Mega merge - Onstar is reporting your driving history
Thread Starter
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,286
Likes: 120
Mega merge - Onstar is reporting your driving history
Taken from the Z06 forums thanks to ElectronMike:
Heads up if you haven't seen this.. even after my OnStar initial trial was over, I checked the MyChevrolet app and noticed that they are tracking and reporting driving habits including what they consider hard acceleration and hard braking events. I disabled this in the app by going to "more" in the bottom right and then unenrolling from Chevrolet Smart Driver. It was on by default in my case. A few of my friends mentioned their information has been sold and even ended up on their credit report in some cases as C8 owners.
They literally assign you a driving score!
Heads up if you haven't seen this.. even after my OnStar initial trial was over, I checked the MyChevrolet app and noticed that they are tracking and reporting driving habits including what they consider hard acceleration and hard braking events. I disabled this in the app by going to "more" in the bottom right and then unenrolling from Chevrolet Smart Driver. It was on by default in my case. A few of my friends mentioned their information has been sold and even ended up on their credit report in some cases as C8 owners.
They literally assign you a driving score!
Popular Reply
Sep 14, 2023, 11:50 AM
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 4,018
Likes: 2,591
From: Northern VA, USA
I see this post has taken on a life in a few places. Going to post this in a couple of the threads:
As noted, Onstar isn't the only company that had lots of data related to your activities. If that type of tracking bothers you, please be alert for all services you participate in, read the privacy policy, and opt out where it is best for you.
- You should be right to be concerned about your privacy, as many companies are looking to make money however they can with your data -- fortunately regulations are in place and coming to assist consumers.
- Onstar and GM don't have the best history with privacy decisions having reversed the biggest one (still collecting data after you shut off) after consumer and privacy advocate outcry, so being alert to their practices is good habit
- HOWEVER, Onstar isn't selling your information (at least identifiable to you) just because you get your driving score. They do not sell information to insurance unless you've opted into one of their programs where they partner with insurance companies. There's a lot of leaping to conclusions in these threads.
- Even though unless you opt-in to sharing your information, OnStar is probably better or no worse than many others, it is still good to exercise your rights. You should read the privacy statements of all the companies that might have your data and follow the opt-out instructions that are appropriate for you.
As noted, Onstar isn't the only company that had lots of data related to your activities. If that type of tracking bothers you, please be alert for all services you participate in, read the privacy policy, and opt out where it is best for you.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,866
Likes: 45
From: Tampa Bay, Go BUCS!!!Go Rays!!!Go Lightning!!!
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
In my C6 OnStar had a dedicated fuse. I pulled after a slight off-road excursion at a track during which they called into the car to see if I was okay.
No more problemo
No more problemo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 2,555
Likes: 1,213
Does the car have its own built in connectivity? If so, you probably have no idea what is being collected, who has access to that information, or what they do with it.
https://privacy4cars.com/personal-use is a good starting point if you want to figure out what the car is collecting.
https://privacy4cars.com/personal-use is a good starting point if you want to figure out what the car is collecting.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,289
Likes: 8,419
Does the car have its own built in connectivity? If so, you probably have no idea what is being collected, who has access to that information, or what they do with it.
https://privacy4cars.com/personal-use is a good starting point if you want to figure out what the car is collecting.
https://privacy4cars.com/personal-use is a good starting point if you want to figure out what the car is collecting.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 2,555
Likes: 1,213
The car has a built in 4G connection that is active all the time. Its how OTA updates are received. And yes, it is capable of providing most all the data, most all the time. It is unclear whether or not disabling the smart driver feature on the app actually stops that data from being collected. It may just stop it from being processed for that specific application which provides the driver with a summary.
If so, it might be interesting to use Wireshark to capture everything from the car's IP address for a few days and see what it's sending. That probably would not be everything, since the 4G connection is still there but it might show some stuff.
Anyone who wants to collaborate on such a project PM me. You would want to assign a fixed IP for your car and port forwarding to wherever you're running Wireshark. Someone else has probably done it already but maybe not on a Corvette.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,289
Likes: 8,419
The car can connect to your home Wi-Fi too, right Andy?
If so, it might be interesting to use Wireshark to capture everything from the car's IP address for a few days and see what it's sending. That probably would not be everything, since the 4G connection is still there but it might show some stuff.
Anyone who wants to collaborate on such a project PM me. You would want to assign a fixed IP for your car and port forwarding to wherever you're running Wireshark. Someone else has probably done it already but maybe not on a Corvette.
If so, it might be interesting to use Wireshark to capture everything from the car's IP address for a few days and see what it's sending. That probably would not be everything, since the 4G connection is still there but it might show some stuff.
Anyone who wants to collaborate on such a project PM me. You would want to assign a fixed IP for your car and port forwarding to wherever you're running Wireshark. Someone else has probably done it already but maybe not on a Corvette.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 713
Likes: 506
Taken from the Z06 forums thanks to ElectronMike:
Heads up if you haven't seen this.. even after my OnStar initial trial was over, I checked the MyChevrolet app and noticed that they are tracking and reporting driving habits including what they consider hard acceleration and hard braking events. I disabled this in the app by going to "more" in the bottom right and then unenrolling from Chevrolet Smart Driver. It was on by default in my case. A few of my friends mentioned their information has been sold and even ended up on their credit report in some cases as C8 owners.
They literally assign you a driving score!
Heads up if you haven't seen this.. even after my OnStar initial trial was over, I checked the MyChevrolet app and noticed that they are tracking and reporting driving habits including what they consider hard acceleration and hard braking events. I disabled this in the app by going to "more" in the bottom right and then unenrolling from Chevrolet Smart Driver. It was on by default in my case. A few of my friends mentioned their information has been sold and even ended up on their credit report in some cases as C8 owners.
They literally assign you a driving score!
Tell us something we don't know...
Racer
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 329
Likes: 180
From: Northwest Florida
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,366
Likes: 913
That's a good one GM! 
It's very sneaky having your own unsuspecting customers paying OnStar for their own self incrimination, no scruples, no integrity, but lots of money. It should give pause to everyone, specially those who frequently raise GM's flag and kiss their butt.
George
It's very sneaky having your own unsuspecting customers paying OnStar for their own self incrimination, no scruples, no integrity, but lots of money. It should give pause to everyone, specially those who frequently raise GM's flag and kiss their butt.
George
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
That's a good one GM!
It's very sneaky having your own unsuspecting customers paying OnStar for their own self incrimination, no scruples, no integrity, but lots of money. It should give pause to everyone, specially those who frequently raise GM's flag and kiss their butt.
George
It's very sneaky having your own unsuspecting customers paying OnStar for their own self incrimination, no scruples, no integrity, but lots of money. It should give pause to everyone, specially those who frequently raise GM's flag and kiss their butt.
George
