WoW scans your IE browser history... uh-oh... |
Ó
Flukes submitted this JPEG screencap to Digg which could be funny, freaky, or downright furiously worrisome, depending on where you stand in the online privacy debate. Here's what Flukes has to say:
The linked screenshot provides proof that WoW developer Blizzard is actively scanning players' browsing history and cookies. Early speculation is that this is a countermeasure against cheaters, but players are arguing that Blizzard has no right to access this highly private data.
(You will note with great trepidation that the next thing the program checks after the temp files is the Cookies folder)
Not knowing what Blizzard's reasons are for checking your computer's internet history, all everyone at Digg and here can do is speculate. Beyond jokes of (and we quote) "Worried about Blizz finding out about your (just use the sickest imagination you've got) pr0n collection?", there are some very serious repercussions from this.
One theory being strung out at Digg is that the game's actively looking for the computer having visited sites Blizzard frowns on for one reason or another. A more benign reason is that WoW could simply be saving cache files from the news ticker, or from the program's launcher, which is why it's accessing the temp folder. Could be an anti-scam thing, too. Of course, those are the benign reasons - who wants to speculate on the more overtly provocative ones?
But again, no one knows why, and Blizzard didn't say anything about this before. And a lot of people in Digg are seriously miffed and are, not to mention, switching to Firefox - unless WoW's designed to look in there, too.
Via Digg
1 Jumps R2Beat now open for Beta Testing
Contact Us:
The QJ.net Network |
 |
| Site | Feed |
| QJ.NET | RSS |
| Nintendo DS | RSS |
| PlayStation 3 | RSS |
| PSP Updates | RSS |
| Wii | RSS |
| Xbox 360 | RSS |
| MMORPG | RSS |
| Personal Computer Games | RSS |
| iPhone - iPod Touch | RSS |
| QJ.NET Forums | RSS |
Add QJ.NET
User Favorites - December
| Most Commented | |
| Brazilian senator wants cr.. | (62) |
| NPD Study: US kids as youn.. | (44) |
| More Estavillo subpoenas -.. | (23) |
| Erik Estavillo subpoenas B.. | (11) |
| Valve looking at MMORPG sc.. | (3) |
| Erik Estavillo now sues Bl.. | (2) |
| Watch: Guild Wars 2 'Facti.. | (2) |
| Video: World of Warcraft F.. | (1) |
| Smithsonian museum to hold.. | (1) |
User Favorites - December
Categories
Archives
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
Comments [refresh]
thats invasion of privacy. you could sue them for that, so i would call em up and b1tch em out =)
Hmm... I never thought any company besides Sony was trying to do this..but low and behold, one of the most popular games on the internet is doing it behind everyone's back! This should make you question all three of the next-gen competitors. What kind of personal information of yours will they hold? The wii has a browser, do you think Nintendo is able to see your history on there too? Can MS see everything you do on the 360? I don't even want to know the safety precautions Sony took...
It's a sad trend that people don't mind giving up their privacy, it's going to get scary in the future as technology develops!
"Can MS see everything you do on the 360?" That was a dumb comment... MS owns your computer, MS owns your console.. what CAN'T they see? -.-
Yet another reason to get Firefox!!!
If this is for real, it raises major concerns.
Does the EULA for WoW allow for this clearly? As I recall, most, in fact all major companies inform you VERY clearly of what data they collect from your system before or during a program installation. Everything from Winamp to MS software to even opensource guys mention clearly if they are collecting ANY information from your PC for their own use.
THey can't hide stuff like this deep into the EULA.
This looks like a BIG lawsuit to me...
The Warden program is nothing new. You agree to the access it uses everytime you verify the EULA and TOS. If you're uncomfortable with what it does, then don't play the game, plain & simple.
Likely so.
I am curious as to what they're looking for, though..
People seem to think that just because they click through a EULA, they're bound by all the conditions therein. Fact is, much of what's in there would be thrown out as unconscionable by a judge. That's why EVERY EULA has a severability clause: When the judge disallows one clause, the whole contract isn't necessarily validated.
Also, as far as contracts of adhesion (as opposed to negotiated contracts) are concerned, usually, the expectations of the consumer govern.