The first large-scale measurement study of the connected-vehicle ecosystem.
A connected car is a vehicle with built-in internet access — Wi-Fi, cellular, GPS — that lets it communicate constantly with its manufacturer and outside companies. Over 75% of vehicles sold globally have this connectity built-in.
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It knows where you drive.
It knows who you are.
It can share this data and more with insurance companies, advertisers, etc...
Report Summary
Partnering with Consumer Reports, we tested 21 late model vehicles and 30 companion mobile apps to understand the privacy implications of the connected vehicle ecosystem.
- 01We find that both vehicles and companion apps contact numerous third-party domains, including advertisers and trackers.
- 0219/21 vehicles tested send traffic to at least one third party
- 03Seven of 30 apps transmit sensitive identifiers to third-party companies
We go through a lengthy discolure process and provide insight into how manufacturer's perceive this data sharing issue.
Our findings underscore the need for continued measurement and scrutiny of the connected vehicle ecosystem.