this post was submitted on 11 Mar 2024
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Privacy
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Most likely the module, if it is a separate module and not part of the SoC of the infotainment system or whatever, works over CAN bus and the car will throw errors when it doesn't detect its presence, or doesn't detect the SIM card. Might even refuse to start if that module is missing. Might be possible to remove the antenna so the car thinks it's just outside of the service area, but if it's built into the PCB and the PCB is cast into resin/silicone for waterproofing, even this might be extremely difficult. Probably the module is also serialized* so replacing it with a "dummy" module or a module from a junkyard won't spoof the system, either.
*Manufacturers have been serializing even airbags for years, making replacing a faulty one with one from a junkyard impossible.
You're approaching it in the wrong way. You don't need to stop the Data Collection just the phone home. Find the antenna and Faraday Cage it.
Yeah, some aluminum foil on the inside of those shark fin antennas will probably stop all communication. Just have to use your phone for radio & navigation, which isn’t a big deal on CarPlay or whatever the androids use.
If you use foil, it'd be best to connect it to ground. The metal shell of a car is usually connected to the ground terminal of the battery.
Maybe we can trick it forever that it is far away from a cell tower. That way the car has to start without connection.
Who knows, maybe they force you to use their app and after driving and connecting to the internet, that sends data back to the manufacturer.