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> I've never used SideBarEnhancement. I assumed users knew it was related to Kite. Considering how many posts you've made in this thread defending Kite, this s

by hsod 9y ago

> I've never used SideBarEnhancement. I assumed users knew it was related to Kite. Considering how many posts you've made in this thread defending Kite, this seems like a major gap in your understanding. A simple ctrl-F of both the Github README and the PackageControl page show no mention of Kite.

sillysaurus3 9y ago
True, though all the code was doing was collecting a list of installed packages and a list of file extensions you've edited. Judging by the reactions here, you'd think they were uploading your entire ~/ directory. I'm curious how Kite got the telemetry into that extension if it's unaffiliated. https://github.com/titoBouzout https://github.com/titoBouzout seems like a fairly standard github account, though it's strange he had no commits for six months until this incident.
- eropple 9y ago
  They paid him, I do believe (saw this asserted by folks who'd know and saw no contesting it).
- hsod 9y ago
  > True, though all the code was doing was collecting a list of installed packages and a list of file extensions you've edited. Judging by the reactions here, you'd think they were uploading your entire ~/ directory. OK, so you acknowledge that this was an unacceptable privacy breach, you're just a little less upset about it than some other people here. Damning with faint praise, I guess. > I'm curious how Kite got the telemetry into that extension if it's unaffiliated. They probably paid him.
  - sillysaurus3 9y ago
    It's not a privacy breach to collect the file extensions you've edited bucketed by time. (Collecting the list of installed packages is debatable.) The unacceptable breach of trust was that they tried to hide the fact that they were doing it. It was incredibly stupid to hide it, since few people would've cared if they were just honest. Now they're in the same category as paid spyware marketers. I'd rather look like a fool and get to the truth than stay silent and let a story go half told. At least people are clear about what precisely was being collected.
    - eropple 9y ago
      FWIW I think that's cool and gracious of you. People don't mea culpa often.
      - sillysaurus3 9y ago
        Thanks for the level headed analysis. It was appreciated.

by hsod 9y ago

sillysaurus3 9y ago

True, though all the code was doing was collecting a list of installed packages and a list of file extensions you've edited. Judging by the reactions here, you'd think they were uploading your entire ~/ directory. I'm curious how Kite got the telemetry into that extension if it's unaffiliated. https://github.com/titoBouzout https://github.com/titoBouzout seems like a fairly standard github account, though it's strange he had no commits for six months until this incident.

eropple 9y ago
They paid him, I do believe (saw this asserted by folks who'd know and saw no contesting it).
hsod 9y ago
> True, though all the code was doing was collecting a list of installed packages and a list of file extensions you've edited. Judging by the reactions here, you'd think they were uploading your entire ~/ directory. OK, so you acknowledge that this was an unacceptable privacy breach, you're just a little less upset about it than some other people here. Damning with faint praise, I guess. > I'm curious how Kite got the telemetry into that extension if it's unaffiliated. They probably paid him.
- sillysaurus3 9y ago
  It's not a privacy breach to collect the file extensions you've edited bucketed by time. (Collecting the list of installed packages is debatable.) The unacceptable breach of trust was that they tried to hide the fact that they were doing it. It was incredibly stupid to hide it, since few people would've cared if they were just honest. Now they're in the same category as paid spyware marketers. I'd rather look like a fool and get to the truth than stay silent and let a story go half told. At least people are clear about what precisely was being collected.
  - eropple 9y ago
    FWIW I think that's cool and gracious of you. People don't mea culpa often.
    - sillysaurus3 9y ago
      Thanks for the level headed analysis. It was appreciated.