Unencrypted video and personal data stored on Teslas raise important privacy concerns: report



[ad_1]

Refraining from data collection is not as simple as one might think. Whenever possible, GreenTheOnly goes on to explain that an obstacle to dropping data collection is the loss of live software updates and other features that make Tesla vehicles highly desirable for technology enthusiasts.

The information collected is also used to directly help the manufacturer, protecting against false autopilot crash declarations. Tesla has provided the public with information on fatal accidents, which has allowed it to dispel rumors and calm public opinion. Tesla has seen a decrease in the use of its advanced driver assistance system, Autopilot, following a recent major crash. While data collection is important for the automaker to prevent the spread of incorrect information, it certainly raises the question of what reasonable expectations drivers should have in terms of privacy when they have Tesla vehicle and opt for data collection.

Tesla says that customers are ultimately responsible for the data stored in their cars. If their vehicle is sold or disposed of in any way, the manufacturer believes that the owner must first reset his vehicle at the factory.

"Tesla already offers options that customers can use to protect the personal data stored in their car, including a factory reset option to delete personal data and restore custom settings to factory settings." , as well as a valet mode to hide personal data (among other functions) when their keys to a jack, "explained a Tesla spokesman at CNBC. "Having said that, we are always committed to finding and improving the right balance between the technical needs of vehicles and the privacy of our customers."

This is the case of the vehicles that the manufacturer sells through a very reputable auction service, reserved for dealers, Manheim. Another informant from the auction company said CNBC Tesla does not erase customer data from cars crossing its sales block, any more than the auction employees. Manheim declined to comment on the validity of the claim.

Data security at Tesla has also been previously questioned. A publicly exposed kubernetes cluster operated by Tesla was compromised in 2018 and used to extract cryptocurrency; it turned out to be the same cluster used to store the autopilot data. In 2017, Tesla exposed a private key used by its card server for more than a year and apparently would not have responded to vulnerability reports more than two months before being brought to the site. Public attention. Tesla also reported database dumps, many of them including wireless networks and their passwords, all of which were stored in plain text.

Two former Tesla employees also said CNBC Tesla has some built-in security features to signal customers who may have tried to reverse engineer their cars. Those that are reported would not have priority to receive advanced updates.

Nevertheless, it can be discouraging to know that anyone with the required skills can reveal the last moments of a car's life. The things that people prefer to keep confidential – where they are going, who are in the car or how they drive – can be exposed to the public in the blink of an eye. Celebrities and personalities in particular could change their point of view on the automaker's cars if they knew that their personal data could be exposed. Even people who often have nothing to hide tend to change their posture once the shoe is on the other foot.

[ad_2]

Source link