Does Big Brother Own You via Your Car or Truck? My 911 Experience with GM Infotainment Software Upd

a reply to: Waterglass

Big Brother owns you as soon as you are born and registered via your social security/national insurance number.

People are pretty much considered to be a commodity, and its all about maritime law, all laws are really.

originally posted by: LSU2018

originally posted by: vonclod
a reply to: Identified
No thanks..I like doing things for myself! we are all going to become helpless babies with 0 skills.

Yep... Look at the commercials for cars today.
Not paying attention because you're preoccupied with your phone? We'll stop you.
Is your lack of paying attention causing you to drift into the other lane? We'll pull you back.
Not looking before you change lanes? We'll alert you in your side view mirrors.

The only "safety" feature I like on my truck in the back up camera, and I only use it if I'm backing up into a spot with a car or wall behind me. Side air bags have the absolute worst blind spots. My nephew turned his car into a light pole when he was going 10 mph in an open parking lot because he never saw it. Normally I'd call BS, but I've nearly pulled out in front of a car because of the side air bag blind spot so I'm a believer. I bought my son a 2002 Ram with not a single blind spot. The big head rests get in the way, too.

Haha, same here, back up cam on my truck, thats it, previous owner install. I like older vehicles. My fun car is a blacked out Buick Regal with a few extra ponies, not a computer to be found in that car.

I think all the technology is cool, but the flipside of it is, we are becoming less self reliant..more reliant on the technology.

originally posted by: Waterglass
a reply to: jedi_hamster
The screen DID NOT delineate to NOT DRIVE THE CAR nor were any instructions of any type given nor did the car shut off.

Do you understand?

yes, i understand. you're one of those that will try to massage their balls with a chainsaw if it doesn't have a warning sticker saying it's dangerous. and to clarify, the car DID stop working when the update was in progress - but luckily it was parked near the store at that point. "Everything is dead as in nothing turns on. I mean nothing. No dash information, no lights, no sound, no anything including, no emergency lights." - your own words.

OF COURSE they've made a mistake, it shouldn't allow you to drive. but the fact is, you've made a mistake as well, trying to use the car while the software update was running. didn't it cross your mind that perhaps, maybe, you shouldn't? the fact that you need to ask if in my opinion you weren't supposed to drive the car, says it all - so excuse my bluntness, but this is so, so incredibly stupid that i'm at a loss for words. IF ANYTHING WENT WRONG, YOU COULD F..KING KILL SOMEONE - is it so damn hard to figure that out without a big red warning saying "DON'T DRIVE YOUR CAR WHILE UPGRADING ITS SOFTWARE"?

also, where is the whole conspiracy coming from? i saw quite a bunch of trash threads on this site, but as a programmer i gotta say that this is a new low, making a thread out of thin air "because the car didn't work as supposed while software update was running" - when you're upgrading windows on your PC (or OSX on your mac), can you use your computer when its for example rebooting? of course not.

but no, you've decided to drive your car with software upgrade running, then when it stopped working (probably by design after you've stopped the car and reached certain download progress, to prevent you from killing someone - or yourself), you started throwing temper tantrums because "SO WHAT IT'S UPGRADING CRUCIAL SOFTWARE, I WANNA DRIVE, OMG I KNOW - I'M BEING HACKED, LET'S HEAD TO ATS AND BLAME GM & NSA". think what would happen if the car would've stopped responding in the middle of the road. THINK.

and stop throwing blame around, when the insanity of your actions is 100% on you. be glad it's just that and not someone's life.

a reply to: Waterglass

So whats that time of year with the snakes?

What do they do?

originally posted by: jedi_hamster

originally posted by: Waterglass
a reply to: jedi_hamster
The screen DID NOT delineate to NOT DRIVE THE CAR nor were any instructions of any type given nor did the car shut off.

Do you understand?

yes, i understand. you're one of those that will try to massage their balls with a chainsaw if it doesn't have a warning sticker saying it's dangerous. and to clarify, the car DID stop working when the update was in progress - but luckily it was parked near the store at that point. "Everything is dead as in nothing turns on. I mean nothing. No dash information, no lights, no sound, no anything including, no emergency lights." - your own words.

