Just out of curiousity, is there a way to disable/refuse all OTA updates? I mean unless something major comes along that seriously warrants an update, as long as my car is running fine from the factory I have zero interest in periodic updates. I don't use satellite radio, or terrestrial radio for that matter. I haven't updated my Galaxy S8 phone... ever (had it for about 4.5 years now and simply refuse the update message when it pops up, so I have a permanent 'update available' icon at the top of my phone now). I understand there are potential security flaws in software/firmware, both with phones and I assume with cars. But I've never had an issue with my phone . I keep it in airplane mode except when actively sending a text or making a call, and even then BT and Wifi are turned off most of the time. I don't click random links in unsolicited emails, or links in emails from friends/family for that matter, nor from text messages. To my knowledge I've never had my identity stolen, at least not so far as my credit report is concerned. So yeah, I'm not too concerned about security issues with software/firmware (at least on the cell phone).

That said, I'm wondering if there's a way to disable OTA updates and simply not do them at all, ever. Just keep it running like the day it first arrived from the factory. Thoughts? Does anyone else do this if it's possible?

 

10.1.0

 

You can disable downloads in the background. If you do that, you will have to take action to get a download. No download, no updates. You also have to accept an update. They are not installed automatically.

See this thread for some really good information about OTA updates: OTA Updates - General Information, The information in that thread was published to Chevy Technicians in GM Techlink.

 

Good question. I have asked in the past and never gotten a satisfactory response.

Funny you mention about the GS8...I have the same and I also am bypassing updates, so twice a day I have to hold down the bixby button to override the update prompt lol.

Sometimes updates perform a critical function but more often than not, the changes are trivial at most, and sometimes (as we've read in the case of some C8 updates) they cause more major problems than they could ever resolve.

 

Yep. I'm of the mindset "dont fix what ain't broken". If I'm happy with how it functions from the factory, I see no need for updates. The tinfoil hat thing above is a bit silly. Probably meant in jest but just in case it isn't: I have no suspicions of any sort of conspiracy, or that an update is inherently a bad thing. I just have zero need for them and don't plan on updating the C8's software unless absolutely necessary. Like I said, if it's working why change it? Now if there's some sort of software bug that can damage the car or render it inoperable sure, great. But otherwise no thanks.

Hell my home PC is still running Windows 7 professional. Never upgraded past that b/c I had no need to do so. And it still works fine for everything I need to do on it, and a helluva lot faster than my wife's after its many updates and "upgrades" courtesy of Microsoft.

​​​​​​​Thanks

 

In the case of the GS8, most of the updates are Security updates. So be careful connecting to public WiFi. Or using your phone with bluetooth turned on in public.

 

If this is anything like any other software, you may not be able to choose “ala carte” updates. Updates build on previous updates. The firmware may be completely re-written at some point. There may come some feature/functionality u may want but uh uh 😟
may only be available as of Ver.X.xx.
iPhone on wheels.

 

There is always the possibility an update will have a potential bug due to an error by the coding team. Has happened many times since the dawn of the computer age 75 years ago. Even when software was just plug boards with different wiring sequences an update could be screwed up by somebody mistakenly plugging a wire into the wrong hole.

Those kinds of issues are far less now a days but they still do exist and we see that when you get an update followed by an update patch the next day. GM's worst nightmare would be downloading a powertrain update and waking up to thousands of people world wide complaining their cars won't start the next day so they have an extra incentive to prevent errors but they are human and will make mistakes.

Bill

 

I cringe every time I 'wake' up my desk top and see the Microsoft mountain lake scene. The start page default picture when an overnight Windows update has occurred. What will be different, what won't work? What will I discover today tomorrow? But to get the good, you have to take the bad, and the ugly. So grin and bear it. On balance, most updates are positive/neutral events.

 

Boy do I remember those “plug boards”. And the IBM sorting machines.