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A but unhinged to compare first party telemetry to actually unrestricted malware, no matter how you square it
by Xeamek 3y ago
A but unhinged to compare first party telemetry to actually unrestricted malware, no matter how you square it
- ryanmentor 3y agoThe comparison is direct and apt, as a comment on a story about devices delivered with hostile software on them. From a consumer POV, they are indistinguishable, are they not? At least third party malware works silently and efficiently. First party hateware puts ads in the start menu.
- paulryanrogers 3y agoOne annoys while the other may drain your bank account. I'd say the distinction is still quite stark.
- M95D 3y agoYou entered your bank card data on your phone? OMG!
- DANmode 3y agoYou say "first party telemetry" in a way that makes the reader think you believe "Microsoft just wants to make Windows better." I had a much longer comment, but it eventually detracted from this point: you can't guarantee where that data goes, how it's stored through its life, etc.
- PradeetPatel 3y agoUnlike malware authors, most big tech companies are bound by legal and ethical frameworks regarding data collection, retention, and usage. Inappropriate usage of PII can lead to severe consequences in most western countries.
- GoblinSlayer 3y agoAmerican business ethics is nothing to brag about, and their legal framework is basically "by using this service you allow us to do anything we want".
- Our_Benefactors 3y agoDo you fully trust these companies to comply with those legal and ethical frameworks? I don’t. It’s a common refrain that paying these fines is a worthy cost of doing business.
- Nextgrid 3y ago> Inappropriate usage of PII can lead to severe consequences in most western countries. Facebook still being around shows this is just wishful thinking.
- devsda 3y agoLegal frameworks that end in settlement costs that amounts to X% of quarterly profit. We can clearly see where the incentives are aligned.
- hammyhavoc 3y agoRemember Cambridge Analytica? Pepperidge Farm remembers.
- flerovium 3y ago> most big tech companies are ~bound by~ supposed to follow legal and ethical frameworks Also, be careful, the concept of "ethical frameworks" is used by companies to become their own judges and jury.
- shkkmo 3y ago> you can't guarantee where that data goes, how it's stored through its life, etc. Sure, it's definitely a security risk. However there is a strong line betweeen a first party spyware that collects data to sell, and the malware discussed in this article, that was specifically places there to try to steal your credit card or banking info for criminals. I'm fine with legal penalties for the manufacturers in both cases though.
- tourmalinetaco 3y agoNonconsensual apps and telemetry is indistinguishable from malware.
- more_corn 3y agoFrom a privacy perspective, maybe. From a security perspective they’re totally different. Malware can be used to perform arbitrary code execution compromise my machine, pivot to my work computer compromise my aws keys, spin up $100k/mon infrastructure to run unrelated scams, syphon down my customer database ransomware it / post it on the dark web. Telemetry is unlikely to do the above. If it does it gets reclassified as malware. The distinction is valid and useful. Claiming otherwise is either ignorant in the extreme or deliberately deceptive. Which are you?
- smeagull 3y agoBoth are terrible and should be removed. Functionally they're the same.