Software Defaults

An old truism states that a computer is only as good as the applications installed on its hard drive. The new truism is software manufacturers take a lot of liberties when it comes to collecting information about us. They do this by soliciting our implicit permission to harvest information in their software defaults.

When you install an application, read each screen carefully and opt out of any and all data harvesting options. When in doubt, leave it out! No software developer, large or small, is above data harvesting . Following are a few examples.

Windows Media Player 9

Windows Media Player 9 offers better privacy control to consumers than its predecessor did. In prior versions, you had to hack Windows Registry to prevent Media Player from sending a unique player ID to content providers and usage data back to Microsoft. Media Player 9 makes it easier to disable these features, but it still, by default, keeps track of private files and Web-based content that you access.

Figure 12.30: The Windows Media Player 9 Privacy tab

To control privacy settings in Windows Media Player 9:

1. Open Windows Media Player 9.

2. Click the Tools menu.

3. Click Options.

4. Click the Privacy tab.

5. Check Retrieve Media Information for CDs and DVDs from the Internet.

6. Check Update My Media Files by Retrieving Missing Media Information from the Internet.

7. Uncheck everything else on the Privacy tab. (You can leave History checked if you elect to maintain a history.)

Windows Media Player gets better with each version, but it's a crippled product at best. To unleash its full power, you must spend extra money on plug-ins for features that are free in rival players such as MusicMatch and WinAmp. Although Microsoft removed WildTangent's spyware from its Web site, it was a featured plug-in for Media Player 9 when I downloaded it. By the time Microsoft pulled it, the damage was already done! Then there's Digital Rights Management, the direction Microsoft seems to be boring full steam ahead. Quite frankly, I don't trust Windows Media Player for that reason, and I rarely use it; I use MusicMatch Jukebox instead.

MusicMatch Jukebox

MusicMatch is in the business of producing the best media player. They have no interest in controlling Digital Rights Management for media conglomerates and cutting themselves in on a share of the profits like Microsoft has. MusicMatch is not without privacy issues, however. During installation MusicMatch recommends that you "upload user preference data based on your user profile," by default. I suggest you don't.

To check whether you're being profiled by MusicMatch

1. Open MusicMatch Jukebox.

2. Click the Options menu.

3. Click Settings.

4. Uncheck the Upload User Preference Information Based on Listening Profile option under Permission to Communicate with MusicMatch Server on the General tab.

Figure 12.31: The MusicMatch Settings with the Permission to Communicate with MusicMatch Server check boxes

The Google Toolbar

I couldn't live without the Google toolbar! As a researcher, writer, general know-it-all, the Google toolbar makes me complete. Yet it also has privacy issues. If you elect to use the advanced features of the Google toolbar, such as the page rank feature, information about the sites you visit will be sent to Google by default. However, this advanced functionality is optional, and you can easily disable it.

To disable Google toolbar Web site tracking

1. Click Google on the Google toolbar.

2. Select Privacy Information.

3. Click the Disable All Advanced Features button.

Figure 12.32: The Google toolbar Privacy Information option

It's Safe to Assume that all Software Profiles and Tracks You!

The Google toolbar, MusicMatch Jukebox, and Windows Media Player are merely examples. If you own software that doesn't spy on you, it's the exception rather than the rule. The onus is on you to examine the default settings of your software and the privacy policies of the Web sites you access. It's also your responsibility to opt out of all information exchange except that which is absolutely necessary to use a product or service!

Don't Ask, Don't Tell

If you don't ask how your privacy is being invaded, they won't tell you!