A spywhare integrated in Civ 6

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Dabo -> A spywhare integrated in Civ 6 (6/16/2018 10:27:37 AM)
and in other games too. Here's a l list. The program is called Red Shell (be aware there’s also a virus with the same name). The purpose of this software is to track the "device" (PC, console, whatever) it is installed on, observing such things as what game(s) you play, what youtube video(s) you watch, and more, in order to report back to Red Shell's clients about how successful those clients' advertising campaigns are. I’m not a lawyer but it should be illegal under the new EU’s GDPR if they don’t provide an opt-out. If you’re not an Eu citizen it depends on your country’s legislation. Some of the companies in the list have removed the software claiming they didn’t know about it (yeah sure). 2K hasn't yet.

Orm -> RE: A spywhare integrated in Civ 6 (6/16/2018 11:21:22 AM)
Thank you for sharing. [&o]

Lobster -> RE: A spywhare integrated in Civ 6 (6/16/2018 12:35:22 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Dabo and in other games too. Here's a l list. The program is called Red Shell (be aware there’s also a virus with the same name). The purpose of this software is to track the "device" (PC, console, whatever) it is installed on, observing such things as what game(s) you play, what youtube video(s) you watch, and more, in order to report back to Red Shell's clients about how successful those clients' advertising campaigns are. I’m not a lawyer but it should be illegal under the new EU’s GDPR if they don’t provide an opt-out. If you’re not an Eu citizen it depends on your country’s legislation. Some of the companies in the list have removed the software claiming they didn’t know about it (yeah sure). 2K hasn't yet. About opt-out. People should not have to opt-out. Instead they should have an option to opt-in. Then there is no need to read all of the crap they throw at you so you can attempt to understand exactly what is being done. Opt-in should be the method, NOT opt-out.

Dabo -> RE: A spywhare integrated in Civ 6 (6/16/2018 12:58:40 PM)
Agreed, but i don't think that's the way this law works unfortunately, and still it's a big improvement over the older EU legislation.

Zorch -> RE: A spywhare integrated in Civ 6 (6/16/2018 1:49:55 PM)
Such spyware is why I don't like using networks like Steam. There's no way to know what the code is doing.

sanch -> RE: A spywhare integrated in Civ 6 (6/16/2018 3:44:47 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Lobster ... About opt-out. People should not have to opt-out. Instead they should have an option to opt-in. Then there is no need to read all of the crap they throw at you so you can attempt to understand exactly what is being done. Opt-in should be the method, NOT opt-out. Back in the '90's, US passed a law requiring telecom companies to allow customers to opt-in before sharing their data. Shortly thereafter, I received a letter from the local phone company explaining how I could opt-out! Huh? I actually complained to the state Public Utility Control Department. The reply I got back was ... The FCC, when implementing the opt-in legislation, determined that opt-in really meant opt-out. So there. The law says opt-in but the implementation is opt-out. Bribery (oops, I really mean 'campaign contributions") at work.

PipFromSlitherine -> RE: A spywhare integrated in Civ 6 (6/18/2018 3:32:32 PM)
In fairness the FCC is (a) always going to be aligned with the governing party, which is a terrible idea, but as designed. And (b) it's now very much worse... https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/04/trumps-signature-makes-it-official-isp-privacy-rules-are-dead/ Not political - both US parties enjoy taking campaign contributions from ISPs. But the privacy rules were opt-in (as per an FCC rule) until this legislation was passed. That said, back OT, and to see this kind of software installed as part of a major game is pretty shocking IMO. Cheers Pip

Orm -> RE: A spywhare integrated in Civ 6 (6/18/2018 3:36:45 PM)
Shocking perhaps, but not surprising. The young people I discuss such things with doesn't seem bothered. They say that they have nothing to hide...

Kuokkanen -> RE: A spywhare integrated in Civ 6 (6/18/2018 6:56:35 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Orm The young people I discuss such things with doesn't seem bothered. They say that they have nothing to hide... Nothing to hide? Like credit card numbers and online account info including passwords?

