Randy Sottile, CA Lemon Law Auto Experts’ research and opinions on GM’s OnStar system is that of a ‘double-edged sword’.

One side of the blade is the benefits (Corporate Profits and Information Control) that GM is receiving from the consumer.  The other side of the “blade” are the costs the consumer/end user through (via payment of monthly or yearly subscription services) utilizing the service, and resultant personal and vehicle information/data they are giving to OnStar, a prime concern for loss of privacy.

OnStar is sold and licensed from GM to various car manufacturers. Each carries its own name. Names include LexusLink, Tele-Aid, and more. It is a subscription-based service, with many new cars coming with the first 3 months (or a year) free of monthly subscription charges.

Let’s first talk about the benefits of OnStar, then balance it by talking about its electronic “dark side”. On the benefits side, it uses CDMA voice and data communication, and GPS technology for vehicle location tracking. It provides HFC (Hands Free Calling), EMS (Emergency Medical Services connect) Automatic Crash Response allows emergency advisors to provide emergency medical services (EMS) with additional crash information such as rollover status, direction of impact, which airbags have deployed (front, side etc.,) and the Delta-V (change in velocity) Force which is a medical measure of the intensity of an impact. All this information allows EMS to respond to the crash with appropriate equipment. There is also on-board vehicle diagnostics, direct-to-OnStar representative communications, voice recognition communication, remote car unlock, and more recently a connection to police for car location tracking (services and features may vary among car models/years/subscription options). This is a partial list of what OnStar can do.

Now, to what I characterize as the “dark side” of OnStar. Frankly, OnStar epitomizes the concept of “Big Brother Watching”. It’s what they can do with the information that can be potentially damaging to consumers in many ways – privacy, marketing information, crash/insurance information, hi-jacking lemon law claims and more. Let’s look at a brief list of what can be done with OnStars’ capabilities. First, under state lemon laws, “repair attempts” are defined as when the customer presents the vehicle with the issue to the authorized dealer for warranty repairs, and it’s written up on a “Repair Order”. On-Star benefits the manufacturer and derails the consumer from getting their right to a documented repair. OnStar diagnostics can actually reset (shut off) a dash warning light that would otherwise be a “repair attempt” visit to the dealers’ shop – which would be used towards a lemon law claim. OnStar “conveniently” diagnoses the cars ‘issue’, and extinguishes it, removing the car owner’s right to a documented repair at the dealership. Next is a vehicle owners right to privacy. Privacy? – The OnStar’s GPS knows exactly where you are at all times. Don’t believe it? Recently, it has been rumored that OnStar has changed its terms and conditions to allow sale of vehicle location and speeds to interested third parties such as law enforcement agencies. Who’s and what’s next? Will driving habits, restaurants visited, and other “places of interest” from the OnStar’s data base of destinations and OnStar “call-in’s” be sold to third-party marketers and advertising agencies? Will the crash data be used by the automobile manufacturer against the consumer in product liability/personal injury/wrongful death crash cases, buttressing their legal defense against plaintiff’s claims? It is a fact that we only know of OnStar’s capabilities of what the auto manufacturer, lets us know. It is theoretically possible for OnStar to be remotely activated by malicious third parties or under government order. This would enable third parties to track the location of the car. This is constantly being challenged, but the real question remains “just how far can it go?” in taking private information, and how it’s used? We just don’t know. In 2011 OnStar announced that it would start retaining all the information collected by the GPS and internal system, so that it could be sold to third parties. Although this data is supposed to be “anonoymized”, it remains unclear exactly what they mean by this, as it is extremely difficult to anonoymize GPS data. I am following this to see if the data has been opened up to third parties already, or is scheduled to – and when.

So, how should consumers view OnStar? Only the consumer can make that determination and choice. For myself, I have “Google Maps” on my phone with driving directions for free (instead of OnStar routing), I can call Roadside Assistance or a tow-truck with my cell phone if I break down. Now, if I get in a crash without OnStar I would not have the benefit of EMS, but then does it usually take more than 2 minutes for other motorists to call 911 when they see an accident? Are we endearing ourselves to the idea that WE will be the tiny percentage of consumers that crash our cars in a remote area without other motorists viewing it?

I for one am very, very concerned with what can potentially be done with the information OnStar collects and stores. What’s next? If you are late on car payments, will OnStar give the location coordinates to the repossession company for the financial institution that holds title on your current loan?

