Is Your Car Spying On You Right Now
Is your car new enough to have a touchscreen and “smart” features? Uh-oh.
Is Your Car Spying On You? Chances Are Pretty Good
I live in Las Vegas, and my car insurance rates went up – just out of the blue! I called my insurance company recently, to see WHY? My “zip code” is always the culprit – as is everyone’s in Las Vegas, from what they are told. They offered me a device you “just put on your car” that tracks how you drive, that will save me a few dollars a year. A SPY? No thank you.
If your car has “smart” features, it might already be spying on you, and reporting back to the man. The New York Times did a big article on how car companies are tricking people into using free apps that let them share data with third parties. Then they sell data about your driving habits to insurance companies, who up your rate based on things like speeding and “hard braking.”
Are You A Risk To Others, And Who Decides That?
The site Boing Boing has a first hand report from a man, who was a little confused as to why his insurance went up so much? We ALL wonder that, and this could be why. He was told his Lexis Nexis report was why. The report is information that is gathered and kept on you, with regards to your consumer risk.
The guy requested a consumer disclosure report – which has to be provided per the Fair Credit Reporting Act. He got over 100 pages detailing every time he or his wife drove over the past six months. It included the dates of 600 plus trips, start to finish. The distance driven, and any speeding, hard braking, or fast accelerations. Spies!
The New York Times did a big story on how car companies are doing this. They pay for the data, of course, and if they don’t like how you’re driving, BOOM – they’ll raise your rates. Sometimes even double them!
The article talks mainly about G.M. But most of the major car companies are doing it now. And they TRICK you into using free apps. And the fine print – which no one reads, but we really should – says they can share your data with “third parties.”
Smart Apps Apps Are Tacking Your Driving
One app is called OnStar Smart Driver. It is pushed as something to “help you become a better driver.” G.M. says use it to share insights about braking, accelerating, and any time you drive over 80. If you enabled it, you can un-enroll any time. But you might not even know you signed up. Some car dealers get bonuses now if THEY sign you up. You wouldn’t know unless you looked at the fine print really carefully.
The folks in D.C.know – if that means anything. Massachusetts Senator, Ed Markey, says it could actually be very illegal under the FTC Act, and considered a deceptive business practice. But I guess we’ll see if something changes.
Experts say if car companies want to do this, they have to be upfront about it, and give us a warning that we’ll actually see! Sadly, this is not a rare thing, and they’re tracking millions of drivers out there already.
So if your car insurance went up recently, that might be why – they are spying on you!
Nevada's Odd City Names Include Winnemucca And Puckerbrush
Zzyzx, California
You’ll find Zzyzx between Las Vegas and Los Angeles just off off I-15. Nothing much there but a beautiful serene lake and a bit of a creepy abandoned mineral springs area. Some say it’s haunted. You’ll find some more interesting Zzxyx history in this video. Interesting, and a little creepy.
Humptulips, Washington
According to Grays Harbor, hundreds of thousands of tourists drive through Humptulips each year. Humptulips is a Salish word named by the Chehalis Tribe a few thousands years ago. The word and name Humptulips means “Hard to Pole.” This term refers to the difficulty in traveling the river by boat.
Quonochontaug, Rhode Island
Unless you are from there, go ahead and try to pronounce it. Quonochontaug, pronounced: KWAHN-ah-kahn-tawg. Yeah . . . still can’t pronounce it. It means black fish. Which they probably could have named it originally but noooooo. It is known by the locals as “Quonnie.” The Providence Journal says it is mainly a second-home, summer town.
Tyewhoppety, Kentucky
Pronounced Tih-WAH-pih-tee. The name might be local slang for an “unkempt, ill-appearing person” or a Shawnee word meaning “place of no return.” It’s probably the latter. According to Toponymatic, the name might be local slang for an “unkempt, ill-appearing person” or a Shawnee word meaning “place of no return.” It’s probably the latter, but I like the first.
Boring, Oregon
According to Bob Vila the town named for William Harrison Boring, a former Union soldier and farmer who settled the area. The locals say it’s an exciting place to live. Humor — I like it!
Peculiar, Missouri
The Chicago Tribune reported that the city suggested the name Excelsior but were told the name was already taken in Missouri. They tried again and got the same answer. Frustrated, they asked the city to give them a “peculiar” name — even writing the word “peculiar” in quotation marks. Well guess what? There’s your name!
Three Way, Tennessee
Last but not least — Three Way! No, not what you think or wish. According to Babbel, Three Way was named after the three way split of the U.S. Route 45. Guys, that should have been your first and only guess on how this city was named.
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/
kklz963 - Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/kklz963/ - Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/kklz963/
