http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/Oct 9th 2007 9:48AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/
My two cents.]]>Oct 9th 2007 9:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/Oct 9th 2007 10:00AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/
You have two options:

Don't buy GM

Have someone forcibly remove all OnStar Hardware from your new vehicle.]]>Oct 9th 2007 10:48AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/
I wonder if they will be making these standard to co-inside with that incredible idea of taxing driving miles. Didn't pay your "taxes" from that trip to NYC? You get a notice that your car will only drive a max 30mph for the next two days and afterwards will become non-functional until you pay up, deadbeat.

Or worse, lets say you posted some nasty comments about the illegal war in Iran/Syria - someone at homeland flags you as a security risk who maybe shouldn't be driving on the highway (if at all)...and boom... they now dictate your physical movements (unless, of course, you walk).

Funny people attack these POSSIBILITIES as if they are some impossible far-out conspiracy theory. These are probably the sames people that fell for the Iraq-WMD conspiracy theory themselves. I wonder if they would even resist a camera being shoved up their ass, if it makes them "more secure"..]]>Oct 9th 2007 9:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/Oct 10th 2007 2:46AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/
Like we need another reason to avoid GM vehicles.

So now if you don't have your "papers" in order, you are really screwed. They'll "protect" you real good in the "War on Terror" a.k.a. "War on Drugs II".

They'll slow you down enough to taze you to death. Whenever some hot-head "peace officer" phones anything in.

Screw this country.

Ron Paul 2008

For
The
Fucking
Win]]>Oct 9th 2007 9:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/Oct 9th 2007 10:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/
Thats right, trust government and large corporations, they KNOW BETTER, and are here to help...]]>Oct 9th 2007 10:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/
Large corporations care about money. They're not a big conspiracy group, there motives are clear, easily predictable, and only involve giving information to government if the government makes them do so. GM isn't just going to slow down your car because they feel like it. What the hell would that gain them?
"Ok, here's what we're going to do. We'll put in the ability to remotely slow down our vehicles, then do it randomly to our customers."
"Why would we do that?"
"Because it'd be HILARIOUS."

Yeah, that seems real likely. Quite frankly, GM doesn't give two shits whether you leave the car sitting in your driveway 24/7 or use it to smuggle drugs into the country, so long as you buy the car from them.

Now government, that's a whole different story. They can come in and MAKE these companies do things to their customers they don't want to. So I'll agree with your last point - Ron Paul 2008.]]>Oct 9th 2007 11:09AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/Oct 10th 2007 2:48AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/Oct 10th 2007 9:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/Oct 10th 2007 3:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/
All any of it would take would be a "Patriot" Act II or III. Why risk it. You can get cars that are so much better from other companies anyway.

Point is, we all need to be a little more apprehensive about giving up ANY control or privacy, because its always give and inch, take a mile with these people.]]>Oct 10th 2007 4:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/
There's also the fact that their vehicles are bland and crappy.]]>Oct 9th 2007 9:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/Oct 9th 2007 9:59AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/Oct 9th 2007 10:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.hackaday.com/2005/03/29/gm-onstar-hacking/]]>Oct 9th 2007 10:41AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/Oct 9th 2007 10:44AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/
Wrong.]]>Oct 9th 2007 12:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/Oct 10th 2007 2:51AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/Oct 9th 2007 10:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/Oct 9th 2007 10:05AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/Oct 9th 2007 10:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/
As far as I know they've been able to figure out where the vehicle is for a while. This could be standard practice by thieves already. ]]>Oct 9th 2007 10:49AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/
Come to think of it, if a thief was smart enough to "Cloak" an OnStar system, stealing cars would be at the top of his list.]]>Oct 9th 2007 1:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/Oct 10th 2007 2:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/
I like the idea for the technology. But I would hate to be on the wrong end of a prankster's joke.
]]>Oct 9th 2007 10:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/Oct 9th 2007 10:35AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/
This results in getting the vehicle back intact.]]>Oct 9th 2007 10:49AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/
This results in getting the vehicle back intact.]]>Oct 9th 2007 10:52AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/Oct 9th 2007 11:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/Oct 9th 2007 11:43AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/"...most car chases end with the car totaled anyways."

Please substantiate this claim.]]>Oct 9th 2007 12:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/Oct 9th 2007 2:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/]]>Oct 9th 2007 11:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/Oct 9th 2007 10:35AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/Oct 9th 2007 10:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/Oct 9th 2007 10:41AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/
Some of the small towns get lot Imapalas here instead of custom order. It'd be even more funny if it ended up being the cop car that was slowed down by Onstar. :)]]>Oct 9th 2007 10:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/Oct 9th 2007 11:00AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/Oct 9th 2007 2:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/
Oh, and keep telling the consumer “what you think they should buy” with those constant gas guzzler spam ads instead of what they actually need. Your oil pals fooled you into thinking you had a monopoly like they do. Hum, wonder when that first GM plant will open in China?]]>Oct 9th 2007 11:10AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/
Let me put this another way. A super secret gov't program of citizen-tracking that involves your targets' self-selecting to install an expensive non-standard feature in a family of brands that have collectively been steadily losing their market share for years is pretty fucking stupid.]]>Oct 9th 2007 12:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/Oct 9th 2007 2:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/Oct 9th 2007 7:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/There is a computer hooked up to you engine that can make it stop. I don't know about you but I don't need that extra crap in my car. I can see it now, you short a fuse that activates the system for some reason. Or maybe it can be hacked to actually start the car.
Also aren't these mostly needed to stop Bronco's? That's a Ford. :) ]]>Oct 9th 2007 11:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/Oct 9th 2007 11:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/Oct 9th 2007 1:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/onstar-stolen-vehicle-slowdown-hits-the-brakes-on-jacked-cars/It also connects your ECM to a cell phone. yikes!]]>Oct 10th 2007 4:45PM