These make interesting thoughts to ponder. Should you be concerned? This writer thinks so….

“OnStar” is a Registered Trademark of The General Motors Company. “LexusLink” is a Registered Trademark of Toyota Motors Sales/Lexus Corporation. “Tele-Aid” is a Registered Trademark of Mercedes-Benz of N.A./AG. “Google Maps” is a Registered Trademark of Google Corporation.

Last month we posted instructions to get a cell phone working after it got wet.

About two days later, I walk downstairs from my office, to see my wife, in from the pool, plugging in her cell phone and saying “I can’t tell you what I just did”

Wish she had. The phone had been dropped in the pool without a coating (see the video) and the worst idea was plugging it in and turning it on.

I was just a few seconds late in saving that phone (but did get in a nice lecture about reading my blog).

As soon as I can, I’m coating my pool side electronic with Golden Shellback

If your passwords are easy enough to remember, they are probably easy to steal or hack.

Using strong passwords doesn’t take any extra memory effort when you use one of these password managers

Password Protection: Password Recovery and Control Tools By: Eric Griffith

Most of these programs double as—or started as—form-fillers (apps that remember your name, address, and credit card info) and offer other identity protection services. Some are portable via a USB key, so you can take them on the road with you. Some, like LastPass, have versions for every OS you can imagine, handheld or desktop.

Here are some we recommend:

LastPass

LastPass is a free, feature-rich password manager and Web form filler. It has almost every software feature found in any competitor, plus some unique features of its own. Numerous mobility options mean you can use it wherever you are.

RoboForm Pro

RoboForm Pro retains the intelligent field-matching ability of previous versions and adds a cleaner, simpler user interface. It masterfully handles filling in Web forms and logging on to secure sites. You’ll be amazed at how much you don’t have to type when RoboForm is on the job.

Full Review at PC Magazine Web Site

At least once a day, I hear of someone that has a web site problem where they trusted someone to build a page and got it late, not the design they intended, incorrect copy or messed up their site so bad it is completely down.

Inevitably, they tell me “My contact said he’d take care of it. I haven’t heard from him in a while and I feel like my Internet business is being held captive.”

It doesn’t have to go this way.

First off, be careful who you trust. The cheapest deal may end up costing you. (that’s just good business advice)

However, when it comes to web site. EVERYTHING can be fixed if you do one thing.. Control the ownership of your domain.

This is best done before you get into a dispute. If your domain is not registered in your name (meaning you have the login information and password and pay for the domain on your own credit card) then take a few minutes right  now and get this fixed.

Just five minutes now can save you hours, days, or even years of frustration later.

Use this form at InNet Domains:

A click on the graphic above will take you to a secure web site where you can transfer ownership in a few minutes. And see the transfer concierge link? That will send you to a phone support desk if you get stuck.

Literally, all you need is a credit card to bill it to and the name of the domain you want to transfer. The system will handle contacting the current owner automatically.

HINT: Assuming you have an ongoing business relationship. Do tell them that you are d0ing this.. I find that an explanation like “straighten up  the books” should suffice in most friendly circumstances

You don’t need to move the web site, change servers, submit legal documents or make any other changes  to do this. The point is.. if you ever DO need to do this, you’ll have the domain name under your control.

If you buddy set up your site saying “I’ll take care of the registration” he’s the one in control. If you trust him, have a legal agreement, or don’t care about the potential of someone else owning your destiny, you don’t need this.

But why not be safe?

DISCLAIMER: Any references herein regarding ownership, legal issues, dispute resolution or laws is purely for illustration. I am not and attorney, and cannot give you legal advice. This article is intended to show how easy the process online is.. not to suggest who should own your domain. I will leave that to the attorneys and other professionals.

Microsoft Browser Poll could be heaven for hackers

Hackers find a way to get into every corner of the internet and Microsoft’s antitrust-busting ‘Browser Poll’, due to launch in Europe next week, could be no different.

Computer security firm Sophos has issued a warning that hackers could exploit the scheme to trick users with fake browser choice screens.

