Andybump

This is the thread you want:

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ispreloading=1

He disconnected a single cellular antenna on the right side. It appears to have shut down just the OnStar/Telematics cellular comms. GPS still works. OTA updates can be received via WiFi if desired, but be aware that if a WiFi connection is established, the car may also share stored data with OnStar via that path. Front lift works because it gets GPS. The Google Nav might not work. As noted, if a phone is connected to the car in hotspot mode, it will provide a connection to the internet and a source of data for the Google Maps based nav. But.....again ...... be aware that very same connection to the internet my very well allow telematics to connect to OnStar and share data it has been collecting and storing. So, until shown otherwise, using a phone in a hotspot mode would not necessarily be a safe workaround if it was your desire to prevent data sharing with OnStar.

24RiptideBlue

This is much appreciated…..

Anyone with experience trying this please post your experience….

I made sure my car has NO WiFi connections and turned OTA’s off as soon as I got it home.

Andybump

Although it might share data if you allow it to connect to your local WiFi network as i do, in my garage. We know that path supports OTAs, and download of Apps, and data to support those Apps while connected. . I cant find an explicit statement that says it will do its data sharing with OnStar duty via that path, but its certainly easy enough.

jcthorne

They report your driving to insurance consortiums no matter your subscription status. You cannot opt out. THAT is the root of the problem.

gbwiii

Guess USAA will be giving me a call

jcthorne

Onstar uses AT&T cellular network. They collect your driving data no matter your onstar subscription status and the onstar module is not removable nor can it be turned off. You cannot opt out of the data collection other than to not drive the car. THAT is the root of the problem and why folks are so up in arms over it.

Andybump

Read this thread. It appears you can shut down the 4G comms by disconnecting just one, of the two cellular antennas. He did it, and tested. Side effects were minimal.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ispreloading=1

F4Gary

So I skimmed through this thread and then logged in to my Chevrolet on my computer and checked my C7 GS and my 14 Silverado. I'm not even enrolled in Smart Driver. Should I enroll in order to check on this or since I'm not enrolled it is not collecting data on my cars?

jcthorne

I look forward to seeing more detailed instructions on just where this connection is and how to get to it. Also reports from others substantiating that the LexisNexis data collection stopped on the date it was disconnected. Good news if this turns out to be a solution.

jcthorne

You do not need to be enrolled in anything for them to be collecting your data. On the C8 generation at least, they are from the day you take delivery.

Andybump

That information is in the thread. Among other things, see post 123. But there are photos etc. He verified that it shuts down 4G comms. The only other (possible) path is when it connects to an internet enabled network via WifI. The car can see available networks, but it appears that it will not connect to them unless requested from the car menu. And, it requires a password. It can also connect to your phone if you put your phone in hotspot mode and set up that connection - it sees the phone as an external internet enabled network - and it might share data that way. The phone also connects to the car via WiFi to support wireless car play. I am not certain but I do not think sees that as a network connection. I know it does not show up as a network connection in the menu when supporting wireless carplay. Only as a connected device to the car "hotspot". At least prior to 2024.

24RiptideBlue

Or an additional benefit depending on your perspective

tadda

I believe OTA updates were discontinued back in late Sept '23 due to problems...I haven't heard of anyone receiving an OTA update since then...

Andybump

Did not know that. The record shows my last update was 08/12/2023. There were reports of bricked cars. Don't know if that was the reason, but it would be a good reason.

Andybump

I disabled mine a good while back. But I did check again. Mine is still disabled. (that is the Smart Driver feature is deselected).

24RiptideBlue

Wow…. Talk about how can we (gm) get your data…. Let us count the ways…

In the limited time I have spent playing with this stuff in the car any “connectivity” excluding the cars own 4G antenna, seems to be dependent on the user establishing the connection with the car (at least the first time). The system(s) appear to operate like a phone. WiFi is established the same, list of available networks comes on screen, choose one… password, connect… HotSpot (excluding the car’s own through the 4G antenna) requires connecting your phone….

The default for transmitting data appears to be the 4G network connection and if you don’t connect your phone AND don’t connect to any WiFi…. Theoretically the car has no way to phone home… which gives me hope…

If you want OTA etc you could connect to your home WiFi and through the screen tell the car to look for any updates, then disconnect when complete.

Not sure what will happen if you connect your phone for your own use (Navigation, calls). Would be interesting to know if the car would use that opportunity to transmit data…. which could be a lot of data if the 4G antenna is disconnected.

Andybump

Yup, those last two are the remaining areas. If (if) it used the WiFi path, when connnected to an external network, then I think it would share the data as soon as the WiFi connection was established. It would be all over before you had time to check for updates.

And, if (again if) it can share data via a WiFi connection to the an external internet enabled network, and you put your phone in hotspot mode and connect it. the car will see it exactly the same as any other network - and it will share the data.

Its only if you connect the phone via BT, or as a "connected device" to support CarPlay, that I think it will not see it as an external network. It just a device. The connections look different in the 2021 car menus.

rawbar

Mods really to merge all of these threads, now what, 6 in the past month? Getting ridiculous answering the same thing over and over. A solution for the C8 only came out from another member YESTERDAY. This is all new and nobody but ONE person has tested it (the one who figured out how to disable it). And all the info on how to do that is in one place, which isn't here in this thread. If you want details, find the other thread, if you just want to disable it, here's the youtube link.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqkTd6IZVj4

TLDR; remove passenger fender liner, unplug the 4G antenna.

Ghost 23

Y’All are aware that Janet Yellen has access to all your financial records/data, in granular detail.

Brace yourselves for GPS speed-limit governors.

24RiptideBlue

The multiple threads don’t bother me…. The more chatter the better as more people discover what’s happening, what the car is doing…. What’s happening to people’s information…

If folks aren’t interested they can skip the threads