Does Big Brother Own You via Your Car or Truck? My 911 Experience with GM Infotainment Software Upd

a reply to: Identified

For some reason that made me think of this song:

originally posted by: vonclod
a reply to: Identified
No thanks..I like doing things for myself! we are all going to become helpless babies with 0 skills.

Yep... Look at the commercials for cars today.
Not paying attention because you're preoccupied with your phone? We'll stop you.
Is your lack of paying attention causing you to drift into the other lane? We'll pull you back.
Not looking before you change lanes? We'll alert you in your side view mirrors.

The only "safety" feature I like on my truck in the back up camera, and I only use it if I'm backing up into a spot with a car or wall behind me. Side air bags have the absolute worst blind spots. My nephew turned his car into a light pole when he was going 10 mph in an open parking lot because he never saw it. Normally I'd call BS, but I've nearly pulled out in front of a car because of the side air bag blind spot so I'm a believer. I bought my son a 2002 Ram with not a single blind spot. The big head rests get in the way, too.

And now you know what the real goal of the "cash for clunkers" program was.

Getting as many of the older model cars as possible that didn't have gps/onstar and didn't rely on computer systems off of the road..



Respectfully,
~meathead

a reply to: LSU2018

Nice!

a reply to: Mike Stivic

You have a good point

A lot of software development is being taken over by idiots driven by greedy corporations.

Your updates are probably being sent from India.

a reply to: roadgravel

Yes I would agree as Mexico is not good with software coding.

originally posted by: ManFromEurope
The question is: "WHY did you update a sensitive electronic equipment in your car while driving?"

Most do not consider the radio to be sensitive electronic equipment. Maybe they should.

a reply to: chris_stibrany

Do you honestly have a wifi control on your garage door? why?

We bought a 24 year old home in 2016. The garage door was a POS and the remote malfunctioned daily so we went with a new Door and Opener. Lifetime warranty on all for life. [Our life of owning the home] Unit has WIFI but I told installers to disable it at install. I have no choice as these are packaged bundles. It also goes for my Honeywell Thermostats with WIFI. I wanted a thermo with that pretty colored screen so if that's what I want it automatically comes with WIFI which I also had the installers disable. This thermostat kicks arse. Excellent product along with 24 / 7 Relative Humidity and automatic Daylight Savings Time changeover. Clock is dead on after 2+ years

Honeywell

originally posted by: roadgravel
A lot of software development is being taken over by idiots driven by greedy corporations.

Your updates are probably being sent from India.

No man. North Korea EMP America. We are going to war guys!

a reply to: Waterglass

That sucks ; do they not sell normal micro/radio wave frequency openers anymore?
I am looking to buy a house in a year or two and I don't want any smart crap.

Thanks, never buying a new vehicle ever again.

My '97 ZJ will be the only car I ever drive, if I have anything to say about it.

I'll fix that car until I die of old age.

originally posted by: Mike Stivic
And now you know what the real goal of the "cash for clunkers" program was.

Getting as many of the older model cars as possible that didn't have gps/onstar and didn't rely on computer systems off of the road..

Respectfully,
~meathead

Yep here in oz they have brought a new tax for people driving old cars, their reasoning is t he old cars cause too much pollution.

I'm not buying it, they want everyone driving new cars that connect to big brother.

In case of a national state of emergency FEMA would have control of all transportation. And if FEMA decides no one should be driving on "their" roads they can simply turn all our vehicles off.

originally posted by: MissSmartypants
In case of a national state of emergency FEMA would have control of all transportation. And if FEMA decides no one should be driving on "their" roads they can simply turn all our vehicles off.

How very convenient

originally posted by: Waterglass
Yesterday, I was on my way to pick up a bag of snake repellent as it’s that time of year again. So I get into the Pickup Truck and start it up. Since I have a rear camera I always look at the 8" diagonal Touch Screen located in the dash to double check what’s behind me but that's not what happened yesterday morning.

So I start the truck in my garage and the touch screen goes blank and I get a message that allows me to make a decision to ALLOW a software update or to CANCEL it. So WTF I pushed allow as I know the electronic outside air temperature reader is "off". OK, so I start driving as this thing starts its download. So I get to ACE hardware about 10 minutes later and go into the store and the touch screen shows that the software update is continuing. So I leave the store in another 10 minutes and get into the truck. I look at the screen which shows I am at 41% download so I turn the key to start the truck. Guess what. Everything is dead as in nothing turns on. I mean nothing. No dash information, no lights, no sound, no anything including, no emergency lights. The only exception is that touch screen showing that I am at 41% download. Since it was 94 degrees outside I have a choice and its not to stay in the truck. So I head to the lumber yard barn to shoot the breeze with a couple of employees and tell them what’s going on. Being normal Deep South bubba boys they sheet their Blue Denim Bib Overalls when I told them what’s going on. I did too. So I spent another 10 minutes with them and went back to the truck. I am now around 75% so I try to start the truck again. Nah, not going to happen and now I am pissed. So I start texting my wife and I took a picture of the touch screen and sent it to her. I also am now wondering whether this is a General Motors software update or am I being hacked. So I do remember that although I allowed my cell phone to charge on the USB port I NEVER ALLOWED MY PHONE TO SYNC OR CONNECT WITH THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM so as to protect hacking or whatever.