Lecivius -> RE: A spywhare integrated in Civ 6 (6/18/2018 7:05:41 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Kuokkanen quote: ORIGINAL: Orm The young people I discuss such things with doesn't seem bothered. They say that they have nothing to hide... Nothing to hide? Like credit card numbers and online account info including passwords? Steam does the same thing. I have mentioned it before. Here as a matter of fact. I got the same response from people. YAWN And folks wonder why hacking is so prevalent. Many, many people just flat don't care. Some do, but they are a minority.

PipFromSlitherine -> RE: A spywhare integrated in Civ 6 (6/18/2018 11:34:40 PM)
Do you have any sources that the Steam client snoops on or records CC or passwords? Because otherwise... [;)] Cheers Pip

Rosseau -> RE: A spywhare integrated in Civ 6 (6/19/2018 3:20:35 AM)
Will deleting the redshell dll in the Civ VI folder do it, or will it just reappear if/when I start the game? "My" computer won't let me edit and save the host file per the OP's link instructions. Doing it more out of principle than anything, as with MS, Adobe and countless others, my computer is probably porous as heck. Thanks

zonks -> RE: A spywhare integrated in Civ 6 (6/19/2018 4:13:15 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Orm They say that they have nothing to hide... It always amazes me when I hear people say that, they don't realise they are quoting Joseph Goebbels, The minister for Propaganda of Nazi Germany. "If you've got nothing to hide, you've got nothing to fear"

Dabo -> RE: A spywhare integrated in Civ 6 (6/19/2018 7:06:03 AM)
quote: Will deleting the redshell dll in the Civ VI folder do it, or will it just reappear if/when I start the game? As far as i know if you delete redshell.dll the game won't start anymore. There are a couple of ways to modify the host file: 1) right-click on notepad.exe (or notepad++ if you use it) and click on "Run as administrator", then open the Host file and modify it. 2) copy the Host file somewhere, modify it and then overwrite the original file in "c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc"

Dabo -> RE: A spywhare integrated in Civ 6 (6/19/2018 7:15:28 AM)
an updated list: https://www.bluesnews.com/s/191118/games-removing-sdk-amid-spyware-accusations Games who used Redshell which removed or pledged to remove it (as of 16.06.2018): Elder Scrolls Online (Pledged to remove it) Conan Exiles (Pledged to remove it) Ylands (Removed) Holy Potatoes! We’re in Space?! (Pledged to remove it) All Total War games, (Pledged to remove it) Warhammer: Vermintide II, (Pledged to remove it) Warhammer: Vermintide I, (might get removed also?) My Time At Portia, (Pledged to remove it) Dead by Daylight, (Pledged to remove it) Battlerite, (Pledged to remove it) AER Memories of Old, (Pledged to remove it) Magic the Gathering Arena (closed beta & not on Steam), (Pledged to remove it for now) Secret World Legends (Pledged to remove remains of it) Hunt: Showdown (Pledged to remove it) Escapists 2 (Pledged to remove it) Omensight (Pledged to remove it) Games still using Redshell according to community reports (as of 16.06.2018): Civilization VI, Kerbal Space Program, Guardians of Ember, The Onion Knights, Realm Grinder, Heroine Anthem Zero, Warhammer 40k Eternal Crusade, Krosmaga Eternal Card Game Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 Astro Boy: Edge of Time Ballistic Overkill Cabals: Card Blitz CityBattle \| Virtual Earth Desolate Doodle God Doodle God Blitz Dungeon Rushers Labyrinth My Free Farm 2 NosTale RockShot Shadowverse SOS & SOS Classic SoulWorker Stonies Tales from Candlekeep: Tomb of Annihilation War Robots Survived By Injustice 2 The Wild Eight New Adds: Yoku's Island Express Raging Justice Warriors: Rise to Glory! Trailmakers Clone Drone in the Danger Zone Vaporum Robothorium League of Pirates Doodle God: Genesis Secrets

Blond_Knight -> RE: A spywhare integrated in Civ 6 (6/19/2018 1:08:48 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Olek quote: ORIGINAL: Orm They say that they have nothing to hide... It always amazes me when I hear people say that, they don't realise they are quoting Joseph Goebbels, The minister for Propaganda of Nazi Germany. "If you've got nothing to hide, you've got nothing to fear" Well damn, that quote is even more terrifying now that I know the source. It should be followed up by Niemoller's: First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Will_L -> RE: A spywhare integrated in Civ 6 (6/19/2018 10:23:40 PM)
It was removed from Conan Exiles.

