Comments on: Lawsuit: DRM spied on me, gathered my personal info, sent it to copyright enforcers who called me with $150,000 legal threat http://boingboing.net/2011/04/15/lawsuit-drm-spied-on.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Fri, 24 May 2013 12:44:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: rebdav http://boingboing.net/2011/04/15/lawsuit-drm-spied-on.html#comment-1083649 rebdav Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1083649 better yet only use Linux or another free OS and only compile or obtain software from the apt-get repositories. better yet only use Linux or another free OS and only compile or obtain software from the apt-get repositories.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/04/15/lawsuit-drm-spied-on.html#comment-1085202 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1085202 I don't know anything about Transmagic, even through I'm a graphics person. However, it's clear that whatever I need, I'm not going to buy a product that installs spyware. Transmagic's practice should be noted in our respective professional mailinglists so folk know and are forewarned. I don’t know anything about Transmagic, even through I’m a graphics person. However, it’s clear that whatever I need, I’m not going to buy a product that installs spyware. Transmagic’s practice should be noted in our respective professional mailinglists so folk know and are forewarned.

]]> By: Chinny Racoon http://boingboing.net/2011/04/15/lawsuit-drm-spied-on.html#comment-1083698 Chinny Racoon Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1083698 That's all well and good, but it's impractical for a lot of people. That’s all well and good, but it’s impractical for a lot of people.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/04/15/lawsuit-drm-spied-on.html#comment-1083702 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1083702 Transmagic I get it!!! I really get it!! wooohaaaa!! Transmagic

I get it!!! I really get it!!

wooohaaaa!!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/04/15/lawsuit-drm-spied-on.html#comment-1084729 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1084729 how did this thread become about operating systems and there reliability being pushed around buy someone who possibly has a little more $ to hire a lawyer how did this thread become about operating systems and there reliability

being pushed around buy someone who possibly has a little more $ to hire a lawyer

]]> By: Stooge http://boingboing.net/2011/04/15/lawsuit-drm-spied-on.html#comment-1083708 Stooge Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1083708 It's also not very meaningful. I can recall at least a couple of instances where distros have gone out with malware or reputable repositories have hosted trojans. Just because the source code can be checked, doesn't mean anyone will actually do it, and there's nothing about sources of Linux software which makes them inherently more reliable or trustworthy than sources for other OSes. It’s also not very meaningful. I can recall at least a couple of instances where distros have gone out with malware or reputable repositories have hosted trojans.

Just because the source code can be checked, doesn’t mean anyone will actually do it, and there’s nothing about sources of Linux software which makes them inherently more reliable or trustworthy than sources for other OSes.

]]> By: Chris Tucker http://boingboing.net/2011/04/15/lawsuit-drm-spied-on.html#comment-1084238 Chris Tucker Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1084238 <a href="http://www.obdev.at/products/littlesnitch/index.html"><B>Little Snitch</B></A> for Mac OS informs you every time an application attempts to access the Internet. It informs you what port it wants to use, and you can get a few more details about the connection as well. For trusted applications, such as an email app that needs to connect to SMTP or POP, Little Snitch can be easily configured on the fly to permanently allow such connections. If there is a similar app for Windows and/or Linux, I think it would be a good idea to get and install it. Unlike Peerblock, Little Snitch blocks or allows applications to 'phone home' as YOU, the user, permits. Shareware. Worth every cent as far as I'm concerned. Little Snitch for Mac OS informs you every time an application attempts to access the Internet. It informs you what port it wants to use, and you can get a few more details about the connection as well.

For trusted applications, such as an email app that needs to connect to SMTP or POP, Little Snitch can be easily configured on the fly to permanently allow such connections.

If there is a similar app for Windows and/or Linux, I think it would be a good idea to get and install it.

Unlike Peerblock, Little Snitch blocks or allows applications to ‘phone home’ as YOU, the user, permits.

Shareware. Worth every cent as far as I’m concerned.

