Nearly three-quarters of American drivers say they are uncomfortable with automakers sharing their data with third parties, according to a new survey from Kaspersky.
Due to these concerns, 71% of the respondents said they would even “consider buying an older car or one with less technology” to protect their privacy.
Modern cars come loaded with sensors, cameras, microphones, Bluetooth infotainment systems, car-specific apps, and even artificial intelligence (AI) assistants. While these add-ons can be convenient and have numerous benefits, they also allow car makers to collect vast amounts of data about drivers.
“A connected vehicle knows where you go, how fast you get there, and what you listen to on the way – even potentially what your kids are doing in the backseat,” Kurt Baumgartner, principal security researcher at Kaspersky’s Global Research and Analysis Team, said in a press release shared with VPNOverview.
Besides the possibility of car makers sharing this data with third parties, it could end up in the hands of cybercriminals in the event of a cyberattack, Kaspersky noted.
“As drivers, we need to advocate for privacy safeguards and common sense ownership agreements where we can enjoy the convenience of tech-enabled cars without giving it all up,” Baumgartner added.
Many Americans Have No Idea What Data Their Car Collects
While 72% of the 2,000 Americans who participated in the survey said they were not comfortable with carmakers sharing their data with third parties such as insurance companies and marketers, 37% said they were “very uncomfortable,” with this.
Meanwhile, only 28% of the respondents said “they have some idea of what kind of data their automaker collects.” And, this figure dropped “significantly” as the ages of respondents went up.
The type of data cars collect can indeed be highly personal, Baumgartner explained. For instance, the data collection policies of many automakers “allow them to track and share users’ marital status and other surprisingly personal information that gets connected through their phone.”
Americans, Baumgartner added, pay a lot of money for extra car gadgets, only to end up compromising their data privacy. “Essentially, Americans pay thousands extra on these gadgets for surveillance technology to monitor themselves, and then have that personal data sold to arbitrary buyers,” he said.
One of the major dangers is that most drivers “appear to be wirelessly pairing their phone with their car,” Kaspersky said, especially given the popularity of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay among younger drivers. While up to 69% of the respondents aged 18-24 said they paired their phones with their cards, only 30% of those above 55 years old said they were pairing their phones to the car.
“Cars often connect with drivers’ smartphones, opening another avenue to personal data collection. This even can allow them to collect information such as where you go, how long you stay, who travels with you, and whether or not you wear a seatbelt,” Kaspersky added.
One of the new tech showcased at the recently concluded CES 2024 tech show is AI-enhanced infotainment systems. These systems are designed to provide a more interactive and personalized experience. However, AI systems can collect and process a large amount of user data.
Safeguarding Your Personal Data
While a large portion of the respondents of all ages were concerned with data privacy issues, and many said they would either buy an older car or one with less technology because of this, Kaspersky said these views may be unrealistic as more and more new cars will come “connected” from the factory.
“Unfortunately for the privacy-minded, both of these options are likely to get less realistic as time goes on, and connected cars make up a growing share of the available inventory,” Kaspersky said.
Kaspersky outlined some recommendations for new car owners to improve their data privacy and security:
- Refrain from activating Apple’s CarPlay or Android Auto pairing functions.
- Do not install your car’s mobile app.
- When pairing your phone via Bluetooth with your car, don’t allow the car to access your address book or grant it deep device permissions.
- Consider buying an older car or one with fewer smart sensors and no communication module (early 2000s cars, for instance).
- Inquire about the car manufacturer’s privacy policy when purchasing a new car.
- Sign Mozilla’s collective petition to car manufacturers for better data protection.
In Sept. 2023, Mozilla gave twenty-five top carmakers a “Privacy Not Included” warning label, “making cars the worst category of products for privacy.” Given these concerning findings, we recommend you scrutinize your car’s digital systems. Check your car’s menus for security or privacy features and ensure you adjust these settings for maximum privacy and cybersecurity.
Read our guide to staying safe online for more security tips.
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