Microsoft’s scheme was introduced to appease the European Commission which was investigating Microsoft’s ‘unfair advantage’ in the browser market due to Internet Explorer being bundled with Windows. Set to launch gradually roll out across Europe from next week onwards, the scheme will give Windows users the opportunity to choose from 12 different browsers (see screenshots here).

by Leo Notenboom

Approach the internet with skepticism. It’s full of bogus information, hoaxes and scams, and you’ll find a lot of it in your email inbox.

You’ve probably seen them: emails that have been forwarded countless times warning of some supposed threat, computer virus, money making scheme, or amazingly inappropriate or blunt comment by some notable entertainer or politician.

And, of course, the always present request to “forward this to everyone you know!” or something similar, which you may have done.

They’re almost always bogus.

At best they are simply fictitious stories that have been circulating the internet for years, known as urban legends. At their worst they’re hoaxes or scams designed solely to lighten your wallet, or get you to unwittingly help someone else lighten theirs.

Put another way: No one is tracking whether or not you forward an email. No one will give you a coupon or pay you or anyone else for doing so. Boycotting gasoline for day will have no effect on the price of oil. A particular brand of cleaning cloth won’t kill your pet, plug-in air fresheners won’t kill you, and aspartame isn’t going to give you half a dozen diseases.

The list goes on.

One common aspect that they all share is the request, the plea even, that you forward the email to everyone you can. Some even go so far as to claim you would be heartless not to!

PLEASE don’t do it.

Or, at least be positive that it’s legitimate before you do.

And to be clear, if it asks you to “forward this all your friends” it’s probably not legitimate.

How do you tell what’s real?

There are many great websites that you can use to find out, but http://www.snopes.com is perhaps the most popular, timely and comprehensive. A quick search there will frequently tell you not only what a suspect email is all about, but most importantly whether or not it’s true. All of the examples above can be found there.

Why should you care?

Forwarding hoaxes is a little like filling the inboxes of your friends and family with garbage; you’re at least wasting their time, possibly causing unnecessary anxiety and in the worst case you could even cause them to fall victim to a hoax or scam.

We all get more than enough spam and email that you don’t want to be sending email that’s likely bogus anyway to all your friends. Do them a favor and resist the temptation.

Isn’t it safer to forward in case it’s actually true?

No. As we’ve seen here it’s much more likely that you’d simply be participating in spreading the hoax. And the alternative is so simple: check it out first. If it’s not worth your time to check it out, then it’s not worth forwarding, simple as that.

And if you’re still worried realize that legitimate issues will show up in the legitimate press. Email is not how the government, news organizations, and corporations spread important information.

Leo Notenboom has been in the tech industry for nearly 30 years. After retiring from an 18 year career as a Microsoft Software Engineer Leo went on to create Ask Leo!, a free web site where he answers real questions from ordinary computer users. In addition to answering tech questions Leo also maintains a number of web sites for a very limited clientèle, including customer number one: his wife’s collectible doll shop.

Got a question?

Ask it here.

We take any question you have. Our expertiese is in computers, networking, hardware, software, mac, pc, linux and everything online… blogs, podcasts, how to get a website, where to find traffic, building a mailing list, online promotion, web 2.0 (social networking) and more.

We even know a few cheat codes.

Just scroll to the bottom of this (or a related) post. If you don’t see a COMMENT FORM, there will be a link to “comments” and a form there

I was in shock…

I looked at my web logs (never as often as I should), and saw heavy use of one graphics file.

How could a file load more often than the rest of the page?

I checked further, and found out someone was grabbing the product photo I shot, and using it to sell their own stuff on another site.

Worst part was.. they got a lot more traffic than me. That really hurt!

The cost of the bandwidth was small.. but I felt violated. So I changed the photo on my site, and saved a copy of my logo as the name of the stolen photo.

When I went to the thief’s page.. there was MY LOGO.

Naturally, they changed their photo quickly, and were too smart to try taking mine again.

I resolved to do something about it. I’ve tried watermarks, logos on the photos, and even though about hiring a lawyer. All of those were too time consuming or expensive.

Finally, I found the perfect solution. Hot Link Alarm

It’s so simple and easy.. just download the program and follow the step by step instructions and you’ll be protected.

The software comes from a team headed by my friend Willie Crawford. Willie and his team are geniuses at helping people setup web sites and make money online.

Protect your web site. Pick up Hot Link Alarm today.. then post a comment and let me know if this message helped, and what other issues you’d like to see hear on LaserPage.