Lecivius -> RE: A spywhare integrated in Civ 6 (6/20/2018 3:20:33 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: PipFromSlitherine Do you have any sources that the Steam client snoops on or records CC or passwords? Because otherwise... [;)] Cheers Pip I had wireshark's showing a LOT of data going to them every time you log in from a new computer, from a few months ago, while looking at another problem. I didn't break the messages down. From memory it was @ 385k of info. That's a lot more than the cookies folder. Credit Card info, or passwords? I doubt it. But snoops? Guaranteed. It's on my open PC used to play games, I could care less. There is nothing there but my games, Amazon, and website history. I could roll a grenade into it, and only be down a day. I use a different LAN and PC for privileged info, and that gomer is secure. Still, there is no need for that much info to be sent to a file share operator on logging in.

Kuokkanen -> RE: A spywhare integrated in Civ 6 (6/20/2018 7:36:23 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Lecivius I had wireshark's showing a LOT of data going to them every time you log in from a new computer, from a few months ago, while looking at another problem. I didn't break the messages down. From memory it was @ 385k of info. That's a lot more than the cookies folder. Credit Card info, or passwords? I doubt it. But snoops? Guaranteed. It's on my open PC used to play games, I could care less. There is nothing there but my games, Amazon, and website history. I could roll a grenade into it, and only be down a day. I use a different LAN and PC for privileged info, and that gomer is secure. Still, there is no need for that much info to be sent to a file share operator on logging in. Interesting. Has anyone ever analyzed what gets send over there?

IainMcNeil -> RE: A spywhare integrated in Civ 6 (6/21/2018 9:45:24 AM)
This is a storm in a teacup. Loads of games have RedShell and its entire purpose is to work out which marketing campaign generated your sale on Steam, as there is currently no other way to track it back as team does not provide the tools to do that. Its just a tool to help marketeers understand which of their campaigns are working and which not. The idea that its trying to steal your personal data is completely misleading and untrue. We don't use RedShell and don't plan to but can see why developers do. It's just people trying to create a fuss about something that really doesn't matter.

rico21 -> RE: A spywhare integrated in Civ 6 (6/21/2018 11:27:35 AM)
For me the real nuisance is not all the spyware that plays Big Brother. The real nuisance is that by doing so, it slows down my PC in my activities and that is a storm in my cup of coffee![sm=00000023.gif] [:D]

IainMcNeil -> RE: A spywhare integrated in Civ 6 (6/21/2018 12:01:21 PM)
It really shouldn't slow anything down. If it does then they've done it really badly :)

rico21 -> RE: A spywhare integrated in Civ 6 (6/21/2018 12:34:15 PM)
Especially at present, there is as much spyware on a computer as fleas on a dog. [:D] It is their increasing number which is the embarrassment. [:(]

Dabo -> RE: A spywhare integrated in Civ 6 (6/21/2018 1:41:47 PM)
quote: to work out which marketing campaign generated your sale on Steam, as there is currently no other way to track it back as team does not provide the tools to do that. Its just a tool to help marketeers understand which of their campaigns are working and which not. The idea that its trying to steal your personal data is completely misleading and untrue. Glad you don't use it but still it's something that collects my data and phones back the info without my approval (and knowledge) that's pretty much the definition of spyware and it probably violates the new GDPR .

