Gamespot Spyware

[Dave Long]

I ran across this link at Mark's favorite linking place, Frictionless Insight.

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/...,365073,00.asp

The download manager is apparently a form of spyware. Neat!

Just for completeness...here's a quote of interest...

However, CNET only monitors what files are downloaded and how they are used, in the aggregate, Broady said. "I don't know what the long-term applications are," he said. "A lot of companies are interested in how users use the demos and game video: when somebody downloads that did they (just) download it, or did they watch it?"

Broady said that even using Gamespot Complete, CNET's pay-for-view version of the Gamespot site, users could opt out of the Kontiki network at any time. When asked if the software allowed individual users to be tracked, he replied: "Of course you could, but we don't."

--Dave

[Mark Asher]

I hate this kind of thing. They always bury it in the EULA you have to agree to.

[Greg Lannes]

Yes Mark,

Very disconcerting indeed. I can see it only getting worse and worse as time and tech advances. I don't need someone looking over my shoulder thank you very much.