]]> By: marco antonio http://boingboing.net/2011/04/15/lawsuit-drm-spied-on.html#comment-1083730 marco antonio Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1083730 I use PeerBlock. Free, easy to install, it blocks all kinds of nasties trying to 'phone home' both in P2P and HTML. I have no idea if it acts as a firewall for whatever port this DRM spyware uses though. I use PeerBlock. Free, easy to install, it blocks all kinds of nasties trying to ‘phone home’ both in P2P and HTML. I have no idea if it acts as a firewall for whatever port this DRM spyware uses though.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/04/15/lawsuit-drm-spied-on.html#comment-1083993 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1083993 Peerblock is essentially an IP based firewall. Where a normal firewall blocks based on ports, it blocks based on IPs, so instead of it blocking all traffic along, say, port 6000, it would only block traffic from an specific IP and let the other traffic through. Peerblock is essentially an IP based firewall. Where a normal firewall blocks based on ports, it blocks based on IPs, so instead of it blocking all traffic along, say, port 6000, it would only block traffic from an specific IP and let the other traffic through.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/04/15/lawsuit-drm-spied-on.html#comment-1085794 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1085794 A firewall doesn't help, unless you are blocking outbound HTTP, and in that case you can't use the web. Why doesn't a firewall help? Because the Sheriff thing is the one making the request, and as such is no different than your browser. Firewalls keep other clients from accessing your computer, they don't keep your clients from accessing other computers. A firewall doesn’t help, unless you are blocking outbound HTTP, and in that case you can’t use the web. Why doesn’t a firewall help? Because the Sheriff thing is the one making the request, and as such is no different than your browser. Firewalls keep other clients from accessing your computer, they don’t keep your clients from accessing other computers.

]]> By: IronEdithKidd http://boingboing.net/2011/04/15/lawsuit-drm-spied-on.html#comment-1083747 IronEdithKidd Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1083747 I can't imagine why there wouldn't be a concurrent criminal complaint against Transmagic, et al. Extortion and possibly racketeering this. I can’t imagine why there wouldn’t be a concurrent criminal complaint against Transmagic, et al. Extortion and possibly racketeering this.

]]> By: Victor Drath http://boingboing.net/2011/04/15/lawsuit-drm-spied-on.html#comment-1083756 Victor Drath Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1083756 "nothing about sources of Linux software which makes them inherently more reliable or trustworthy than sources for other OSes." Yes, that is so true. And linux also has just as many problems as windows with malware, trojans, viruses and those damn metal mites that eat holes in the sides of your tower. :) But I will say no more b/c it's off topic. “nothing about sources of Linux software which makes them inherently more reliable or trustworthy than sources for other OSes.”

Yes, that is so true. And linux also has just as many problems as windows with malware, trojans, viruses and those damn metal mites that eat holes in the sides of your tower. :)

But I will say no more b/c it’s off topic.

]]> By: teapot http://boingboing.net/2011/04/15/lawsuit-drm-spied-on.html#comment-1085300 teapot Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1085300 I second the peerblock call. I think these sheriff assholes would probably be on their blacklist. So, if you wanna use transmagic for free, just use one of the many available downloads and run peerblock :) http://isohunt.com/torrents/?ihq=transmagic http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/3320119/Transmagic_Plus_v2005_SP4-iSO http://www.peerblock.com/ I second the peerblock call. I think these sheriff assholes would probably be on their blacklist.

So, if you wanna use transmagic for free, just use one of the many available downloads and run peerblock :)

http://isohunt.com/torrents/?ihq=transmagic
http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/3320119/Transmagic_Plus_v2005_SP4-iSO
http://www.peerblock.com/

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/04/15/lawsuit-drm-spied-on.html#comment-1084021 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1084021 What's impractical is a lawyer or company shaking you down for 150 grand for absolutely nothing. I'll take the Linux, thank you. What’s impractical is a lawyer or company shaking you down for 150 grand for absolutely nothing. I’ll take the Linux, thank you.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/04/15/lawsuit-drm-spied-on.html#comment-1083796 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1083796 If Linux repos are so trusted, why did the laughable OpenVPN fiasco happen? Root kits, buffer exploits, user escalation et al all exist on nix platforms, and have for some 50 years. You are seriously deluding yourself if you think "Just use Lunix!" is a reasonable reply to this sort of thing. If Linux repos are so trusted, why did the laughable OpenVPN fiasco happen?

