Computer spying

[A-1 (imported)]

that would be great for people like that stupid woman who rearended me a few years back, I was doing 65 she hit me doing over a 100, totaled the car I was in, first thing out of her mouth, "I was not on my cell phone". If there was a little box in her car it would not have said she was on the phone but it would have said how fast she was going.

River

...It would also tell if she hit the brakes before or AFTER she rear-ended you. If the air bags went off before the brake was used it is pretty evident that the silly bitch was in ga ga land...

...if it is freedom that you want build yourself a kit car...otherwise, unkle sam is going to be your permanent back-seat driver...

[Rusty Dai (imported)]

Maybe our fine legislators should regulate whether or not all vehicles have a positive, non-electronic method of disengaging the power to the wheels.

One idea: when the throttle is controlled electronically, it is not okay to have an electronic control of the automatic transmission, it must be able to completely disengage power to the drive wheels when the shift lever is moved into the neutral position.

My car has "drive by wire" throttle control. If I press the accelerator pedal when in park or neutral, the engine will not rev up too high, the electronics shut off the engine. The power to the drive wheels is cut when the shift lever is moved from Drive to Neutral.

Happy in my Honda and hoping that a certain large software company isn't writing the bug-ware controlling my next car's systems.

[micropenis (imported)]

His thread was about laptops....

http://www.eunuch.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=17500

I like OnStar, use it for GPS directions, on board phone, etc. I like that I can call for help if needed. Maybe they can track me, but if I warrant tracking I guess I'd be desparate enough to disable it by disconnecting the power to it.

OnStar is fully intergrated into the car's comuter system. GM can rudece the throttle to idle when a car is being pursued by the police. You can't remove it. Try using a GPS unit. You can always leave it home when you don't need it.

Cell phones have GPS too. They put it in in case you call 911 they can pinpoint you location faster. I can see justification for that. I can always leave it home or take the battery out when hiding a dead body.

I have heard that laptop computers have them too. I have not confi

rmed that, nor have I heard an excuse for it.

onstar is not the HALF of it...

the computer that controls the systems like anti-lock brakes, ignition timing, injection mixtures and so forth records during auto accidents, too. So insurance companies can access the information in your car to determine fault in an accident.

it is like the bl

ack box in-flight data recorders in planes...

Be aware of what the government and corporations can do.

Vote with your dollars. As long as there are still product options that will protect you privacy, buy them. Lodge consumer complaints with manufacturers. They listen to the hand that feeds them (for now).

I am sure that all the 3 letter government agencys in law enforcement have OnStar access codes. They can always get a warrant later if they want or need it. I bet there are many individuals in those agencys who have gotten the codes and can use them when they want for thier own purposes.

Let me think; there is...

G•M•C

F•B•I

A•T•F

N•S•A

C•I•A

M•I•C-K•E•Y, M•O•U•S•E!!!

Cover your ass. Don't forget to complain to your congressman and vote!

[Dave (imported)]

Maybe our fine legislators should regulate whether or not all vehicles have a positive, non-electronic method of disengaging the power to the wheels.

...

All American made cars with the fancy electronics have a "brake override" programmed into it. That means that when you press the brake pedal, the electronics cut off the gas pedal and put the brakes on... Toyota for some reason did not have that.

[nonuts (imported)]

All American made cars with the fancy electronics have a "brake override" programmed into it. That means that when you press the brake pedal, the electronics cut off the gas pedal and put the brakes on... Toyota for some reason did not have that.

Sorry Dave, but you're not entirely correct. If the throttle is open, IE the accelerator pressed down, it will stay in that condition regardless of if the brake pedal is pressed, American car or other wise. To test this you simply need to apply your right foot on the gas, and your left foot on the brake.

ALL electronic throttle systems have fail safes in them that can cut the throttle in cases of malfunction INCLUDING Toyota. There is nothing here other than a witch hunt, and Toyota left trying to prove a negative. It's Audi circa 1987 all over again. Audi was later proven to be driver error, and I have very little doubts Toyota will end up in a very similar case. Even if the throttle "sticks" there are MANY things a driver can do. If the government wants a fail-safe solution, they should ban automatic transmissions.

[fhunter]

OnStar is fully intergrated into the car's comuter system. GM can rudece the throttle to idle when a car is being pursued by the police. You can't remove it. Try using a GPS unit. You can always leave it home when you don't need it.

Just find where is the GPS antenna wire and pull it off. Same with the modem. Voila - no external access to hardware. Car still works, it just thinks that network coverage disappeared.

Cell phones have GPS too. They put it in in case you call 911 they can pinpoint you location faster. I can see justification for that. I can always leave it home or take the battery out when hiding a dead body.

I have heard that laptop computers have them too. I have not confi

rmed that, nor have I heard an excuse for it. There is no GPS in all phones. For location they use triangulation by the base stations. It isn't as accurate as GPS, but it works. On local cell operators here there is a service for locating phone (if the permission is given by the owner). I tried it once - it gave location +/- 500 meters. Probably can be much more accurate - my phone was "ancient" at that time.

[micropenis (imported)]

Thank you for that pearl of wisdom. Now I know what to do if I ever rent a GM car. I still won't buy one myself. I object to Government Motors on principle of capitalism.

[fhunter]

Thank you for that pearl of wisdom. Now I know what to do if I ever rent a GM car. I still won't buy one myself. I object to Government Motors on principle of capitalism.

I wouldn't recommend this - I haven't checked the information. There are two main questions - first one - how the system will react to loss of contact with the car for the long time.

Second - disconnecting the antenna from transmitting equipment you can potentially burn it.

It is one thing to tinker with your own car and the other - with a rental one. What a legal implications of this? I do not know.

PS. Ideas taken from here: http://www.openminds.net/onstar/1explanation.html

and here: http://members.cox.net/onstar/

[A-1 (imported)]

Sorry Dave, but you're not entirely correct. If the throttle is open, IE the accelerator pressed down, it will stay in that condition regardless of if the brake pedal is pressed, American car or other wise. To test this you simply need to apply your right foot on the gas, and your left foot on the brake.

ALL electronic throttle systems have fail safes in them that can cut the throttle in cases of malfunction INCLUDING Toyota. There is nothing here other than a witch hunt, and Toyota left trying to prove a negative. It's Audi circa 1987 all over again. Audi was later proven to be driver error, and I have very little doubts Toyota will end up in a very similar case. Even if the throttle "sticks" there are MANY things a driver can do. If the government wants a fail-safe solution, they should ban automatic transmissions.

The testimony of the woman from Memphis, TN on Capital Hill yesterday was convincing to say the least. Which hunt or no, such a non-mechanical system is pretty sophisticated and therefore more prone to failure. Although large commercial aircraft have such systems and certainly fighter aircraft have them, these systems have had a lot more spent on their research and development than a car manufacturer can afford to do.

Such control systems are not only unnecessary, they are dangerous because of their context.

Therefore, non-mechanical throttle and brake systems should be not be allowed on domestic automobiles intended for sale to the general public.

[IbPervert (imported)]

A long time ago with a car long since dead and recycled, I had a stuck brake peddle and all I did was slide my foot underneath the brake peddle and left it <end of story>