Orm -> RE: A spywhare integrated in Civ 6 (6/21/2018 2:43:24 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: IainMcNeil This is a storm in a teacup. Loads of games have RedShell and its entire purpose is to work out which marketing campaign generated your sale on Steam, as there is currently no other way to track it back as team does not provide the tools to do that. Its just a tool to help marketeers understand which of their campaigns are working and which not. The idea that its trying to steal your personal data is completely misleading and untrue. We don't use RedShell and don't plan to but can see why developers do. It's just people trying to create a fuss about something that really doesn't matter. Yes, I can understand that that is what they want to do. But, in my humble opinion, that is not a nice way to do it. And once they gather that data they might find other way to use that data. And, perhaps, combine it with other sources of data to compile it into a "better" profile. I think it deserves more objections than I think it currently gets. Although that is just mine humble opinion.

Lecivius -> RE: A spywhare integrated in Civ 6 (6/21/2018 4:17:40 PM)
Agreed. As stated earlier, I seriously doubt Steam is stealing banking information, or financial info, or anything at all of that nature. And what they do will not slow down your machine [:-] Part of their EULA is they can use information gathered for marketing purposes, just as Ian states. But it was a lot of data gathered. And I am a paranoid little bastage [:'(] That same language was used by Facebook, and by a LOT of other file share servers. I have never seen anything like that type of file transfer from Matrix, or GoG. And you have no idea where data gathered will end up, because you do allow it to be distributed as the far end see's fit as a part of the EULA agreements. Your not paranoid if there really is someone out there [;)] And a little paranoia when using the internet is a good thing.

Zorch -> RE: A spywhare integrated in Civ 6 (6/21/2018 5:20:10 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Lecivius Agreed. As stated earlier, I seriously doubt Steam is stealing banking information, or financial info, or anything at all of that nature. And what they do will not slow down your machine [:-] Part of their EULA is they can use information gathered for marketing purposes, just as Ian states. But it was a lot of data gathered. And I am a paranoid little bastage [:'(] That same language was used by Facebook, and by a LOT of other file share servers. I have never seen anything like that type of file transfer from Matrix, or GoG. And you have no idea where data gathered will end up, because you do allow it to be distributed as the far end see's fit as a part of the EULA agreements. Your not paranoid if there really is someone out there [;)] And a little paranoia when using the internet is a good thing. +1 I pay cash everywhere I can, just so the merchant doesn't get any info about me that could be misused or stolen.

sanch -> RE: A spywhare integrated in Civ 6 (6/21/2018 7:41:17 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Zorch ... +1 I pay cash everywhere I can, just so the merchant doesn't get any info about me that could be misused or stolen. And when they ask for my phone number, I just say "Sorry, unlisted." for the exact same reasons.

Zorch -> RE: A spywhare integrated in Civ 6 (10/16/2018 8:48:29 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Dabo and in other games too. Here's a l list. The program is called Red Shell (be aware there’s also a virus with the same name). The purpose of this software is to track the "device" (PC, console, whatever) it is installed on, observing such things as what game(s) you play, what youtube video(s) you watch, and more, in order to report back to Red Shell's clients about how successful those clients' advertising campaigns are. I’m not a lawyer but it should be illegal under the new EU’s GDPR if they don’t provide an opt-out. If you’re not an Eu citizen it depends on your country’s legislation. Some of the companies in the list have removed the software claiming they didn’t know about it (yeah sure). 2K hasn't yet. Is anyone aware of an update to this? [8\|]

Gilmer -> RE: A spywhare integrated in Civ 6 (10/16/2018 11:26:42 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: IainMcNeil This is a storm in a teacup. Loads of games have RedShell and its entire purpose is to work out which marketing campaign generated your sale on Steam, as there is currently no other way to track it back as team does not provide the tools to do that. Its just a tool to help marketeers understand which of their campaigns are working and which not. The idea that its trying to steal your personal data is completely misleading and untrue. We don't use RedShell and don't plan to but can see why developers do. It's just people trying to create a fuss about something that really doesn't matter. Let me the first to say, don't ever plan to and don't change your minds!!

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