OF COURSE they've made a mistake, it shouldn't allow you to drive. but the fact is, you've made a mistake as well, trying to use the car while the software update was running. didn't it cross your mind that perhaps, maybe, you shouldn't? the fact that you need to ask if in my opinion you weren't supposed to drive the car, says it all - so excuse my bluntness, but this is so, so incredibly stupid that i'm at a loss for words. IF ANYTHING WENT WRONG, YOU COULD F..KING KILL SOMEONE - is it so damn hard to figure that out without a big red warning saying "DON'T DRIVE YOUR CAR WHILE UPGRADING ITS SOFTWARE"?

also, where is the whole conspiracy coming from? i saw quite a bunch of trash threads on this site, but as a programmer i gotta say that this is a new low, making a thread out of thin air "because the car didn't work as supposed while software update was running" - when you're upgrading windows on your PC (or OSX on your mac), can you use your computer when its for example rebooting? of course not.

but no, you've decided to drive your car with software upgrade running, then when it stopped working (probably by design after you've stopped the car and reached certain download progress, to prevent you from killing someone - or yourself), you started throwing temper tantrums because "SO WHAT IT'S UPGRADING CRUCIAL SOFTWARE, I WANNA DRIVE, OMG I KNOW - I'M BEING HACKED, LET'S HEAD TO ATS AND BLAME GM & NSA". think what would happen if the car would've stopped responding in the middle of the road. THINK.

and stop throwing blame around, when the insanity of your actions is 100% on you. be glad it's just that and not someone's life.

The OP said there was nothing said about a reboot needing to be done or not driving the car. From an operator point of view, I would have looked at this as updating an app on my phone. I can update the app and still use my phone.

My question is why in the heck is the techonology getting in the way of driving. I honestly believe there should be no updates that that should affect if the car can be driven or not. None period. If the stupid car manufactures insist on it, it should have to go to a dealership to do the update. Who wants to tow their car from their parking space to their dealership because the update couldn't complete or something went wrong?

What if the OP was stuck in traffic for a number of reasons and decided to turn off the vechicle to save gas. I have seen my parents do that in a traffic jam. I have seen people turn off theor vechicle at stop lights. Then the car can't start because of an update.

What about people who don't own pc's or laptops? How are they suppose to correlate system update equals do not use the computer let alone do not drive.

Yes a warning needs to be stated you will not be able to drive for x amount of time and expect longer delays if the connection gets disrupted becasuse you may be in an area wrere the single is weak.

No thanks.

a reply to: jedi_hamster


Wow; "So why so serious" I must have hit a funny bone so GOOD MORNING ALPHA AGENCY MAN

1. We only know what we know.

2. Thinking as to how you think will get someone killed. Many times computer updates happen in the background don't they? So you can continue to work or whatever. Right?

3. I wish to congratulate you because now you have pissed me off to the point that I will now blow in my former employer and add your comment to my complaint because of you. Possibly that was your motive, possibly it was not.

4. So possibly you and I will save lives as they did have several other issues that resulted in deaths didn't they?






Not everyone is a programmer and not everyone thinks like you.

a reply to: nOraKat

Water Moccasins, Black Racers and Copperheads all move inland in preparation for winter hibernation near the homes. We got em all including possibly alligators.

originally posted by: Bluntone22
a reply to: Waterglass

This has been becoming a bigger issue for the last several years.
John Deere does this with their tractors too.

I was wondering how the download was done by the trucks computer.
Satellite connection?

Yep - sat link. This is also how the new cars allow for in-car WiFi pretty much anywhere.

On the plus side for this technology... the mothership can track your engines mileage, tell you if there’s a problem, when to get an oil change, etc. this also allows us the mothership to collect vast amounts of data on their cars to find common problems at scale to issue recalls, safety bulletins, etc. so that’s all pretty good stuff.

On the flip side, they know when you drive, where you drive, how fast you drive, how often you drive the car “hard”, can hear your conversations and use all of this against you for warranty work denial/share data with authorities or insurance companies, etc.

People usually only think about the benefits of tech... not the possible negative implications. Your car has turned into a driving Amazon Alexa!

a reply to: roadgravel

---and you wonder why the youth in colleges want socialism?!

Software can DOWNLOAD while the device is in use but once you "restart" or power off, then it will install and prevent any use of the device until the UPDATE completed.

Seems pretty standard to me. You were able to drive while you downloaded but once you parked and the download finished, it started to update and prevent use until the actual install of the update finished.

a reply to: Waterglass
I got the message about the upgrade on my Camaro 2SS as I pulled into the garage. I let it proceed and the next day, all was fine. If I was on the road, I doubt I'd let it go through with the upgrade.

I connect my iPhone every time I get in the car. One, it charges, second, I can play my music. I do like the infotainment system navigation better than Apple but that's because I have Head Up Display and get the turn-by-turn on the windshield.

originally posted by: Waterglass
Yesterday, I was on my way to pick up a bag of snake repellent as it’s that time of year again. So I get into the Pickup Truck and start it up. Since I have a rear camera I always look at the 8" diagonal Touch Screen located in the dash to double check what’s behind me but that's not what happened yesterday morning.

