Epic launcher collects Steam friends & play history
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fantaskarsef
And that after their big user data breach in 2017? 18? And wegpages from 2004 who were still online last year and vulvernable?
Ask me again if I why I have not the least interest to install that POS software.
sverek
The same applies on most of the applications. They sniff steam folder, link user/friends ids and suggest each others.
I think Discord, Ubisoft launcher do the same at least.
But whatever, easy to hate on Epic launcher. Crowd will love this.
fantaskarsef
Discord and ubi haven't lost my data yet. So... yes, I love it. Another piece of circumstantial evidence. Feel free to enjoy your Epic launcher and games 🙂
sverek
Thank you.
Kaarme
Ah, yes, the good old "they did it first, so it must be okay" excuse people learn in kindergarten at the very latest.
They might have wanted to add it as a voluntary feature instead, requiring pressing "Yes" with the option of choosing "No" readily available.
RealNC
And you think that's OK?
sverek
No.
Below should be enforced, with Steam API in between for authorization.
Issue is, unless Steam bother to encrypt user data, nobody gives a damn. So I'd rather wonder, why Steam doesn't care about out personal data. Why there no encryption? Why any application can sniff all our Steam data, without requiring Steam to authorize it?
Simpsons did it first.
fantaskarsef
You mean steam encrypting their data on our local hard drives so that other programs can't read them, even though they're neither supposed or wished to do so without user consent? Just trying to understand what in particular you want encrypted.
WhiteLightning
Moderator
Besides Epic launcher scanning it (After you press the freaking button mind you, not by default) , the problem is more with steam tbh.
Why on earth do Steam allow 3rd party programs to access Steam cloud and scan for all your games?
If Epic launcher is able to do it, so is anyone else!
fantaskarsef
Oh I missed that they scan the cloud as well, my fault @sverek
rl66
Steam is clearly the 1st faulty (again and again and again... it must not be coincidencial...) and Epic is not smart be the second one.
Anyway when it's cloud and not secured, it might happen (Despite i hate Steam, it is sadly not the only one)...
DeskStar
I do not ever remember consenting to/through steam that my information was just up for the grabs of third party software.
*Hold for a bit!!!!
"Goes and writes his own sniffing software for steam and its inability to properly store accessible information" Just had to make sure i got ahead of the masses on this one....
And it would seem that Facebook just got "F'd in the A" with its inability to keep their users data private and or from being douches and trying to sell that garbage..... Facebook.....HA!!! Die social media..... Maybe then people can understand what its like to actually talk to someone face to face on a regular basis.
Embra
Companies are finding all sorts of ways to make $$$ on our personal information and habits.
Everyone is doing it. Some more carefully than others.
HawaiianBrian
Sure don't miss the constant emails from Epic saying someone is trying to hack my account.
Uninstalled that POS forever.
D3M1G0D
If I had to guess, I would say it's by design - they allow third party apps to scan user data for integration purposes. It is a little troubling how much data can be gleaned this way, but I guess they want a flexible approach (get lots of data, and then use what you need).
I'm pretty sure that if Valve didn't want other apps sniffing for data they would have implemented the necessary security measures. I can't imagine that this is an oversight.
RzrTrek
And here I thought I was the only one!?
RealNC
It is assumed that if you install software on your computer, you trust that software. Which makes sense. You wouldn't install spyware willingly, would you? If you do, and it collects your data, you can't blame Steam or anyone else. You can only blame yourself.
If the Epic launcher would be blocked by anti-virus software, that would be great. But we all know this won't happen. Not all spyware is created equal; it depends on who makes the spyware.
ManuKey
ahaha no surprise since TENCENT, a chinese shareholding communist company own a part of Epic, if you read about Tencent, you will see what kind of rubbish company they are...
Clouseau
I fail to see the relevance of such an article and the outcry about it. We surrendered to Google long ago and no one cries about that anymore because it is just accepted. But a new kid on the block doing it...not acceptable. Facebook even creates ghost profiles of individuals that do not have accounts. No outcry on that either. But wait for it...our own gaming history...that is stepping over the line. Meh. We are being programed by all this social media and it is all well and good...who cares. Gaming file information is more important because Epic needs to be hated.
Kaarme
Isn't Facebook already facing a fine of billions of dollars for its tomfoolery? FB's glorious leader has also been dragged in front of polticians to explain FB's willfully sordid behavior. I wouldn't say that suggests the world views Facebook's stunts as outstanding. Like I said in my earlier post, just because others have done something objectionable before, it doesn't make it okay for others to join the throng of wrongdoers.
Personally I also feel like it's a greater violation for a random program to dig around my physical HDs than to scan something I made the mistake of uploading into the internets. Everybody knows you will never be in total control of stuff in clouds and such. Unless you yourself encrypt it first with so insane methods even NSA's quantum computer wouldn't have time to decrypt it before you are six feet under and past caring.
