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Topper wrote: ↑Sun Jan 18, 2026 2:51 pm
What happens when you connect your cell phone for hands free calling and a playlist?
That's an Android Auto or Apple Carplay security issue. The phone uses the car as a display device and allows very specific access to phone features. For example, there's no syncing of all your text messages or emails to the car's infotainment system.
What the car's infotainment system does with its own data is a different story, though that's probably only location data.
Even the location data is dependent on the manufacturer.
Toyota requires a subscription for location and mapping. Otherwise it just uses Google Maps on your phone.
While Toyota (and others) maintain what you say regarding data, there is still a sync and permission that has to be given for CarPlay to work and utilize the display as an extension.
I don’t think Apple or Google will bother with the level of Security that would be required to beat something the Chinese spymasters want in their EVs.
True, unless the car has a built-in GPS it will use your phone to obtain location data (as long as you've granted that permission).
And yes, you have to explicitly grant permissions on your phone just as with other apps. I'm not sure what you mean by "sync".
Otherwise It's very locked down . Google and Apple publish their APIs and that's all developers can use to access data on your phone. So the access is already limited and if there was a way for developers to retrieve your emails or text messages through the APIs then somebody would have spotted that long ago. So I don't think they need to do anything extra to "beat the Chinese".
Topper wrote: ↑Sun Jan 18, 2026 2:51 pm
What happens when you connect your cell phone for hands free calling and a playlist?
That's an Android Auto or Apple Carplay security issue. The phone uses the car as a display device and allows very specific access to phone features. For example, there's no syncing of all your text messages or emails to the car's infotainment system.
What the car's infotainment system does with its own data is a different story, though that's probably only location data.
Even the location data is dependent on the manufacturer.
Toyota requires a subscription for location and mapping. Otherwise it just uses Google Maps on your phone.
While Toyota (and others) maintain what you say regarding data, there is still a sync and permission that has to be given for CarPlay to work and utilize the display as an extension.
I don’t think Apple or Google will bother with the level of Security that would be required to beat something the Chinese spymasters want in their EVs.
True, unless the car has a built-in GPS it will use your phone to obtain location data (as long as you've granted that permission).
And yes, you have to explicitly grant permissions on your phone just as with other apps. I'm not sure what you mean by "sync".
Otherwise It's very locked down . Google and Apple publish their APIs and that's all developers can use to access data on your phone. So the access is already limited and if there was a way for developers to retrieve your emails or text messages through the APIs then somebody would have spotted that long ago. So I don't think they need to do anything extra to "beat the Chinese".
I get requests to sync contacts and message data when I pair my phone. It's giving permission for the car to access my phone so that I can control it through the vehicle.
Apple CarPlay is different, if I switch to that it doesn't ask for the sync.
Our 2020 Pathfinder that we just traded did not have CarPlay. I had to give permission to let the vehicle be the control terminal for music, contacts, messages, calling, etc. What if the Chinese EV's go a similar route?
Somewhere in NW BC trying (yet again) to trade a(nother) Swede…..
Mëds wrote: ↑Sun Jan 18, 2026 8:54 pm
I get requests to sync contacts and message data when I pair my phone. It's giving permission for the car to access my phone so that I can control it through the vehicle.
Apple CarPlay is different, if I switch to that it doesn't ask for the sync.
Our 2020 Pathfinder that we just traded did not have CarPlay. I had to give permission to let the vehicle be the control terminal for music, contacts, messages, calling, etc. What if the Chinese EV's go a similar route?
Okay, I don't have any experience with CarPlay. So can't comment on that.
Just looking at Android though, as far as I can tell there's no data stored on the car at all. I mentioned APIs earlier, but that's just for the apps that want to run on Android Auto, so not relevant. My mistake. From what I've read the car screen is just a dumb terminal to which the phone mirrors it's Android Auto screen. The only data the car stores is connection data like Bluetooth ID, connection logs etc.
Mëds wrote: ↑Sun Jan 18, 2026 8:54 pm
I get requests to sync contacts and message data when I pair my phone. It's giving permission for the car to access my phone so that I can control it through the vehicle.
Apple CarPlay is different, if I switch to that it doesn't ask for the sync.
Our 2020 Pathfinder that we just traded did not have CarPlay. I had to give permission to let the vehicle be the control terminal for music, contacts, messages, calling, etc. What if the Chinese EV's go a similar route?
Okay, I don't have any experience with CarPlay. So can't comment on that.
Just looking at Android though, as far as I can tell there's no data stored on the car at all. I mentioned APIs earlier, but that's just for the apps that want to run on Android Auto, so not relevant. My mistake. From what I've read the car screen is just a dumb terminal to which the phone mirrors it's Android Auto screen. The only data the car stores is connection data like Bluetooth ID, connection logs etc.
That is correct for North American cars (I'm including Asian manufacturers sold in the US).
My point, is that Chinese cars can't be trusted not to store any data, and I suspect that Apple and Android won't care too much and will just let it be the users problem if they agree to let their phone be paired with a Chinese vehicle.
I am sure that "connection logs" can be rather broad and inclusive in what that means when interpreted by Chinese lawmakers and automakers. LOL.
Somewhere in NW BC trying (yet again) to trade a(nother) Swede…..
I've been using Android Auto for years now - easy enough to install a new deck these days. I'm guessing it's the same data google is always collecting on me.
A nice recent feature is the alert of police up ahead. New "AI" features (pretty dumb at this point). But it's great when traveling when you can ask for a restaurant or hotel, see the ratings, and call ahead.
There is a niche industry disconnecting cars. Start by pulling the headliner and taking out everything connected to the Shark Fin antennae. Then start tracking other antennas and what they are doing, communicating with other ECU's, where else, what info...
All those things that will send alerts with locations if there is an accident, if the vehicle is upside down ...
Plug a $500 scan tool into your ODBII port and have a glimpse at some of the data that the vehicle is storing on you.
The aircraft industry has real time tracking of systems by head office. Instrument readings are being sent out via satellite link in real time. A pilot does something they don't like, the phone is ringing the moment he lands.
Over the Internet, you can pretend to be anyone or anything.
I'm amazed that so many people choose to be complete twats.
Looks like there's been some hacks in rental cars where previous users' data has been accessed. Some cars' infotainment systems do not clear their cache properly after disconnection.
Topper wrote: ↑Mon Jan 19, 2026 8:02 am
There is a niche industry disconnecting cars.
Interesting. And if you still want Android Auto features without privacy concerns you can buy a standalone display that replaces the cars infotainment system.
Cousin Strawberry wrote: ↑Mon Jan 19, 2026 12:49 pm
Topper still has the cassette thing with the wire connecting to his discman though. Nobody knows where he is
Hahaha. I had forgotten about those.
Somewhere in NW BC trying (yet again) to trade a(nother) Swede…..
Topper wrote: ↑Mon Jan 19, 2026 8:02 am
There is a niche industry disconnecting cars.
Interesting. And if you still want Android Auto features without privacy concerns you can buy a standalone display that replaces the cars infotainment system.
(pretty dumb at this point). But it's great when traveling when you can ask for a restaurant or hotel, see the ratings, and call ahead.