So I start the truck in my garage and the touch screen goes blank and I get a message that allows me to make a decision to ALLOW a software update or to CANCEL it. So WTF I pushed allow as I know the electronic outside air temperature reader is "off". OK, so I start driving as this thing starts its download. So I get to ACE hardware about 10 minutes later and go into the store and the touch screen shows that the software update is continuing. So I leave the store in another 10 minutes and get into the truck. I look at the screen which shows I am at 41% download so I turn the key to start the truck. Guess what. Everything is dead as in nothing turns on. I mean nothing. No dash information, no lights, no sound, no anything including, no emergency lights. The only exception is that touch screen showing that I am at 41% download. Since it was 94 degrees outside I have a choice and its not to stay in the truck. So I head to the lumber yard barn to shoot the breeze with a couple of employees and tell them what’s going on. Being normal Deep South bubba boys they sheet their Blue Denim Bib Overalls when I told them what’s going on. I did too. So I spent another 10 minutes with them and went back to the truck. I am now around 75% so I try to start the truck again. Nah, not going to happen and now I am pissed. So I start texting my wife and I took a picture of the touch screen and sent it to her. I also am now wondering whether this is a General Motors software update or am I being hacked. So I do remember that although I allowed my cell phone to charge on the USB port I NEVER ALLOWED MY PHONE TO SYNC OR CONNECT WITH THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM so as to protect hacking or whatever.

Here's the GM link:

Chevrolet Infotainment Systems

Another 10 minutes passes and the software download is now accelerating its download. Success! I am now at 98% so I get into the truck and watch the display. I also don't touch anything because of prior experiences with those Mister Softee downloads. So now the touch screen goes dead. Sheet. Am I now screwed as almost a minute passes and the screen is dead and so is the vehicle. I start to look in my wallet for my Triple A card but Walla, the screen comes back and is now installing. That takes another minute or so and I just stay still. Finally it’s loaded and it says complete. I start the truck and get the AC on. Everything is working except the touch screen radio. Fook! So I now head towards the nearest GM dealer but after turning the truck off at another store the radio came back on.

So let’s think about this. I am now beginning to think like the guys in the tin foil hats. "They", can shut the entire vehicle off at any time anywhere such that the emergency lights will not function. Your vehicle is dead in the water for well over 1/2 hour. Being a "Yankee" living in the deep south what if I was late to a "Sons of the Confederacy" meeting, KKK meeting, church, brothel, liquor store or whatever.

What if the boys from the local, state or FBI were after me for writing something on this site. Yikes, just like the music on the TV show the COPS. Here's the theme song:

COPS

Me for one is spooked about the above. Fine they can monitor our conversations via our TV sets and Cell phones but our cars! We can’t escape. They own us. So as a former Boy Scout my pledge to myself and my family is as follows:

I will behave and become a sheeple.
I will NOT connect nor link my phone nor any other device to the Samsung WIFI refrigerator.
I will consider removing the speakers from my Android phone.
I will consider buying a soundproof box or container so I can toss the cell phone into. I mean all Big Brother needs to do is record me during an NFL football game. They would claim that I am insane, as the guy talks to God and Jesus, they would invoke a Red Flag Gun Law and come and take my guns. Think about it.
I will NEVER install an electronic touch screen pad on my entry doors.
I will NEVER activate the WIFI option on my Garage Door.
I WILL buy an EMP proof pre computerized vehicle as a means of safety

Wow for me this is a Holy Sheet Batman Moment.

Possibly my ex-wife who works for the USPS wasn't crazy as she related to me over 20 years ago that another USPS employee referred to as the "undertaker" told her that he buried his guns inside a coffin somewhere in the back yard. I really thought she was off along with him but now looking back maybe they were just "progressives"

UPDATE:

I called GM at 877-558-8352 to ask whether it was their software update. YES it was and it takes between 1 to 2 hours to download and install, and yes the ENTIRE vehicle will SHUT DOWN during that process per GM. BUT, since I already had the truck on and and then touched the screen to allow the software update with engine running it did allow me to drive to my 1st destination. Potential ISSUE? Its on them. Still LOVE the truck!!!

