Cyber Security News
Hands free calling
September 26, 2016
A great feature in many modern cars is the ability to connect a phone to the car’s audio system for both hands-free calling or to stream music. This is often done through bluetooth or USB. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is now warning travelers NOT to connect your phone to rental cars. If you do, the automobile often stores “your mobile number, call and message logs, or even contacts and text messages.” Some cars even keep your GPS data, so it’s possible to see where you’ve traveled. Things to keep in mind:
- When not in your own car, charge your phone using the cigarette lighter port rather than connecting it to the USB port, use a bluetooth headset for hands-free driving, and enjoy music from a local station rather than streaming from your phone.
- When selling your vehicle, check the system’s settings to delete your connected devices.