Is Your Car Spying on You? What Drivers of Custom Shift Knobs Need to Know About Data Risks

Is Your Car Spying on You? What Drivers of Custom Shift Knobs Need to Know About Data Risks

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Your car isn’t just a machine anymore. It’s a rolling computer—complete with apps, Wi-Fi, GPS, and voice assistants. But with all that tech convenience comes something a lot more invasive: data tracking. And not the kind you can just unplug, or swap out like a worn-out car shift knob. We're talking about your driving habits, your location, your contacts—maybe even your texts.

If you’re into customizing your ride—from the shift knob to the exhaust—you should know what kind of surveillance might be riding shotgun.

1. Modern Cars Are Collecting More Than Just Miles

Most newer vehicles (especially post-2018) are tracking every move you make:

  • Where you go and how fast you drive

  • How hard you brake

  • Seat occupancy and belt usage

  • Voice command recordings

  • Your connected phone’s metadata

Car manufacturers say it’s for safety and “driving experience,” but that data is often sent back to companies who have little interest in your privacy. Whether you're running a manual setup with a custom Nice Knob, Bro shift knob or just taking a quick drive to the store, your car might be logging it all.

2. Your Car’s Apps Can Be Hacked—Fast

Remote start? Cool. Climate control from your phone? Also cool. But these features often connect through third-party apps, and they aren’t always locked down.

Hackers have used app vulnerabilities to:

  • Unlock vehicles remotely

  • Start or shut off engines

  • View exact location history

If you’re the kind of driver who takes pride in a custom interior—especially something tactile like a hand-crafted aftermarket shift knob—you probably care about the experience of being in control. That control disappears fast if someone else has access to your car through an app.

3. Your Driving Data Is Being Sold

Even if you haven’t been hacked, your data may still be for sale. Car companies often share (or sell) data to:

  • Insurance agencies

  • Ad platforms

  • Data brokers

  • Law enforcement agencies

Want to keep your ride and your privacy personal? Be wary of what you agree to when setting up those car apps. You wouldn’t hand off your custom gear shift knob to a stranger—so why hand off your driving behavior?

4. You Don’t Need a Hack for a Data Leak

Data leaks happen all the time from poorly configured servers or shady software partners. It doesn’t take a master hacker—sometimes, sensitive information is just sitting there unprotected. This can include:

  • Names

  • Addresses

  • GPS data

  • Driving patterns

It's like leaving your car unlocked—except the doors are digital.

5. The Terms Are Designed to Confuse You

That mile-long terms of service agreement? It’s not written for you. It’s written to protect them. And hidden in that fine print is language that allows companies to track your movements, monitor your habits, and store your data indefinitely.

That means even if you upgrade your ride with an aftermarket shift knob or custom parts, the biggest vulnerability might not be under the hood—it’s in the code.

So What Can You Do?

Here’s how you protect yourself without going full tinfoil-hat:

  • Limit app permissions to only what’s absolutely necessary

  • Use strong, unique passwords for all connected services

  • Avoid syncing your personal phone in rentals or borrowed vehicles

  • Explore your car’s privacy settings—some let you reduce data sharing

  • Stay informed and ask questions before enabling any “smart” feature

The Bottom Line for Car Enthusiasts

If you’re someone who takes pride in every detail—from custom seats to the perfect shift knob—then you know your car is more than a ride. It’s yours. So don’t let automakers and tech companies ride along without your permission.

Because the one doing the shifting… should be you.

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