Thanks for sharing. Your post is revealing (and chilling). Makes one want to avoid as much technology as possible in these times.

originally posted by: Mystery_Lady
What if the OP was stuck in traffic for a number of reasons and decided to turn off the vechicle to save gas. I have seen my parents do that in a traffic jam. I have seen people turn off theor vechicle at stop lights. Then the car can't start because of an update.

because of an update that HE ACCEPTED.

originally posted by: Waterglass
Many times computer updates happen in the background don't they? So you can continue to work or whatever. Right?

again, those do not have mandatory "do you want to update now" question, because they shouldn't - proper updates on properly configured system, not on badly managed win10 - screw your work up and reboot. if it would be a harmless background update, don't you think it wouldn't even ask?

originally posted by: Waterglass
I wish to congratulate you because now you have pissed me off to the point that I will now blow in my former employer and add your comment to my complaint because of you. Possibly that was your motive, possibly it was not.

figured that much by this thread. first you're doing something extremely dumb, then you overreact and start running around blowing off steam in every direction - random employees, your wife, then ATS. and when someone points it out to you - you're getting even more pissed. wanna blame someone for your own lack of imagination? blame yourself.

originally posted by: LSU2018

originally posted by: Ahabstar
OnStar, which has been in GM vehicles since 1989, has been used to track and disable your vehicle for a long time. The vast majority of semi trucks can have a whole host of things done to them by satellite connection including changing maximum speed and full disablement. That smartphone in your pocket that you don’t want to sync was built to have loads of remote control functions. And just depending on equipment, can do loads of things with your car like remote start, stop, temperature control, etc.

Might I suggest a 68 Nova SS to disconnect?

Indeed... We run a fleet of Chevrolet Equinoxes for our salesmen and using Telogis, I can see everything they do from too sharp of a turn to whether or not their seatbelt is buckled. It's insane how much information I can see. And, of course, I can see exactly when they started their car, parked it, sped, when their oil is due to be changed, and the list goes on and on. It's too creepy for my taste so I never use it to monitor them unless the CEO asks me to.

Most apps and websites require a check list of information to give up.
They say click yes to allow access to camera, microphone, web history, address book, ect.

And if you do. You can actually monitor people by watching them through their cameras and listening through their phones.

If you think the info you see if creepy , this is a whole other level.

And now most cameras and microphones are being constantly recorded for future listening

originally posted by: Waterglass
[...]

So let’s think about this. I am now beginning to think like the guys in the tin foil hats. "They", can shut the entire vehicle off at any time anywhere such that the emergency lights will not function. Your vehicle is dead in the water for well over 1/2 hour. Being a "Yankee" living in the deep south what if I was late to a "Sons of the Confederacy" meeting, KKK meeting, church, brothel, liquor store or whatever.

[...]

I will behave and become a sheeple.
I will NOT connect nor link my phone nor any other device to the Samsung WIFI refrigerator.
I will consider removing the speakers from my Android phone.
I will consider buying a soundproof box or container so I can toss the cell phone into. I mean all Big Brother needs to do is record me during an NFL football game. They would claim that I am insane, as the guy talks to God and Jesus, they would invoke a Red Flag Gun Law and come and take my guns. Think about it.
I will NEVER install an electronic touch screen pad on my entry doors.
I will NEVER activate the WIFI option on my Garage Door.
I WILL buy an EMP proof pre computerized vehicle as a means of safety

[...]

UPDATE:

I called GM at 877-558-8352 to ask whether it was their software update. YES it was and it takes between 1 to 2 hours to download and install, and yes the ENTIRE vehicle will SHUT DOWN during that process per GM. BUT, since I already had the truck on and and then touched the screen to allow the software update with engine running it did allow me to drive to my 1st destination. Potential ISSUE? Its on them. Still LOVE the truck!!!

Wow, what a story, just recently I started a thread about the dangerous trends in the technology, and this is another one - update/upgrades disrupting your work flow. Before they were less frequent and intrusive, but now, the whole truck shuts off because of an update (??!!)... this is a whole 'nother level.

No thanks, I'll take an older vehicle any time, if that'll remain an option, that is.

Sounds to me like you're working for your car. Simplify, man!

Well, it's good you learned something about software updates, and the nature of your vehicle.

But come on, you have a paper to write and your computer asks to update the OS... and you say yes?? Wait buddy!!!

a reply to: Waterglass

a reply to: Rob808

But come on, you have a paper to write and your computer asks to update the OS... and you say yes?? Wait buddy!!!

At home on my desktop with a paper to write. At that point no. But inside a vehicle I am surprised that said vehicle didn't shut down the truck when I touched the screen as yes.

1. The truck was already started with the engine on.
2. The truck was in Park.
3. I touched the screen "yes" to update
4. NO guidance or warnings appeared on the screen. NONE as in nothing. Just a blue screen with a white % completed bar.
5. I put the truck into reverse and backed out.
6. I drove to the store

I am not the OEM nor am I writing a report in the vehicle. Different set of circumstances. Sometimes we all cant be thinking about everything all of the time. Were human.