Car Is a Smartphone on Wheels. Here's Who's Listening
4 hours ago
- First large-scale measurement study of the connected-vehicle ecosystem was conducted by partnering with Consumer Reports to test 21 vehicles and 30 companion mobile apps.
- Vehicles and apps send private consumer data to first and third parties via Wi-Fi and cellular, often sharing or selling data without consumer knowledge or control.
- Researchers blocked cellular signals using a Faraday tent to force Wi-Fi communication, revealing data flows that would normally go over cellular.
- The study found that consumers have no control over their data once it leaves their device, highlighting the need for continued scrutiny.
- The work is peer-reviewed and will be published at IMC '26, with a team from Northeastern University.