Security 'lapse?'
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 65
Likes: 113
From: Philadelphia, PA/Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Security 'lapse?'
Some of you know I sold my '21 HTC to the dealer after trans issues. Today while looking through my phone I notice the myChevrolet app still sitting there. Yes, take it from me, the car is still connected to the app, with all its functionality intact! Should be a way of automatically disabling connectivity upon title change. Keep in mind when purchasing a preowned.
Popular Reply
Jan 12, 2022, 10:55 PM
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 38,971
Likes: 17,837
From: DFW Area TX
;Before you turn over the car to someone else, wipe all your personal data from the car.
Settings >Return to Factory Settings > Erase Settings and Personal Data. Also erase any HomeLink garage door/gate codes:
Settings >Return to Factory Settings > Erase Settings and Personal Data. Also erase any HomeLink garage door/gate codes:
To erase:
1. Press and hold the two outside
buttons until the indicator light
begins to flash. This should
take about 10 seconds.
2. Release both buttons.
1. Press and hold the two outside
buttons until the indicator light
begins to flash. This should
take about 10 seconds.
2. Release both buttons.
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 38,971
Likes: 17,837
From: DFW Area TX
;Before you turn over the car to someone else, wipe all your personal data from the car.
Settings >Return to Factory Settings > Erase Settings and Personal Data. Also erase any HomeLink garage door/gate codes:
Settings >Return to Factory Settings > Erase Settings and Personal Data. Also erase any HomeLink garage door/gate codes:
To erase:
1. Press and hold the two outside
buttons until the indicator light
begins to flash. This should
take about 10 seconds.
2. Release both buttons.
1. Press and hold the two outside
buttons until the indicator light
begins to flash. This should
take about 10 seconds.
2. Release both buttons.
Administrator
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Great advice. While technology is great, it can also come back to bite you in the butt when personal data is compromised.
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From: Lakewood Ranch, FL
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2021
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Good tip for new owners though to ensure whatever used car they buy has everything wiped.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2016
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From: Florida
Good advice in this thread.
Even back before the seriously high tech, clearing the homelink data when a car was sold was often forgotten. Especially important in a private sale where the buyer might have looked at your car in your driveway.
Even back before the seriously high tech, clearing the homelink data when a car was sold was often forgotten. Especially important in a private sale where the buyer might have looked at your car in your driveway.
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 34
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From: Westchester County, New York
Anyone with your car can use the GPS to drive 'home' and then open the garage with the home link. I never put my actual home address in the GPS system; rather, I put the local police department address. When I use the GPS to 'go home,' I don't need it once I get in the vicinity of my village.
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Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2009
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From: Oro Valley Arizona
Smart Car Is Too Smart
If the government wants to investigate you and use your cellphone to do it, they need a court issued subpoena to access your personal phone. Not so with the personal data stored in your car's memory. It can be accessed by the police without a court order. So any calls made/received, text messages sent/received, your call log, your contact list, music stored/played, radio stations, podcasts, nav destinations, GPS locator, when you opened the door, started the car, and where etc. it is all an open book for the asking. Specific exemption in federal law allows this. Passed to make it easier to get into car black boxes for accident investigation, it is a 1990s idea gone wild today. Surely no surprise, Berla Corp. a Maryland based software company sells car data cracking software to police departments. Good news here, the app is expensive so most criminals are not likely customers. But a hostile foreign actor could be? Big Brother is watching you. Are you watching back?
Racer
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 363
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From: Federal Way, WA
Modified C8 of the Year 2021 Finalist
Half true and depends on what state you live in. I assure you law enforcement cannot access my cars without a search warrant in the State of Washington.
If the government wants to investigate you and use your cellphone to do it, they need a court issued subpoena to access your personal phone. Not so with the personal data stored in your car's memory. It can be accessed by the police without a court order. So any calls made/received, text messages sent/received, your call log, your contact list, music stored/played, radio stations, podcasts, nav destinations, GPS locator, when you opened the door, started the car, and where etc. it is all an open book for the asking. Specific exemption in federal law allows this. Passed to make it easier to get into car black boxes for accident investigation, it is a 1990s idea gone wild today. Surely no surprise, Berla Corp. a Maryland based software company sells car data cracking software to police departments. Good news here, the app is expensive so most criminals are not likely customers. But a hostile foreign actor could be? Big Brother is watching you. Are you watching back?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2017
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From: Rural NW Georgia. GO DAWGS!
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I don't trust that at all. Any car I sell goes back to factory settings on everything before I hand the new owner the keys. All apps are cleaned up and disconnected from the car as well if applicable.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 65
Likes: 113
From: Philadelphia, PA/Ft. Lauderdale, FL
I think you're missing the point. If I sold the car, yet wanted to do something nefarious (e.g. unlock the new owner's car, steal the new owner's car) I precisely would NOT clean those apps. The risk has been transferred to the new owner, not the seller.
The dealer won't forget; they just don't care. 
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2017
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From: Prosper TX/Austin TX
2020 C6 of the Year Winner - Modified
In TX also fill out and submit a transfer of ownership form with the DMV, even if trading in/selling to a dealer. I don’t how many vehicles I’ve traded in since living in TX and just recently found this while randomly searching for something else on the DMV website.
If not, they claim the original owner (you) may be responsible for tolls, parking tickets, etc.
If not, they claim the original owner (you) may be responsible for tolls, parking tickets, etc.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 181
Likes: 51
And this is why I always factory reset a used car that I sell as well as buy - including homelink
The last car I bought, the dealer/seller didn't do that, so on the Nav I had their home address and I'm willing to guess the homelink would have opened the garage doors....
The last car I bought, the dealer/seller didn't do that, so on the Nav I had their home address and I'm willing to guess the homelink would have opened the garage doors....