Technology
How your car might be selling you out to insurers
There’s a reason your auto insurance premium may be going up. It’s not that you had an accident or any traffic violations on your record. Instead, as some people are discovering, insurance companies are sourcing personal driving data from car manufacturers that can reveal if you are a higher risk to insure.
Nowadays, with everything going digital, the intersection of privacy and technology has extended into the automotive industry, with a concerning trend emerging around vehicles acting as sources for collecting sensitive data.
This includes sharing drivers’ behaviors with insurance companies, a practice that has brought to light significant privacy concerns among vehicle owners.
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A woman driving the highway (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Speeding, hard braking and rapid acceleration
A case in point involves a software company owner from Seattle who found his car insurance premiums increased by 21 percent unexpectedly despite a clean driving record, according to a New York Times report.
CAR INSURANCE RATES IN 2024 JUMP 26% ACROSS THE US, REPORT SAYS
This led to the discovery of a data broker that specializes in generating consumer risk profiles for insurers, which had comprehensive records of his driving habits, including details on speeding, hard braking and rapid acceleration.
A woman driving in her convertible (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
MORE: WHAT YOUR CAR KNOWS ABOUT YOU AND COULD BE TELLING THE WORLD
Permission to spy is often hidden in the fine print
This practice is widespread, with drivers across the country often unknowingly giving consent for their driving data to be shared with third parties, including insurers. This consent is frequently hidden in the extensive privacy policies and fine print, making it difficult for the average consumer to notice. Automotive manufacturers, in partnership with data brokers, are leveraging systems to gather and analyze data directly from internet-connected vehicles.
While there are claims that the objective behind collecting driving data is to encourage safer driving habits through feedback programs, it appears the primary motivation is financial profit. This data collection not only impacts insurance rates but also feeds into a growing market where driving data is treated as a commodity.
A man driving down the highway in his car (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
MORE: BEST DASH CAMS FOR YOUR CAR
Demand for consumer protection laws
The legal and ethical issues surrounding such data collection practices have garnered attention from policymakers and privacy advocates alike. There have been calls for investigations by federal agencies into these practices, highlighting potential violations related to unfair and deceptive business practices that harm consumers.
For consumers looking to protect their privacy and avoid potential financial impacts from these data-sharing practices, several proactive steps can be taken.
A man driving down the highway in his car (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
MORE: BEST CAR ACCESSORIES
How to discover what data your car is collecting about you
1. Search Google with your carmaker and the phrase “privacy request form.” In the case of my two cars, it sent me to the manufacturers’ forms, where you can fill out a request to see what sort of data is being recorded.
2. Review any app connected to your car. Look for terms and conditions on the app to discover any permissions you may have inadvertently given your carmaker to collect. If it permits you, copy and paste the fine print into ChatGPT or another generative AI source to reveal what private data is being collected by your car. See if there are choices to opt out of data collection in the app settings.
3. Understanding vehicle data capabilities. Tools are available online to help understand what data your vehicle can collect. You can enter your vehicle identification number at the website www.vehicleprivacyreport.com to broadly learn more about what data may be captured from your car.
4. Get your LexisNexis report at https://consumer.risk.lexisnexis.com/consumer. You have the right to request reports from data brokers to see what information is collected about your driving habits.
It’s important to carefully review privacy policies and terms of service when purchasing a vehicle or signing up for connected services, opting out of data-sharing features where possible.
Kurt’s key takeaways
As vehicles become increasingly connected, it’s crucial for you to remain vigilant and informed about how your data is being used, ensuring you maintain control over your personal information and mitigate any undesired financial consequences.
How do you feel about your carmaker selling your driving habits to others? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
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Amid public backlash over its smart glasses, Meta announced that it will be updating its glasses with a new feature that will disable the camera when it detects that someone has tampered with or destroyed the glasses’ privacy LED light. The update is meant to address modders who have taken actions such as physically drilling into the LED light.
Meta has previously tried to discourage tampering with the LED light. For example, starting with its second generation glasses, blocking the light with tape or other objects will trigger a prompt asking users to uncover the recording light. However, many modders have found various workarounds for that particular measure.
Meta’s VP of wearables Alex Himel told The Verge that the privacy-focused update was on the way a few weeks ago after launching cheaper Meta Glasses without Ray-Ban branding. At the time, Himel acknowledged that the company was aware of increasing misuse alongside wider adoption of the devices.
Technology
Discord accidentally banned over 8,000 people for posting grids and other ‘benign’ images
Stanislav Vishnevskiy, Discord co-founder and chief technology officer, writes that the bug impacted around 200 users who posted “grid-like” pictures, in addition to about 8,000 people who posted “other benign images” since May 2026. “Everyone affected has now been unbanned,” Vishnevskiy says.
In a thread on X, Discord writes that its safety system is designed to flag content by “matching it against known harmful material.” This system can produce “false positives,” Discord explains, which is when an employee would step in to review the flagged content. But instead of just temporarily preventing the account from uploading content during the review, a glitch led its system to ban users entirely.
“When our staff reviewed and cleared those accounts, the same bug prevented the ban from being lifted automatically, so it just stayed in place,” Discord says.
If your Prime Day purchases included a new desk, TV stand, bookshelf, or other furniture you still haven’t assembled, Hoto’s PixelDrive cordless screwdriver can help speed up the process. It’s currently on sale for $59.99 ($20 off) at Amazon, matching its best price to date.
From tightening loose screws on furniture to repairing electronics, the PixelDrive is designed to handle a wide range of household projects. Hoto includes 30 screwdriver bits that cover many of the most common screw types, all neatly organized in a small cylindrical case. It also offers six adjustable torque settings, allowing you to use less power when working with fragile electronics or increase it when putting together a desk, bookshelf, TV stand, or other furniture. You can also switch between a slower 80RPM mode for more precise work and a faster 200RPM mode with the press of a button.
Hoto also added several features that make assembling projects a little easier. A built-in display lets you quickly check your current torque setting and remaining battery life, while an integrated LED light helps illuminate dim spaces, whether you’re working under a desk or inside a cabinet. The rechargeable 2,000mAh battery also charges over USB-C, so you won’t need to keep buying disposable batteries.
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