Odd that a privacy focused app forces you to make an account.
Response from developer
Hello, as we continue to offer the app as a free download for consumers, we had to introduce a registration process to prevent abuse. While our business customers and users (dealerships, fleets, etc.) pay for our service, we provide 2 scans for free for consumers.
Read the terms
Then either read your owners manual or DuckDuckGo the steps you need.
Response from developer
Hello, our app doesn't collect photos or videos or mandate collection of geolocation for consumers. The app asks permission for device cameras which allow users to scan VIN/barcode & access the steps to clear data. You can access it without camera permission too. Please revise the app settings & feel free to write to us at support@privacy4cars.com
App does NOTHING
Well it’s now October of 2023?!?!?
Nothing Private(or special) Here
Response from developer
Hi yearsofbeers, check out the update we just pushed! We continue to have the "very helpful" (Thank you!) guides on how to self remove data, and we are making it easier to check what data companies suck out (helpful for your current vehicle and if you are shopping for a new one) and to use our beta "Assert Your Data Rights" program where we help consumers - for FREE - place requests to minimize data collection, sharing, selling, and opting out of tracking and advertising. Give it a try, hopefully we'll get those stars going up :-)
Flawed but good
The most important issue has go do with disappearing log entries. Frequently, I will clear a car or report an exception that will disappear in both the log and the app clear status when the VIN is inputted. I am not sure how the clear data disappears but I’d prefer if the log data can’t be deleted when a VIN is cleared or given an exception (not abandoned).
My final issue is bloat. There are so many duplicate choices for infotainment systems when a vin is submitted. These pictures often have issues loading and when they do load I often need to scroll through 5 or 10 identical choices to select the next distinct one. Exception reporting also freezes and I commonly need to switch from WiFi to 5g to upload an exception. This is likely due to the pictures. I would prefer if the exception submitted without the picture if the connection is slow and then uploaded when a better connection is achieved. Lastly, I never use the unprocessed VIN feature but it likely contributes to the app bloat and overall slowness from time to time. I would love the option to disable that feature in order to make the app run faster.
Great app but if you can address some of these issues, it would make a huge improvement for my work productivity.
Response from developer
Than you for the helpful feedback, we are taking your suggestions to the app design team. A new version for business users will be available soon.
App Makes No Mention That Radio Presets Are Also Wiped
Response from developer
Our app attempts to map the fastest, most radical data-clearing option available for any given vehicle/system, in line with widely accepted data deletion standards (such as NIST 800-88 rev 1 in the United States). Those processes may include the resetting of radio stations, among other things. We are sorry that you did not find the information we provide for free valuable.
Just kept going in a circle when I entered the one-time pin…
Response from developer
Hi, we're sorry to hear you had trouble using the app. We'd be very grateful if you could drop us an email explaining the issue, from the ID you used to sign-up on the app at support@privacy4cars.com. We will look into the issue and help you with a fix at the earliest.
Register
Response from developer
Thank you for flagging an issue with our app. We discovered a formatting glitch was affecting a narrow set of iPhone models which was hiding the OTP field. Thanks to your report we have issued a patch which will be available on 5/17/2023. Please check again and let us know. We appreciate you reporting a bug and we hope you enjoy the fixed app!
Am I in crazy land?
Then I scroll down to App Privacy:
It collects Location, Identifiers, Contact Info, and Usage Data.
Oh it’s “Data not linked to me?” This was de-bunked by the NYT back in 2019 when they discovered cars are sucking up your data, saying they “anonymized” it but then NYT found it only takes two data points to ID you with 95% accuracy.
Why not just *not* collect data from users willing to pay money for the app? Just charge a bit more if it is necessary for your economics.
5 stars if you stop collecting my data after I pay.
Response from developer
Hello, we had to introduce a registration process to prevent abuse (which we unfortunately experienced in the past). The information we ask for is used exclusively for that purpose and it is not sold to third parties. We find your comment interesting though and we are curious to know what you think would be a fair amount to charge consumers. - Team Privacy4Cars
Be careful!
This app says two free scans, great! But the app counts a use on scan start rather than scan completion, so if you get interrupted, as I was twice, your free scans are gone.
Fine, no big deal, it’s only a couple of bucks to get unlimited scans, it was free, so I buy the extra scan. The app says purchase successful but then says there was a problem with the App Store. Fine. I restart my phone and try again, same thing.
I’m selling the car that day so I borrow my wife’s phone. I’m expecting some big nine-point process but I get five screens of photos to navigate the menus to an option that on my Toyota that removed all my data. Great, but it would have been easier on a single page. It took two more pages to clear the garage door opener, and then that was it. Two process points.
I sold the car and then on Jan 16, the bill comes from the App Store for two downloadable content purchases. I told Apple that I didn’t get the content and received a refund. Ten days later the charges reappear and this time, the App Store will not refund my purchases.
It’s not about the money, it’s about doing the right thing. This company doesn’t do the right thing.
Response from developer
Hello! We're very sorry that your experience using our app wasn't great. Can you please send us the email ID you used on our app to support@privacy4cars.com? We assure you that we will set it right if there's any issue with the app store billing. We will await your email. -- Privacy4Cars Support
