How much does OnStar know?
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 26,202
Likes: 29
From: northern california
Here's something from our local news, read into it whatever you want to:
A cab driver in a chevrolet van was murdered. The body and the van were found underwater days later. Our Sheriff's exact words were: "We want to thank the people from GM who helped us recover data from the vehicle which told us a lot about where and how it had been driven in the time leading up to the crime."
He did not mention Onstar specifically.
A cab driver in a chevrolet van was murdered. The body and the van were found underwater days later. Our Sheriff's exact words were: "We want to thank the people from GM who helped us recover data from the vehicle which told us a lot about where and how it had been driven in the time leading up to the crime."
He did not mention Onstar specifically.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 8,515
Likes: 255
From: Rochester New York
Coming from the Law Enforcement side, I can tell you without any doubt, because I have done it, if you are in a collision "the new word for accidents" your cars computer specifically the air bag control module can be downloaded and there are several parameters that can be recovered to include the last several seconds of lateral g, braking, speed, accelerator position, etc etc, etc. There is a window of a few seconds prior to the triggering incident that is recorded. Insurance companies have them and use them and we have them and use them. Mostly on fatal and departmental collisions. I would assume that Onstar can access more information than is divulged.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,248
Likes: 4
From: Palm Beach County, Florida
They can. I'm sorry to say just for fear of fueling the fire. When instructed to do so by law enforcement or at the request of the owner they can. The Onstar system contains a GPS system for the purpose of being able to interrogate it to find the vehicle. With that GPS they can determine where you are and how fast you are going.
My concern is not the OnStar system, which I see as a brilliant idea.
My issue is the possibility of misuse, corruption, or hacking of their system by any number of individuals or agencies.
Interesting possibilities...........
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,974
Likes: 148
From: Magnolia Texas
They can. I'm sorry to say just for fear of fueling the fire. When instructed to do so by law enforcement or at the request of the owner they can. The Onstar system contains a GPS system for the purpose of being able to interrogate it to find the vehicle. With that GPS they can determine where you are and how fast you are going.
CF Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,313
Likes: 25
From: Tucson Arizona
I'm continually amazed with the level of paranoia regarding OnStar. I've never seen any documented evidence to justify the paranoia. IMO if OnStar were to begin using information against the interests of their own customers it would be corporate suicide. If you have something to hide and/or you're that worried about OnStar...disable the system.
I race my OnStar equipped car (on legal race tracks) about every other weekend. I hardly think OnStar is watching but even if they were I could care less.
Yes....years ago I knew someone who's stolen Suburban was recovered with OnStar's assistance. The cops arrested the thief.
I race my OnStar equipped car (on legal race tracks) about every other weekend. I hardly think OnStar is watching but even if they were I could care less.
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
They can. I'm sorry to say just for fear of fueling the fire. When instructed to do so by law enforcement or at the request of the owner they can. The Onstar system contains a GPS system for the purpose of being able to interrogate it to find the vehicle. With that GPS they can determine where you are and how fast you are going.
That said, they would need to invoke national security or some such. On the other hand, if you drive a Vette, you are clearly a patriot!
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 19,574
Likes: 167
From: Frederick, MD
If you feel paranoid about Onstar please throw your computer and cell phone away in the garbage now because they will rat you out more than OnStar. A cell phone can tell someone where YOU have been, not your car. One thing that disturbs me is the Patriot Act which OnStar has no control over of course but that Act allows for so much abuse.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,401
Likes: 1
From: Chester Springs PA
Coming from the Law Enforcement side, I can tell you without any doubt, because I have done it, if you are in a collision "the new word for accidents" your cars computer specifically the air bag control module can be downloaded and there are several parameters that can be recovered to include the last several seconds of lateral g, braking, speed, accelerator position, etc etc, etc. There is a window of a few seconds prior to the triggering incident that is recorded. Insurance companies have them and use them and we have them and use them. Mostly on fatal and departmental collisions. I would assume that Onstar can access more information than is divulged.
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,248
Likes: 4
From: Palm Beach County, Florida
It is commonly known in the telecommunications world, which includes wireless (OnStar and your cel phone), that the NSA and FBI at a minimum have the authority, if they want to use it, to access where your car is, and where your cel phone is. With OnStar, this is true even if you let your subscription lapse, or if you buy a car that has OnStar, and you never activated it. The car has the system, the system has power, and OnStar knows where your car is.
That said, they would need to invoke national security or some such. On the other hand, if you drive a Vette, you are clearly a patriot!
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,537
Likes: 1
From: Southlake Texas
Coming from the Law Enforcement side, I can tell you without any doubt, because I have done it, if you are in a collision "the new word for accidents" your cars computer specifically the air bag control module can be downloaded and there are several parameters that can be recovered to include the last several seconds of lateral g, braking, speed, accelerator position, etc etc, etc. There is a window of a few seconds prior to the triggering incident that is recorded. Insurance companies have them and use them and we have them and use them. Mostly on fatal and departmental collisions. I would assume that Onstar can access more information than is divulged.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 5,515
Likes: 646
From: Silicon Valley and Yosemite, CA
I'm continually amazed with the level of paranoia regarding OnStar. I've never seen any documented evidence to justify the paranoia. IMO if OnStar were to begin using information against the interests of their own customers it would be corporate suicide. If you have something to hide and/or you're that worried about OnStar...disable the system.
