Our vehicles are spying on us.

Today’s modern cars are not much more than cell phones on wheels. They can connect to the internet, install apps, take phone calls, and many more features, just like a cell phone. This data is extractable in various forms. Often it is uploaded to the manufacturer for diagnostics and performance assessments. The companies that build cars often call this Vehicle Telematics. There is more data inside a car, but it takes specialized tools made for vehicle forensics. They can be easy to use, such as plugging in a thumb drive to dismantling the car to access the computer inside the dashboard. All cars are different.

Vehicle Telematics

Vehicle telematics is the use of technology to track and transmit data from a vehicle, such as its location, speed, and fuel usage. This data can be used for various purposes, such as monitoring and improving vehicle performance, increasing safety and security, and reducing the costs of owning and operating a vehicle. Telematics systems can include GPS tracking devices, sensors, cameras, and other devices that collect and transmit data to a central system. This information can be used to optimize routes, improve fuel efficiency, and reduce maintenance costs, as well as provide valuable insights into driver behavior and vehicle usage.

Vehicle Forensics

Vehicle forensics uses scientific methods to gather and analyze evidence from vehicles to investigate accidents, crimes, and other incidents. Vehicle forensics aims to determine the cause of an incident and provide evidence that can be used in legal proceedings.

The process of vehicle forensics begins with the examination of the vehicle itself. This can include a visual inspection of the vehicle’s exterior and interior and a more detailed examination of specific components such as the engine, transmission, and braking system. Forensic experts may also use specialized equipment such as 3D scanners and laser measuring devices to gather detailed information about the vehicle and its sustained damage.

Once the vehicle examination is complete, the forensic experts will analyze the collected data. This can include analyzing the vehicle’s position and the damage it sustained, as well as analyzing data from onboard systems such as the engine control module and the event data recorder (EDR). The EDR, also known as a “black box,” records data such as speed, braking, and steering inputs, providing valuable information about the moments leading up to an incident. In addition, vehicle forensics tools can recover phone calls, Voice control inputs such as Alexa and Siri, SMS/Text messages, contacts, and a lot of other information your phone provides to the car when it gets plugged in.

The Threat

Vehicle forensics tools such as Berla & Black Swan are commercially available in most countries worldwide. These tools can extract data from cars, especially rental cars that are used for only a short time. While vehicle fleet tracking gives a company real-time asset tracking after the fact, a company or entity can recover. Never plug your devices into a car you do not own. This will ensure there is less data for an entity to recover. Recommend adding some items HERE to your travel kit to protect you against data ending up in your car.

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