[wplug] Klipmart.com / macromedia , invading my privacy?

[Bill Moran]

In response to Juan Zuluaga <jz31416 at yahoo.com>:
> When visiting pages like
> http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061215/ap_on_re_us/polygamist_leader
> a Flash window opens. If I right-click on it, a little
> box opens with the text "Macromedia Flash Player
> Settings. Privacy. Allow klipmart.com to access your
> camera and microphone?" and the options allow and
> deny, deny being the default. 
> 
> wtf? What does this mean?  Are there companies able to
> invade the privacy of my home? 

Are you serious?  Yes, there are.
1) If you have a cell phone, they can track you.
2) If you have OnStar or similar, they can track you.
3) If you use the Internet, they can monitor everything you do there.
4) If you have a standard phone line, it's fairly trivial to tap it.
5) If you use credit cards, they can easily find out your purchasing
   habits.
6) If you install software that isn't Open source, you have no idea
   what they may be monitoring.

Most of the above is illegal.  Unfortunately, #6 is not.  There's some
stuff going on where you've got a good lawsuit if they don't mention
that they're doing it _somewhere_, but the legal world still doesn't
have a lot of experience with it.

Keep in mind that, in PA, it's legal to do anything to your computer
that you consent to.  If you give me permission to install a virus on
you're computer, I'm not breaking any laws by doing so.

That being said, did you read the EULA on the software before you
installed it?  Very few people do.  I'm willing to bet that it
contains language along the lines of "Macromedia reserves the right
to gather certain statistical or other data from your computer from
time to time regarding the usage of this software.  By installing
it, you consent to such activity."  You didn't happen to click
"I agree" without reading all 85 pages did you?

Read licenses.  Write your congressmen and complain that this stuff
needs to be made understandable to the average layman and not just
high-paid lawyers.  Don't use closed-source software!

> Using linux, how can I be sure that there is no chance
> that such software will use my microphone or camera,
> if I had them? 

1) Don't use closed-source software.
2) If you must do #1, read and understand the license.
3) If you must do #1, first put it in a sandbox system, capture the
   network traffic it generates and analyze it so you know what's
   going on.

Really being free requires hard work and knowledge.  Lately it
seems like a lot of people are asking this question: "how can
I be sure ... X"

There's only 1 real answer: hard work, knowledge, and constant
vigilance.

-- 
Bill Moran
Collaborative Fusion Inc.