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

[Bill Moran]

Tom Rhodes <trhodes at FreeBSD.org> wrote:
>
> On Fri, 15 Dec 2006 09:13:13 -0500
> Bill Moran <wmoran at potentialtech.com> wrote:
> 
> Bill.
> 
> Can we get the following disclaimer:
> 
> WARNING: I'm beyond practically paranoid, please consider that
> before reading my response below.

How about:

"The view in this emails do not reflect the view of my legal counsel.
Just because I'm not paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get me.
Bill Moran's writings should not be taken in conjunction with Alpha-
blockers or certain MAOIs or a rare condition, know as "death", may
result.  Talk to your doctor or other garden-variety drug-dealer."

> to these emails in the future.  :)

On a more serious note.  The reality is that I'm not sitting around
pretending this stuff couldn't happen -- it does all the time.  The
fact that it's unlikely to happen to "me" (mainly because nobody
cares) is a factor I take into consideration as well :)

> > 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.
> > _______________________________________________
> > wplug mailing list
> > wplug at wplug.org
> > http://www.wplug.org/mailman/listinfo/wplug
> > 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Tom Rhodes
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