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Phasing Out Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Jason B

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This statement isn't accurate. "The only way to keep anyone from tracking, is to not use their services." FALSE/FAIL. Another internet fallacy.
Tell me more about this app that's blocking all those trackers.
Is it just called DuckDuckGo?
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JimG

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Wow. Almost sounds like you’re defending them. I’m sure if some of the richest companies in the world had to pay people for 5-10% of what they sell our personal information for could really put a crimp profits. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for the free enterprise system. I worked my way up in this world without a college education.
College athletes were able to get a free education due to colleges promoting their athletes. Now many of those athletes are getting paid for their ability and personal information. The colleges still give them a free education and pay them. Free enterprise system.
I just don’t believe because it’s free they should be allowed to do whatever they want with the information they collect. And they do. It’s the constant bombardment of ads, texts, and emails that I have no choice but to accept. When your phone is sitting next to your bed at night listening to whatever you might be doing, and you’re good with that because you’re using somebody’s free app. Where does it stop. Of course our crooked politicians have their government issued phones cleared of any collecting information software, so they don’t care.
Anyway this is America and we all have opinions. Mine’s no more valid or important than yours. I hope you have a great day.
 
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AugPal

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Something that helps is opening your browser, go to Privacy & Security and select delete browsing data, cookies, images and select delete. Don't delete saved passwords if you save them
 

hand-filer

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How many ads and trackers is it blocking on this site? I tried DuckDuckGo for a while but went back to using Brave browser. I couldn't be without the paywall blocker.
Of the several forums I peruse, this site is one of the worst offenders for data mining.
Ford Ranger Phasing Out Apple CarPlay and Android Auto 20251128_124801
 

stemplar

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Tell me more about this app that's blocking all those trackers.
Is it just called DuckDuckGo?
Duckduckgo is a search engine based on the premise of NOT gathering any personal info (aka PII, Personally Identifiable Information). They also produce a web browser with settings that fit with their core philosophy or business model. They do collect data, but nothing personal as google does; for example they might allow cookies that allow them to see something like, "a user bought this widget after visiting site xyz.com", but nothing that identifies you, your location, your device, etc. Along those lines I've heard people argue that Apple collects data and is no better or different than google. Wrong. While apple may collect data, they don't sell data, and even boast that they go to great lengths to protect your data. Given a choice between the two, I'll choose to patronize the company who has a lot to lose if they leak your data over a company who exists only to profit from harvesting and selling your data.
 

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Aemonn

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How many ads and trackers is it blocking on this site? I tried DuckDuckGo for a while but went back to using Brave browser. I couldn't be without the paywall blocker.
Of the several forums I peruse, this site is one of the worst offenders for data mining.
20251128_124801.webp
I have not found anything that works better than firefox + ublock origin. The fact google removed ublock as an available app on anything that uses the chromium engine should tell you something.
 

SubaruRaptor

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Something that helps is opening your browser, go to Privacy & Security and select delete browsing data, cookies, images and select delete. Don't delete saved passwords if you save them
Yeah that doesnt help at all lol.
 

hand-filer

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I have not found anything that works better than firefox + ublock origin. The fact google removed ublock as an available app on anything that uses the chromium engine should tell you something.
Brave is chromium based and every variation of uBlock is available for download.
 

Intercontinental_Ranger

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BTW is there a way to physically disconnect the modem on the new rangers as there is on the super duties. On my 23 f-350 it was located behind the rear seat and has four connections that I disconnected to render it useless to ford, and no ford app for me.
Really glad you brought this up!

Always assumed it was installed in a way to make tampering with it extremely inconvenient/difficult - but apparently not.

Per our Ai overlords, the Ranger’s Telematics Control Unit (TCU) is located behind the lower passenger glovebox.

Going to verify this tomorrow. Given automakers’ stellar track record with cybersecurity, it would be nice to cut off an access point.
 

They Call Me Bruce

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If you wouldn’t mind posting your findings here I’d appreciate it.
to those that say you can’t stop them from tracking you without giving up all your technical things like phones and such, yes you’re right.
it’s not my goal to stop “big brother “ from tracking me, that is nearly impossible if you use anything electronic these days.
I just want to stop FORD from giving my information, telemetric, mileage and such which they have in the past, to my insurance company.
Ford sucks with communication permissions with all insurance companies, don’t believe me, that’s fine. I’ve seen it and they have also come out a said it after they got caught a few years ago.
 

