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How one woman’s Tesla was remotely controlled – and used to harass her – by an abusive ex-partner
(www.theguardian.com)
Smart devices are for dumb people.
this post was submitted on 17 Sep 2026
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And here I was mad that I could only find Android Auto head units when the radio in my 15 year old car died.
This sounds like a nightmare.
BTW pioneer does good generic non smart radios
Remember kids, if you give full control of you car to someone else you will have a bad time.
Remember, Tesla added this feature after widespread demand for parental controls on use following an incident in which a teenager killed themselves by driving too fast. People asked why they couldn’t override the car with parental controls if that feature was a technical possibility and there was even talk of using legal force to make them do it if they didn’t voluntarily comply.
Tesla requiring proof that the limited account belonged to a minor was not going to be permitted. Parents did this to us.
I doubt it was parents. It was probably the same people that run all the parents rights groups: fundamental Christian extremists.
It literally was the parents
“Valet mode” also exists because valets were joyriding people’s Teslas
this is how so many marriages end with abusers.
but ok...i guess we just blame the victims for abusers who own the ultimate choice over their own behaviour
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What the hell? Why hasn't she changed her password yet?
Aha, the article explains:
After having trouble navigating the technology, Stacey was offered help from Pucci, who said he would need the car to be registered in his name so “he could take control of the Tesla app to ‘assist her’”.
the scammers playbook
The fact these controls exist at all is a fucking nightmare. How are these vehicles legally sold? This technology should illegal I'm vehicles.
The car hacking scene is growing in response. More and more, it's becoming possible to disable/circumvent these remote capabilities. Not that the car makers are making it easy.
So are actors like Putin. I doubt these systems exist in the presidential motorcade.
To paraphrase Strong Bad: "Your [car] has too much computer in it...and not enough typewriter."
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I hate to break it to you, but most modern cars have this level of remote controls - they're just not exposed to owners.
https://www.wired.com/2015/07/hackers-remotely-kill-jeep-highway/
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Parental controls? On a car? Are you fucking kidding?
Serves her right for buying a Tesla IG.
Consider, an abuser will use any means or method within their power to inflict fear on their victims. It's one of two languages they tend to speak; Intimidation or Flattery.
This woman was refusing to play his game, so he used the most effective means within his ability to hurt her; hacking her car. The obvious solution is to not associate with abusive people, but in the event that it's already happened or otherwise unavoidable, the second solution is to remove their tools and create distance.
This represents an abuser being given tools to harass or even try to kill a victim by a company that prioritizes marketability and convenience over safety. If Tesla had been more thorough, this man wouldn't have total control over this woman's car.
As someone who changes oil for a living, I can confirm it's in more than just Teslas.
the parental control [...] could almost entirely control the car, including its speed
They assume kids in the driver seat who need to be controlled? How weird is that??
It's wild to me the extent of control that hides under remote capabilities for Tesla. I could never drive one of these knowing it.
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This is why I like my old Jeep. It's manual. It's got great "security". I always say it's got an alarm system; because any small time thief would yell out of frustration. When I travel, I pull out the clutch pedal and take fuel relay out and unplug the battery and leave it in 4lo lol. Oh yeah and you have to unplug the clutch pedal fuse for it to start. If the battery has been unplugged, then you got remap the ECU which takes like a half hour of my shovel wedged against the gas pedal unless you want the engine stalling out every time you take your foot of the pedal. It's also one of the rare colors, as in only 2000 made with dicks, I'm very childish, carved in hard to see spots to make it a nightmare for part thieves. So if you steal it, pretty much with a tow truck, it's like putting a bullseye on yourself.
The point was, there's no controlling that. I don't like all the new tech put into cars.
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This is why we reset our vehicles when an employee leaves. Probably should do the same when you have a messy breakup.
With Tesla you can't really do that, whatever account is registered as the owner (she transferred the ownership from her account to his) is the only one that can add and remove others to access the car via the app. The only other way is to show Tesla you are the actual owner of the car and then they can switch it back to your account. Fuckong nightmare.
There is another way: don't own a Tesla.
Having owned a Tesla for 3 years, I can't find the words to express how fucking right your statement is. Those things are the definition of the phrase "expensive, underwhelming and frustrating garbage".
There's only so much bullshit I'd put up with for that admittedly crazy acceleration (drove a friend's once and they can go). From the privacy angle alone, I see them as basically ring doorbell cameras on wheels (though wonder if I should instead consider them like flock cameras on wheels). For safety, they can require having the presence of mind (and physical capability, which could be impossible if an accident occurred) to remove a door panel to access the mechanical door latch while the car is on fire. Build quality sucks. They are pretty much a poster child for overpromise underdeliver.
And that's not even touching who benefits from Tesla doing well.
Wow fuck Tesla, atleast with Ford it's just an in vehicle option in settings to reset
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We need a “right to be treated as an adult” affirmed by Congress that prohibits use of parental controls against users who can demonstrate adulthood by presentation of ID
Oh hooray another mandatory ID checkpoint! Don't resist, it's only for your safety and convenience, no other reasons!
/s
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Musk should have to write a check for $1 billion to her.
I'm not kidding. That's how we have to punish billionaires. Every infraction is a minimum $1 billion payout to each person.
It should be a significant percentage instead, I think. 5% net worth.
He'd fix that shit real quick.
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