluting beyond standards, determine if you're using seat belts, etc. If they can retrieve that data, so can the authorities. We're getting more Orwellian every day.
When I finally have to get into a newer vehicle and cannot choose NOT to have OnStar installed, I think I'll demand its removal before buying. Not just disabling, but removal. If the OnStar people can get the information, so can the authorities. If the authorities can get it, so can anyone who might want to steal the vehicle. It's not a very comforting thought that someone in St. Louis can unlock the doors or disable the engine of a vehicle in Dallas via satellite. All a hacker has to do is find the communications protocols and have his way with your car. Even the Pentagon is not safe from hackers, so unimportant systems like this must be really vulnerable.
I don't imagine that this is what our founding fathers would have called "Liberty".
Then again, I've got disabled air bags in the cars, too.
That's just another reason to avoid communications on your vehicle before buying. OnStar "services" can pinpoint your location to within about six meters anywhere on the planet, remotely disable your vehicle, remotely unlock the doors, and could probably tell what your speed is at any given moment. They can probably also monitor what kind of music you're listening to, tell whether your car is polluting beyond standards, determine if you're using seat belts, etc. If they can retrieve that data, so can the authorities. We're getting more Orwellian every day.
When I finally have to get into a newer vehicle and cannot choose NOT to have OnStar installed, I think I'll demand its removal before buying. Not just disabling, but removal. If the OnStar people can get the information, so can the authorities. If the authorities can get it, so can anyone who might want to steal the vehicle. It's not a very comforting thought that someone in St. Louis can unlock the doors or disable the engine of a vehicle in Dallas via satellite. All a hacker has to do is find the communications protocols and have his way with your car. Even the Pentagon is not safe from hackers, so unimportant systems like this must be really vulnerable.
I don't imagine that this is what our founding fathers would have called "Liberty".
Then again, I've got disabled air bags in the cars, too.
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