Privacy4Cars has launched an app of the same name designed to wipe personal data retained by vehicle infotainment systems. The company is marketing the service to consumers as well as businesses in the automotive space, including dealerships, fleets, automakers, auto auctions, fleet management companies, rental car operators  and auto insurance companies.

Developer Andrea Amico said he founded Privacy4Cars amidst growing frustration over the complexity of removing personal information from modern vehicles.

“To date, there has not been an adequate effort to educate vehicle users on the dangers of leaving their personally identifiable information in vehicles they no longer use,” Amico said. “People would not want to hand their phones and all their data to strangers, yet they often fail to realize that this is what they do every time they sell a vehicle, return a rental car, or participate in a car sharing or subscription program.”

Many remarketers had reached out to him, asking for a solution to the problem, Amico said.

“I have been leading the privacy and cybersecurity group at the International Automotive Remarketers Alliance for the past two years, so I know many players in the used vehicle wholesaling industry,” he said.

The app, available on iOS and Android devices, uses visual step-by-step tutorials to help users erase information such as phone numbers, call logs, location history and garage door codes. The app covers hundreds of vehicle makes, models and years.

In addition to the stand-alone app, Privacy4Cars also is available as a software development kit that can be embedded into existing apps. In addition, Amico said the company is open to working with service providers interested in licensing the technology to resell or embed in their existing processes.        — Sarah Hollander