Yes....years ago I knew someone who's stolen Suburban was recovered with OnStar's assistance. The cops arrested the thief.
Yes....years ago I knew someone who's stolen Suburban was recovered with OnStar's assistance. The cops arrested the thief.
I manage a high volume Call Center, similar to what I perceive OnStar to be, and we simply don't have the the time or resources to monitor individuals.These people need to get a grip on reality.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,289
Likes: 129
From: Providence Forge, VA
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12
You don't have a whole lot to worry about. Onstar makes contact with the car under three normal conditions. First and most common, when you push the Onstar button. Second, once per month for a scan of any DTC's stored as part of a service to owners. Third is when the vehicle is involved in an accident and then the car actually initiates the communication. They do not seek out cars either routinely nor randomly. They don't have access to the sensing and deployment module unless the car has been in an accident. There are hundreds of thousands of Onstar cars on the road. Do you really think that they care at all about what you are doing or that they even have the computing resources necessary to keep track of all of those cars?
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,537
Likes: 1
From: Southlake Texas
AMEN!!!!, I see the most ridiculous statement's by people about OnStar, it is hilarious, these people need to drive with their aluminum foil hats on.
I manage a high volume Call Center, similar to what I perceive OnStar to be, and we simply don't have the the time or resources to monitor individuals.These people need to get a grip on reality.
I manage a high volume Call Center, similar to what I perceive OnStar to be, and we simply don't have the the time or resources to monitor individuals.These people need to get a grip on reality.
GM will not acknowledge all the data they access, but they can use it internally when looking at tunes and warranty issues. There are many reasons OnStar is becoming a required option on most GM products (and why similar services are being developed by other companies).
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 18,396
Likes: 169
Coming from the Law Enforcement side, I can tell you without any doubt, because I have done it, if you are in a collision "the new word for accidents" your cars computer specifically the air bag control module can be downloaded and there are several parameters that can be recovered to include the last several seconds of lateral g, braking, speed, accelerator position, etc etc, etc. There is a window of a few seconds prior to the triggering incident that is recorded. Insurance companies have them and use them and we have them and use them. Mostly on fatal and departmental collisions. I would assume that Onstar can access more information than is divulged.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 449
Likes: 0
From: Morganton NC
I should not have read this post. Time to sell the car and buy a horse.
My insurance policy does not mention anything about driving over the speed limit or how hard I corner (although this is probably implied in the policy). It does not provide that my car handling ability is better than the Stig's (leave my fantasy alone please). OnStar can't know that just after I finished driving like a complete lunatic but just before it's recording loop finished, a llama ran out in front of the car and that 's why I swerved into a tree; my lunatic driving had nothing to do with my theoretical accident, but it would be implied to be so from the limited, llama-naive OnStar data. Or what about the falling rock that hit me in the face as I was driving hard up a narrow mountain road? If my driving had not been interrupted by a gravity-driven igneous outcropping I would have made the drive without incident, but OnStar would incriminate me on misleading information. The "freedom of the open road " my butt.
My point is information taken out of context can be misleading.
My insurance policy does not mention anything about driving over the speed limit or how hard I corner (although this is probably implied in the policy). It does not provide that my car handling ability is better than the Stig's (leave my fantasy alone please). OnStar can't know that just after I finished driving like a complete lunatic but just before it's recording loop finished, a llama ran out in front of the car and that 's why I swerved into a tree; my lunatic driving had nothing to do with my theoretical accident, but it would be implied to be so from the limited, llama-naive OnStar data. Or what about the falling rock that hit me in the face as I was driving hard up a narrow mountain road? If my driving had not been interrupted by a gravity-driven igneous outcropping I would have made the drive without incident, but OnStar would incriminate me on misleading information. The "freedom of the open road " my butt.
My point is information taken out of context can be misleading.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,234
Likes: 92
From: Florida
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I'm continually amazed with the level of paranoia regarding OnStar. I've never seen any documented evidence to justify the paranoia. IMO if OnStar were to begin using information against the interests of their own customers it would be corporate suicide. If you have something to hide and/or you're that worried about OnStar...disable the system.
I race my OnStar equipped car (on legal race tracks) about every other weekend. I hardly think OnStar is watching but even if they were I could care less.
Yes....years ago I knew someone who's stolen Suburban was recovered with OnStar's assistance. The cops arrested the thief.
I race my OnStar equipped car (on legal race tracks) about every other weekend. I hardly think OnStar is watching but even if they were I could care less.
Yes....years ago I knew someone who's stolen Suburban was recovered with OnStar's assistance. The cops arrested the thief.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,331
Likes: 148
From: 1000 Islands Ontario
OnStar has a service where they can tell you when regular maintenance (oil change, etc.) should be done. In order to do so, they must have the ability to read codes.
M....
M....
Last edited by Mike Green9; Apr 20, 2009 at 12:36 PM. Reason: typo
Drifting
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,670
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte NC
This past weekend, my next door neighbor had never ridden in a Corvette. He asked for a ride, so I gave him a ride. I also gave him a doughnut. Fortunately, the doughnut has been erased, I mean eaten by now...........
Seriously though, if Onstar hasn't contacted me by now, I can assure you that at the very least, I'm not being monitored by Onstar or anyone else.
Seriously though, if Onstar hasn't contacted me by now, I can assure you that at the very least, I'm not being monitored by Onstar or anyone else.