Modern cars are computers on wheels that send home nonstop telemetry about you. In this post I remove my 2024 RAV4 Hybrid's modem and GPS to prevent that :)
Thank you for posting this. These devices are getting out of control. They are marketed as a convenience to the driver, when in actuality they are capturing and selling your location and driving habit information to data brokers and insurance companies. Sometimes dealerships will even add an aftermarket tracking device to their vehicles without telling you. I removed one that I found in a Crosstrek I bought last year. The device I removed was made by iKON Technologies, and is ‘intended’ to be used for lot management at the dealership. The dealership tried to sell me an overpriced security plan associated with the GPS tracker. I declined. They left it on anyway. What they don’t tell you is that iKON Technologies installs them at no cost to the dealership, and that the tracker is used for repossessions and capturing data to be used for targeted marketing or sell to data brokers. Some devices have the ability to inhibit your starter and ignition system like the one in this manual.
This YouTube video includes footage from a video call with company representatives for iKON Technologies. Their products are definitely being used for more than theft recovery. There is also a Google spreadsheet in the video description with participating dealerships. Thankfully their products are easy to remove. The device in my car was connected to the battery and ziptied to one of the leads to the battery.
Thank you for posting this. These devices are getting out of control. They are marketed as a convenience to the driver, when in actuality they are capturing and selling your location and driving habit information to data brokers and insurance companies. Sometimes dealerships will even add an aftermarket tracking device to their vehicles without telling you. I removed one that I found in a Crosstrek I bought last year. The device I removed was made by iKON Technologies, and is ‘intended’ to be used for lot management at the dealership. The dealership tried to sell me an overpriced security plan associated with the GPS tracker. I declined. They left it on anyway. What they don’t tell you is that iKON Technologies installs them at no cost to the dealership, and that the tracker is used for repossessions and capturing data to be used for targeted marketing or sell to data brokers. Some devices have the ability to inhibit your starter and ignition system like the one in this manual.
The only dealers that use those kinds of trackers are BHPH lots, or dealers who handle a lot of high-risk customers.
It’s still shitty, but the contract you sign when you buy one of these cars absolutely does state their usage.
This YouTube video includes footage from a video call with company representatives for iKON Technologies. Their products are definitely being used for more than theft recovery. There is also a Google spreadsheet in the video description with participating dealerships. Thankfully their products are easy to remove. The device in my car was connected to the battery and ziptied to one of the leads to the battery.
Slap that tracker on a car belonging to an employee of the dealership.
They wish they hadn’t
How is that in any way legal where you are?
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Yes I do that too, if you want me to advertise for you, I should get paid.