Here's the GM link:

Chevrolet Infotainment Systems

Another 10 minutes passes and the software download is now accelerating its download. Success! I am now at 98% so I get into the truck and watch the display. I also don't touch anything because of prior experiences with those Mister Softee downloads. So now the touch screen goes dead. Sheet. Am I now screwed as almost a minute passes and the screen is dead and so is the vehicle. I start to look in my wallet for my Triple A card but Walla, the screen comes back and is now installing. That takes another minute or so and I just stay still. Finally it’s loaded and it says complete. I start the truck and get the AC on. Everything is working except the touch screen radio. Fook! So I now head towards the nearest GM dealer but after turning the truck off at another store the radio came back on.

So let’s think about this. I am now beginning to think like the guys in the tin foil hats. "They", can shut the entire vehicle off at any time anywhere such that the emergency lights will not function. Your vehicle is dead in the water for well over 1/2 hour. Being a "Yankee" living in the deep south what if I was late to a "Sons of the Confederacy" meeting, KKK meeting, church, brothel, liquor store or whatever.

What if the boys from the local, state or FBI were after me for writing something on this site. Yikes, just like the music on the TV show the COPS. Here's the theme song:

COPS

Me for one is spooked about the above. Fine they can monitor our conversations via our TV sets and Cell phones but our cars! We can’t escape. They own us. So as a former Boy Scout my pledge to myself and my family is as follows:

I will behave and become a sheeple.
I will NOT connect nor link my phone nor any other device to the Samsung WIFI refrigerator.
I will consider removing the speakers from my Android phone.
I will consider buying a soundproof box or container so I can toss the cell phone into. I mean all Big Brother needs to do is record me during an NFL football game. They would claim that I am insane, as the guy talks to God and Jesus, they would invoke a Red Flag Gun Law and come and take my guns. Think about it.
I will NEVER install an electronic touch screen pad on my entry doors.
I will NEVER activate the WIFI option on my Garage Door.
I WILL buy an EMP proof pre computerized vehicle as a means of safety

Wow for me this is a Holy Sheet Batman Moment.

Possibly my ex-wife who works for the USPS wasn't crazy as she related to me over 20 years ago that another USPS employee referred to as the "undertaker" told her that he buried his guns inside a coffin somewhere in the back yard. I really thought she was off along with him but now looking back maybe they were just "progressives"

UPDATE:

I called GM at 877-558-8352 to ask whether it was their software update. YES it was and it takes between 1 to 2 hours to download and install, and yes the ENTIRE vehicle will SHUT DOWN during that process per GM. BUT, since I already had the truck on and and then touched the screen to allow the software update with engine running it did allow me to drive to my 1st destination. Potential ISSUE? Its on them. Still LOVE the truck!!!

We've been using this in form lift trucks for years, you can adjust their settings and performance in software. It's pretty cool. You can update an entire fleet from your laptop to meet new requirements without having to call each one into the shop.

That said, my personal vehicle has no onboard management system with any form of remote connection. If you want to access it you need to pop the hood and connect a cable, and my other systems are all after market and have no connection to the engine or the controls. I fear a technical problem more than deliberate interference. If my sat nav goes down it won't effect my engine.

a reply to: MissSmartypants
I know nothing about cars, but coming from a time when guys could put a running vehicle together from pieces collected from the junk yard, if they did shut off the cars, isn't there a work around?

I know times were different, cars were different, and there were very few, if any, rules and regulations about what was road legal or not, but I think there would be more than a few folk around that would have that particular set of skills, that could easily fix that problem.

Fun thing about Onstar is that they can listen in and track you even if you don't subscribe. On top of that if you don't subscribe the police can get information and listen in without a warrant because it's transmitted publically . Just an FYI.

a reply to: Waterglass

what would happen if your car stopped responding in the middle of the road? would you sue GM because you've managed to kill someone with your stupidity?

also, what would happen if you wouldn't drive the car until the update finished? oh, right. no thread.

a reply to: jedi_hamster

That right just blame the messenger and let the OEM skate. I simply went into the garage and started the truck up. I then looked to the dash display to see if anything was behind me and the screen had a software update prompt to accept or decline. I accepted and the software download began. The car was still in park in the garage at that time. The screen DID NOT delineate to NOT DRIVE THE CAR nor were any instructions of any type given nor did the car shut off.

Do you understand?

So in your opinion I wasn't supposed to drive the car? Because if you are the "man" then GM has a serious issue here and their Programmers either at GM or over at the NSA goofed and that engine and vehicle should have been shut down while I was still in park in the garage.

Because of your expert opinion on this issue I suggest that your contact the NHTSA or CPSC so as to save mankind. I already contacted GM so its in their hands to do something.