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reaperduceryesterday at 10:09 PM4 repliesview on HN

Buy a Volvo. Then you can pop out the SIM card to disable the car's cellular communication. (On mine, located behind the mirror.)

When you really need it, like to download maps into the satnav, you can connect it to your home WiFi, or tether via Bluetooth.


Replies

wasmainiacyesterday at 11:06 PM

Hahah, I just traded in 2023 (unrelated brand) for 2012 model since it was less of a computer. Computer systems in the newer car kept having faults that caused sporadic electrical issues workshops couldn’t fix. I just want my car to be a car and nothing else.

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Tarball10yesterday at 10:22 PM

Until they switch to eSIM...

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g-b-ryesterday at 10:34 PM

Chinese-owned Volvo?

OnePlus and other Chinese brands were modders-friendly until they suddenly weren't, I wouldn't rely on your car not getting more hostile at a certain point

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fragmedeyesterday at 11:39 PM

A phone without SIM can still be used to call emergency services (911/999/0118999 8819991197253). The situation we're discussing though is an attack by an extremely-APT. You really think not having the SIM card is going to do anything? If the cell phone hardware is powered up, it's available. All the APT has to do is have put their code into the baseband at some point, maybe at the Volvo factory when the car was programmed, and get the cooperation of a cell-phone tower, or use a Stingray to report where the car is when in range.