Root kits, buffer exploits, user escalation et al all exist on nix platforms, and have for some 50 years. You are seriously deluding yourself if you think “Just use Lunix!” is a reasonable reply to this sort of thing.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/04/15/lawsuit-drm-spied-on.html#comment-1083799 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1083799 "Yes, that is so true. And linux also has just as many problems as windows with malware, trojans, viruses and those damn metal mites that eat holes in the sides of your tower. :)" Can't tell if you're being sarcastic, but the fact that a software is open source is exactly what makes it more trustworthy. The chances of someone looking through the code is infinitely greater compared to a software that is closed source. And I'd like to see those windows vs linux malware/virus/trojan statistics you seem to be referring to. “Yes, that is so true. And linux also has just as many problems as windows with malware, trojans, viruses and those damn metal mites that eat holes in the sides of your tower. :)”

Can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic, but the fact that a software is open source is exactly what makes it more trustworthy. The chances of someone looking through the code is infinitely greater compared to a software that is closed source. And I’d like to see those windows vs linux malware/virus/trojan statistics you seem to be referring to.

]]> By: Victor Drath http://boingboing.net/2011/04/15/lawsuit-drm-spied-on.html#comment-1084313 Victor Drath Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1084313 "Can't tell if you're being sarcastic, but the fact that a software is open source is exactly what makes it more trustworthy. The chances of someone looking through the code is infinitely greater compared to a software that is closed source. And I'd like to see those windows vs linux malware/virus/trojan statistics you seem to be referring to." Can't tell if I'm being sarcastic? You mean metal mites wasn't a dead give away? And to the person right under my first comment, no, linux may not the answer to everything, but it's the best place to start and light years beyond your other choices. It's like comparing a pile of manure and a pile of gold and you're arguing "Hey, the gold has problems too!" You can clearly see the kind of company microsoft keeps with scum like ITCA. But if people are ok with that and still trust them, whatever. Enjoy. “Can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic, but the fact that a software is open source is exactly what makes it more trustworthy. The chances of someone looking through the code is infinitely greater compared to a software that is closed source. And I’d like to see those windows vs linux malware/virus/trojan statistics you seem to be referring to.”

Can’t tell if I’m being sarcastic? You mean metal mites wasn’t a dead give away?

And to the person right under my first comment, no, linux may not the answer to everything, but it’s the best place to start and light years beyond your other choices. It’s like comparing a pile of manure and a pile of gold and you’re arguing “Hey, the gold has problems too!”

You can clearly see the kind of company microsoft keeps with scum like ITCA. But if people are ok with that and still trust them, whatever. Enjoy.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/04/15/lawsuit-drm-spied-on.html#comment-1083807 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1083807 Seriously Stooge? The difference is you can actually check the source of Linux apps and OS. That does make it my inherently more trustworthy and reliable as that is the whole point. You make a good point about the fact that not all source is checked though, but the point is you can check it. You don't have this option for the majority of Windows applications and the ENTIRE OS. So basically your full of it. Seriously Stooge? The difference is you can actually check the source of Linux apps and OS. That does make it my inherently more trustworthy and reliable as that is the whole point.

You make a good point about the fact that not all source is checked though, but the point is you can check it. You don’t have this option for the majority of Windows applications and the ENTIRE OS.

So basically your full of it.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/04/15/lawsuit-drm-spied-on.html#comment-1083822 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1083822 "Just because the source code can be checked, doesn't mean anyone will actually do it, and there's nothing about sources of Linux software which makes them inherently more reliable or trustworthy than sources for other OSes." exactly .. ever been a new dev at a place with a product with a huge codebase? it takes months, even years to understand all the code is doing .. and someone is paying you to understand it. so if i want to use an app i should first understand its code before using it so i can discover any security holes? is that guy serious? what universe does that guy live in? “Just because the source code can be checked, doesn’t mean anyone will actually do it, and there’s nothing about sources of Linux software which makes them inherently more reliable or trustworthy than sources for other OSes.”

exactly .. ever been a new dev at a place with a product with a huge codebase? it takes months, even years to understand all the code is doing .. and someone is paying you to understand it.

so if i want to use an app i should first understand its code before using it so i can discover any security holes?

is that guy serious? what universe does that guy live in?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/04/15/lawsuit-drm-spied-on.html#comment-1083824 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1083824 "nothing about sources of Linux software which makes them inherently more reliable or trustworthy than sources for other OSes." Yes, that is so true. And linux also has just as many problems as windows with malware, trojans, viruses and those damn metal mites that eat holes in the sides of your tower. :) I think you forgot your (/s) tag at the end. “nothing about sources of Linux software which makes them inherently more reliable or trustworthy than sources for other OSes.”

