OnStar Tracking of Your Vehicle Continues even AFTER Cancellation of Service

[RayMich]

OnStar Tracking of Your Vehicle Continues even AFTER Cancellation of Service

About 5 years ago, I was ridiculed by many and was told to get a tin foil hat when I stated that I would NOT buy any vehicle equipped with OnStar, because they can track your whereabouts, listen to your conversations and even shut down your engine without your knowledge or authorization, among other things. Never mind the fact that at one time I worked with engineers and programmers who were tasked with programming and installing the equipment and those very features were covered in many of the proposals justifying the "Service". Still I was ridiculed.

People kept saying, "I have nothing to hide!" and "Why would THEY want to track ME?", etc., etc.

Well, guess what? - Never underestimate the abuse of power by those entrusted with it ! ! !

OnStar is now admitting to being able to do many of those things that people have been claiming all along could not be done.

Beck’s OnStar Concerns Were Right — Tracking Continues Even After Cancellation
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/onst...-cancellation/

Looks like the only way to be sure is to remove or at the very least disconnect the Onstar module from your vehicle, but that will set numerous DTC codes in your vehicle and can cause other problems.


Have fun, while Big Brother IS Watching!


http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/201...ar-tracks-you/

Navigation-and-emergency-services company OnStar is notifying its six million account holders that it will keep a complete accounting of the speed and location of OnStar-equipped vehicles, even for drivers who discontinue monthly service.

OnStar began e-mailing customers Monday about its update to the privacy policy, which grants OnStar the right to sell that GPS-derived data in an anonymized format.

 

[LtEng5]

I total a behind you one this one...I tell people I work with about this everyday and they just keep denying it..... You Tube even has video of a police chase that shuts down a stolen Escalade XL that hasnt had "service" for over 2 years at the time of the chase.....

 

[btfarm]

Here's part of the e-mail:

OnStar Data Connection — Initial Terms
We have added to the Terms and Conditions the provision that if you or we cancel your OnStar Services, we will maintain the two-way connection with your Vehicle and may continue to collect data from your Vehicle, unless you take certain steps to deactivate the Data Connection or fully disable the Equipment.

If you do not want OnStar to maintain a Data Connection to your Vehicle, you can push your blue button or call us at 1.888.4.ONSTAR at any time and request that the Data Connection be deactivated. It may take up to sixty (60) days for OnStar to cancel your account and deactivate the Data Connection to your Vehicle. During this sixty (60) day period, Service may still be available, and data may be collected from your Vehicle.

Upon deactivation, OnStar will no longer be capable of contacting, or obtaining data from, your Vehicle although you will be able to contact OnStar by pressing the blue OnStar button twice. To disable the Vehicle's ability to contact OnStar through the blue OnStar button, you must visit an authorized dealer and ask them to remove the Equipment from your Vehicle.

 

[Ed HD]

Just find and unplug the module or the antenna.

Aren't there laws on the books that you can't be charged with a traffic offense unless an officer witnesses the act themselves, at least in the case of speeding, etc?

 

[GM Guy]

does this apply to Onstar FMV (I believe For My Vehicle) it is just the rearview mirror replacement one released this summer, I was thinking of getting one for my sister, and maybe throwing one in my diesel sub, since it is allready high tech fancy dancy with its power windows, locks, and automatic transmission and carpeted floors. but if they can track it as well, I may just get one for my sister.

 

[RI Chevy Silveradoman]

I agree. Onstar has no business collecting and storing data if the owner does not want that data collected, stored, or viewed. Definitely an invasion of privacy.

 

[88gmctruck]

Onstar is something I won't ever use, nor do any of my vehicles have it.

Now, if it was a connection I could control in even of theft to shut the truck down, that would be great.

These days everything collects our data, there isn't much privacy anymore unless your using a land line phone, no internet and pay for everything in cash.

 

[SfcJones]

I really hate that OnStar has took this position, they have saved my bacon once and i have had it for years now because of the crash notification feature. But if they are selling my personal data info....I don't agree to that at all but I have heard is that only applies to the newer vehicles.....

 

[GM Guy]

isnt there a digital and an analog version of onstar? where was the break? could this be the dividing point at which they take info on the newer digital, but cannot or dont on the older analog?

 

[Pepperidge]

my wifes 04' tahoe is analog...can't say for sure when they changed the units in the vehicles at the factory to digital...

 

[GM Guy]

the only reason I remember this is because theree was talk of dropping the analog subscribers due to a new system. (never did, due to the uproar) I believe it was 05-06 when they switched to digital.

 

[Pepperidge]

the only reason I remember this is because there was talk of dropping the analog subscribers due to a new system. (never did, due to the uproar) I believe it was 05-06 when they switched to digital.

