Has anyone tried the Autocyb cybersecurity lock to lock the OBD port? Supposedly from their website it will fit the F-Type.

https://autocyb.com/product/autocyb-...security-lock/

 

It seems like the issue this addresses is blocking access to OBD/crash data by people who do have legal authority to demand that data.

Who has experience with how common and serious a problem this is?

In general, without trying to delve into any state specific stuff, what does the law say about your right to withhold that data following a crash with resulting litigation.

As far as insurance, I'm assuming that your insurer can ask for that data, and cancel you if you decline, right?

Are JLR or other shops downloading this data?

 

You're right - the whole website is written in a way to take advantage of American paranoia about "the government" or "the authorities" having access to their "data" 😂 This feels very much like a scam to me in that it's creating fear over something that doesn't exist then selling an overpriced product to make you feel better.

It might also be useful to block access by someone trying to steal your car, but that's clearly not the market it's aimed at...

 

dangoesfast,
I'm not going with paranoia yet, although I can imagine getting there. My questions are real though, not rhetorical. Is there really a problem or need here or is it a gimmick? Who has expertise on this?

 

I was thinking of it as a car theft deterrent rather than worrying about someone trying to steal my data.

 

Your vehicle data absolutely can be used against you in a serious incident, but this does nothing in that situation.... if you kill a family in a crash and the police want your data, they'll just get a warrant and bypass the lock. This offers zero protection in the scenario it's creating fear of, another clue that this is just a gimmick to play on paranoia to take your money.

My attitude towards that is the same as the kill switch idea thread... useful as a last line of defence, but by the time it stops a theft the thieves have already accessed your garage and your car. It would be a useful part of a larger security system, but don't rely solely on it. It uses cheap wafer locks by the look of it, so it's probably EXTREMELY easy to pick. I think marketing that plays on people's paranoia is dishonest, so I personally wouldn't buy a product from this company at all.

 

I bought one to keep the dealer from trying to do updates after I applied a VAP tune.

I went with a BEM Auto unit.

See this thread (posts 10 and 16) for all the details:

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/f...sb-ssm-216343/

BTW I don't use the unit anymore because I don't use the dealer for service anymore because the car is long out of warranty. Also it was sort of in the way as I snagged my knee on it a few times.

 

That's a great use for a product like this, I hadn't thought of that. I much prefer BEM's marketing that doesn't create and play on an imaginary fear of "them" spying on your "data."

I did a little more digging into this "Autocyb" company... a google search (https://www.google.com/search?q=autocyb) turns up an address in a strip mall in Florida which looks to be a UPS office from Google streetview, maybe just a PO box or something. Seems pretty shady to me. I also noticed the website offers a discount for a "NO RETURNS" deal which sounds illegal to me, although Australian Consumer Law is quite tight and I have no idea about the laws governing US companies. If not illegal, asking people to pay 25% on top for the ability to return puts this company squarely in the "dodgy as f***" category for me.

$100US is gross, these would cost about two dollars to make and ship.

 

I was told that some of those "locks" do not work well.