Yes, that is so true. And linux also has just as many problems as windows with malware, trojans, viruses and those damn metal mites that eat holes in the sides of your tower. :) I think you forgot your (/s) tag at the end.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/04/15/lawsuit-drm-spied-on.html#comment-1083833 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1083833 So it sends data as an HTTP header to a predetermined submit page. Useless advice is useless. So it sends data as an HTTP header to a predetermined submit page. Useless advice is useless.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/04/15/lawsuit-drm-spied-on.html#comment-1084359 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1084359 Guys, if I make a linux distro and convince people to download it and I embed my nasty spyware in there, why would I open up the source code to you? Also, just because something is in an apt repository doesn't mean its open source. Finally, I'm pretty sure I could sneak an rm -rf / into some perl code and nobody would see it until its too late. Guys, if I make a linux distro and convince people to download it and I embed my nasty spyware in there, why would I open up the source code to you? Also, just because something is in an apt repository doesn’t mean its open source. Finally, I’m pretty sure I could sneak an rm -rf / into some perl code and nobody would see it until its too late.

]]> By: Ben http://boingboing.net/2011/04/15/lawsuit-drm-spied-on.html#comment-1083610 Ben Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1083610 I've experienced Transmagic before, but it had nothing to with 3D Imaging. (Heyoooooo!) I’ve experienced Transmagic before, but it had nothing to with 3D Imaging.

(Heyoooooo!)

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/04/15/lawsuit-drm-spied-on.html#comment-1083613 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1083613 Shocking. I wonder if ITCA's clients are aware of the way that their interests are "represented". Not very smart, PR-wise. ITCA's shady business model is based on intimidation tactics, which makes ITCA sound more like a criminal organisation than a respectable company. Either way, Pimentel need not fear. ITCA won't stand a chance in court. BTW. ITCA's chief exec is based in Willemstad, Curacao of all places. Nuff said. Shocking.
I wonder if ITCA’s clients are aware of the way that their interests are “represented”. Not very smart, PR-wise. ITCA’s shady business model is based on intimidation tactics, which makes ITCA sound more like a criminal organisation than a respectable company. Either way, Pimentel need not fear. ITCA won’t stand a chance in court.

BTW. ITCA’s chief exec is based in Willemstad, Curacao of all places. Nuff said.

]]> By: classic01 http://boingboing.net/2011/04/15/lawsuit-drm-spied-on.html#comment-1083622 classic01 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1083622 That's why you should always use a firewall and not let any software to phone home when it doesn't need to. Also turn off all automatic updates. That’s why you should always use a firewall and not let any software to phone home when it doesn’t need to.

Also turn off all automatic updates.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/04/15/lawsuit-drm-spied-on.html#comment-1084405 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1084405 I would have thought that the best way to deal with this kind of problem is to make it uneconomic for those doing it (no offence to the Linux/OS evangelists, but it's the fraudsters that need to change their ways here). Fine the hell out of these people and chuck them in jail. Some sort of database of evil software (with information as to why it is evil) for users as a blacklist would probably be good too (this does happen to some degree with anti-virus software). I would have thought that the best way to deal with this kind of problem is to make it uneconomic for those doing it (no offence to the Linux/OS evangelists, but it’s the fraudsters that need to change their ways here). Fine the hell out of these people and chuck them in jail.

Some sort of database of evil software (with information as to why it is evil) for users as a blacklist would probably be good too (this does happen to some degree with anti-virus software).

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/04/15/lawsuit-drm-spied-on.html#comment-1083640 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1083640 @ classic01, Nice practice, but a lot of these programs will not work at all w/o checking in, so you have to unblock it in order to even use it normally, legally. @ classic01,
Nice practice, but a lot of these programs will not work at all w/o checking in, so you have to unblock it in order to even use it normally, legally.

]]>