Modem Delete?

[XLT22]

Nice, so you understand the backdoor stuff first person stuff then. I'm coming from older trucks too- I've never owned one newer than 15 years. While the new technology in my 21 is great, what got me looking into modem removal was the blocking of third party tunes. That's been overcome for now but will they be locked out again through future updates?

Here's another thread that goes into the details of that information and who it's shared with:

Breaking the Data Link with FordPass

Every OEM to my knowledge makes this stuff opt-in and there's legislation pending in the US at a federal level to mandate just that. Usage-based insurance is coming but again, it'll be an option YOU must choose to enroll in.

There is far more invasive data aggregation going on in any halfway-decent grocery store than goes on in an F150 and that's underselling what some of the higher end shops do with eye tracking. Often what you'll see is a business use a portion of the return from user data to fund products (or deliverables in corporate jibberish) that a consumer would otherwise be unwilling to pay for. Nothing is free and this is the way of the world now. Privacy hasn't been a thing since the Earth born enough people for one to convince another to "keep an eye on" someone else.

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[tbinmd]

It's easy to disable the modem via the Sync settings. You have more to worry about if you carry a cell phone. Carriers keep location data for years, not days, weeks or months.

ENABLING AND DISABLING THE MODEM

1. Press Settings.

1. Press Connectivity.

1. Press Connected Vehicle Features.

1. Switch vehicle connectivity on or off.

 

[HammaMan]

Is there a way to simply pull a fuse or something straightforward for those of us who don't want big brother in our truck?

Just unplug the cellular antenna from the TCU and it won't be able to steal your data, but your GPS / maps will still work, as will sat radio if you use it. They'll still track stuff even w/ settings off, unplug the antenna.

 

[Aron]

If you do some searching online you'll find many concerned with the kind of data Ford is collecting and who they share it with. It’s like being in your home at night, forced to have all the curtains open while a group of suits stand outside your windows and watch everything you do. Just because you have nothing to hide, does that make it okay? Of course not. Look into the fine print of what Ford collects and who they share it with and guaranteed it will make many second guess whether they want the modem connected. The precedent set by allowing these things, let alone ridiculing those who ask about (nonexistent problem, muh carry a cellphone) will only make it worse in the future. Look at what BMW is doing to their customers right now. Do we really want that?

The Tremor forum has talked about this extensively:

Disabling the modem (pulling the fuse)

I don't follow BMW news. What are they doing to their customers?

 

[Onyx]

I don't follow BMW news. What are they doing to their customers?

They're forcing their customers to pay monthly subscriptions in order to activate features that should come permanently with a vehicle, like remote start. As more vehicles become connected, more manufacturers are doing the paid subscription thing and IMO it's complete horseshit.

Another thing is their next level data collection- There's an anecdote in one of those Tremor Forum threads that I linked about a customer who claimed warranty and the dealer printed out a crazy amount of data that their car recorded- It had snapped a pic of his face and sent all the data on speed, location, etc every bit of data you can think of to the dealer and his insurance company (I can't speak for that validity but I can definitely see them doing this).

I don't know about you but I definitely don't like that these details are being collected. Data is extremely valuable to corporations and they're beginning to understand that they can get it for free because we'll trade consent for convenience.

 

[Onyx]

Every OEM to my knowledge makes this stuff opt-in and there's legislation pending in the US at a federal level to mandate just that. Usage-based insurance is coming but again, it'll be an option YOU must choose to enroll in.

There is far more invasive data aggregation going on in any halfway-decent grocery store than goes on in an F150 and that's underselling what some of the higher end shops do with eye tracking. Often what you'll see is a business use a portion of the return from user data to fund products (or deliverables in corporate jibberish) that a consumer would otherwise be unwilling to pay for. Nothing is free and this is the way of the world now. Privacy hasn't been a thing since the Earth born enough people for one to convince another to "keep an eye on" someone else.

Call me crazy but I've heard enough from Edward Snowden to understand that opting-in isn't a prerequisite for the collection of your device's personal data. If someone wants that data without your consent, they're going to get it.

Grocery stores, sure- but no one's hacking into my shopping cart and taking it off the aisle. There's a point that this goes too far and people either go with the flow or take a stand. Personally, I still remember what it was like the navigate with a paper map. Weighing the pros and cons, I have no problem going back to that.

Car Hacking Danger Is Likely Closer Than You Think

 

[Aron]

They're forcing their customers to pay monthly subscriptions in order to activate features that should come permanently with a vehicle, like remote start. As more vehicles become connected, more manufacturers are doing the paid subscription thing and IMO it's complete horseshit.

Another thing is their next level data collection- There's an anecdote in one of those Tremor Forum threads that I linked about a customer who claimed warranty and the dealer printed out a crazy amount of data that their car recorded- It had snapped a pic of his face and sent all the data on speed, location, etc every bit of data you can think of to the dealer and his insurance company (I can't speak for that validity but I can definitely see them doing this).

I don't know about you but I definitely don't like that these details are being collected. Data is extremely valuable to corporations and they're beginning to understand that they can get it for free because we'll trade consent for convenience.

Got it, thanks! I agree that subscriptions for use of your own vehicle's functions (for which don't require ongoing services, such as data streaming) are BS. The data collection thing also annoys me, but doesn't cause the same level of outrage as charging a subscription for things like remote start.

 

[EL5_Zero]

I just did this to my 2024 XL. The fuse number is 8, and it's a 7.5 amp fuse. See picture below.

If you do some searching online you'll find many concerned with the kind of data Ford is collecting and who they share it with. It’s like being in your home at night, forced to have all the curtains open while a group of suits stand outside your windows and watch everything you do. Just because you have nothing to hide, does that make it okay? Of course not. Look into the fine print of what Ford collects and who they share it with and guaranteed it will make many second guess whether they want the modem connected. The precedent set by allowing these things, let alone ridiculing those who ask about (nonexistent problem, muh carry a cellphone) will only make it worse in the future. Look at what BMW is doing to their customers right now. Do we really want that?

The Tremor forum has talked about this extensively:

Disabling the modem (pulling the fuse)

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