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They Call Me Bruce

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Go into your Ford app on your phone. There's a section under "Legal and Privacy". ..."Privacy and Data Sharing"..."Set Preferences" Be sure you have "Vehicle Data" and "Driving Data" disabled (turned off). But the Ford app used multiple app tracking services, including Google. The data they collect outside of the Ford app is what's being sold to insurance companies about your whereabouts and your driving (accelerometer is built into your phone and they collect this". That said, use the DuckDuckGo app on your phone to stop the trackers from sending this information.
Yeah, not re-downloading the ford app, don't care about OTA updates or where my truck is or how to start it remotely, or any of the other BS they GIVE YOU with that app.
The disclaimers of privacy is BS, I chose no for everything in the disclaimers with my 2023 f-350. but we did an around the country tour for 3 months and put a lot of miles on the truck, much more that my typical years.
What they did do with that is send to my insurance company the milage I put on my vehicle and insurance co. adjuster the premium accordingly. Ford was found to be doing this against the owners privacy selections, this was in the news also, and they are still doing it... your privacy selections mean NOTHING.

The insurance CO. got my exact milage , along with much more info that I could not dispute from FORD.
 
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They Call Me Bruce

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I love the Ford trucks and have driven them since my first pickup in 1981( it was a 1972 f-250) but I HATE Ford the company. Sorry just my sentiments.
 

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This is going to read as cynical but here it goes with the uncomfortable truth we live.

Not sure why it’s not understood that your infotainment and dash system (like almost all of them) are android at the core anyway. If you’re already using an android phone you’re not likely to loose much. The system will probably be more sealed and vehicle/brand specific however. Not sure that’s a bad thing. I’m an OG mobile OS dev guy, use the features myself but also sick of avoiding all you touchscreen spectrum kids while you drive around like you’ve got your head stuck in the glovebox. The real knock here seems to be more against apple and may be due to $$$ related to developer, support, feature licensing fees that they love to charge. I’m sure you’ll still be able to interface the phone, messaging and music via old school Bluetooth.

I also don’t have a favorite mobile OS. They’re literally all the same from a usability and privacy/security (more vulnerable every day BTW) standpoint. This move, barely hinted at in the article, is all about the user data as an intellectual property. That means money. The device is just the capture mechanism. Brand loyalty is just your favorite company who you adoringly let know everything about you so they can monetize it. GM and every other maker just wants to claw out some ownership $$$ by inserting themselves into that capture stream instead of letting it bypass their infotainment platform and go unfettered straight to the device manufacturer. I’m not sure I disagree with them from a business standpoint.

Either way all we can complain in the mirror about is how each time we subscribe to a little more convenience (bright shiny object) we give up a little privacy. And the businesses we subscribe to fight over the ownership of whatever we give them. Your data and behaviors are the real currency and you subsidize the development and maintenance of the capture mechanisms with your subscription fee and/or by just doing stuff. A tale as old as the telephone.
 
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SubaruRaptor

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Yeah, not re-downloading the ford app, don't care about OTA updates or where my truck is or how to start it remotely, or any of the other BS they GIVE YOU with that app.
The disclaimers of privacy is BS, I chose no for everything in the disclaimers with my 2023 f-350. but we did an around the country tour for 3 months and put a lot of miles on the truck, much more that my typical years.
What they did do with that is send to my insurance company the milage I put on my vehicle and insurance co. adjuster the premium accordingly. Ford was found to be doing this against the owners privacy selections, this was in the news also, and they are still doing it... your privacy selections mean NOTHING.

The insurance CO. got my exact milage , along with much more info that I could not dispute from FORD.
Prove it. The program you are referring to is an OPT-IN program and it is only with select insurers. I happen to use one of those insurers, and they do not know the milage of my raptor. Spreading half-truths on the internet is a shitty thing to do.
 

snowman3

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I think this is a fools errand by GM. The thought being to basically funnel something people want (wireless and seamless phone integration) into an application that will: 1. Almost certainly not work as well as the systems developed by Apple and Android and 2. Require a monthly fee direct to GM.
Yeah gonna be interesting. Automakers are in a bind. No way they leave the UI dependent on another company and out of their control. So they gotta invest in home grown solution anyhow. And no doubt they want to make $ on it. Rock and hard place.

As a consumer I want to dock my familiar UI into all the cars I drive. So simple! I don't want to learn or set up apps across various vehicles. Or create driver profiles for different drivers. Too much hassle.

Lol. Will see a revival in ipad add-on screens that connect to car via bluetooth!
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