Actually they shut off the analog subscribers in Jan 2008...they offered them a limited time upgrade...sign a 1year contract (worth $199)and they'd upgrade your equipment for $15...the reason was because the gov't did not(could not) force cellular carriers to to keep analog alive(well they did until 2007 thats why the Jan 2007 cut off date for analog subscribers) On star does not/did own it's own towers and cellular service, and the carriers they contracted with switched to digital when the gov't said they could. If you have a true analog onstar unit you cannot subscribe or activate it unless you upgrade...

from the onstar website
==============================================================================================
Analog-to-Digital Transition
In November, 2002, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ruled that cellular carriers would no longer be required to support the analog cellular network as of early 2008. This ruling meant OnStar systems based solely on analog technology would not operate after 2008.
As a result, starting January 1, 2008, OnStar services in the U.S. and Canada became available only through equipment that operates on the digital network. OnStar subscribers with affected equipment were contacted about the Analog-to-Digital Transition. Vehicles manufactured prior to 2007 may have been affected by this ruling. To learn more, you can click the links below.
View the FCC ruling
View the OnStar Analog-to-Digital Transition statement.
Learn more about GM's Upgrade Program

 

[SfcJones]

my wifes 04' tahoe is analog...can't say for sure when they changed the units in the vehicles at the factory to digital...

05-06 model years from what I remember. I upgraded my truck to digital so I could keep using OnStar....

 

[WilliamBos]

Can you even order a new GM with out Onstar?? Sorry, but I refuse to switch brands because of that...

 

[RayMich]

Here's part of the e-mail:

OnStar Data Connection — Initial Terms
We have added to the Terms and Conditions the provision that if you or we cancel your OnStar Services, we will maintain the two-way connection with your Vehicle and may continue to collect data from your Vehicle, unless you take certain steps to deactivate the Data Connection or fully disable the Equipment.

If you do not want OnStar to maintain a Data Connection to your Vehicle, you can push your blue button or call us at 1.888.4.ONSTAR at any time and request that the Data Connection be deactivated. It may take up to sixty (60) days for OnStar to cancel your account and deactivate the Data Connection to your Vehicle. During this sixty (60) day period, Service may still be available, and data may be collected from your Vehicle.

Upon deactivation, OnStar will no longer be capable of contacting, or obtaining data from, your Vehicle although you will be able to contact OnStar by pressing the blue OnStar button twice. To disable the Vehicle's ability to contact OnStar through the blue OnStar button, you must visit an authorized dealer and ask them to remove the Equipment from your Vehicle.

The problem is that since THEY control the actual data connection turn OFF, they can also turn it back ON without your knowledge. I see too many opportunities for covert activity by unscrupulous employees, politician, judges, etc.

As far as I know, most GM vehicle now come standard with OnStar. The ones that do not get it are fleet vehicles, like rental cars and trucks.

I simply refuse to get ANY vehicle with OnStar. this is why I had my dealer order my truck when I bought it in Dec '05. At least the 2006 models could still be ordered without it. For me, this means that I either get an older GM vehicle or I change brands. After all the crap GM has done to current and former employees, I have no more loyalty for the company. 33 years of loyal service means absolutely NOTHING to them. So the only reason I "might" buy a new GM product is if it is the ONLY vehicle that will meet my requirements and one of those non-negotiable requirements is NO ONSTAR.

How many people have known about this data mining without your knowledge before now? And yet, they have been doing this for years.

Sorry! I've seen first hand what crooked people in power can do. All they need is the physical ability to do something and eventually someone WILL do it., So NO THANKS.

 

[RayMich]

does this apply to Onstar FMV (I believe For My Vehicle) it is just the rearview mirror replacement one released this summer, I was thinking of getting one for my sister, and maybe throwing one in my diesel sub, since it is allready high tech fancy dancy with its power windows, locks, and automatic transmission and carpeted floors. but if they can track it as well, I may just get one for my sister.

You get more than just a rear view mirror replacement. You get a GPS unit along with most of the tricky sh*t that OnStar will do in vehicle equipped from the factory.

 

[3500GMC]

Ray do you carry a cell phone?

 

[RayMich]

Ray do you carry a cell phone?

Yes I do. It is the 5 year old style that does NOT have GPS capability.

I know that they can triangulate the towers and get a close approximation of your location if they want to, but that isn't as easy to do, and it doesn't really bother me. I can easily turn off the phone and take the battery out if I really wanted to.

 

[Grendahl]

The onstar module can be removed from most if not all GM cars if you don't want it. In some cars the module also has other functions though, like bluetooth in some Camaros

 

[Grendahl]

Looks like OnStar changed their mind: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/09/27/onstar-reverses-course-on-policy-change-after-schumer-raised-privacy-concerns/?test=latestnews?test=latestnews Of course they could still do the same thing secretly if they choose to.