{
  "id": 10746017,
  "title": "This study looks at how and with whom connected cars share your data",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/this-study-looks-at-how-and-with-whom-connected-cars-share-your-data",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-29T14:49:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Ars Technica",
    "slug": "ars-technica",
    "url": "https://arstechnica.com/cars/2026/09/connected-car-data-privacy-is-still-abysmal-study-finds/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recent study conducted by researchers at Northeastern University and Consumer Reports has shed light on the privacy concerns surrounding connected cars. The study examined 21 vehicles from 19 different brands, revealing a wealth of data being shared with various entities. This includes advertisers, trackers, and major technology companies such as Microsoft and Adobe. The research team discovered that using a car's companion app can exacerbate the issue, amplifying the potential for data exposure.\n\nIn 2023, the Mozilla Foundation released a highly publicized report detailing the privacy policies of over two dozen automakers. The foundation concluded that cars are among the worst products in terms of privacy. However, this study took a more hands-on approach by analyzing actual traffic from the vehicles themselves. The researchers tested the cars both idling and in motion, even going so far as to park 11 electric vehicles in a Faraday tent to observe how a loss of cellular signal might redirect traffic to the car's Wi-Fi connection instead.\n\nWhile attempts to directly examine the data packets using modified certificates were unsuccessful in every case, the study still managed to glean valuable information. This includes the domains contacted through DNS traffic, Server Name Indication (SNI) in TLS handshakes, the volume and timing of transmissions, and variations in behavior across different experimental scenarios.",
  "summary": "Between the cars and their companion apps, you’re exposed to a lot of trackers.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}