Epic launcher collects Steam friends & play history

fantaskarsef

2019-03-15 07:45

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.

#5650112

fantaskarsef

2019-03-15 07:49

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.

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 🙂

#5650120

Kaarme

2019-03-15 08:07

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.

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.

#5650126

RealNC

2019-03-15 08:21

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.

And you think that's OK?

#5650133

fantaskarsef

2019-03-15 08:58

sverek:

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?

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.

#5650135

WhiteLightning

Moderator

2019-03-15 09:01

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!

#5650140

fantaskarsef

2019-03-15 09:17

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:

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!

Oh I missed that they scan the cloud as well, my fault @sverek

#5650182

rl66

2019-03-15 11:51

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)...

#5650195

Embra

2019-03-15 12:39

Companies are finding all sorts of ways to make $$$ on our personal information and habits. Everyone is doing it. Some more carefully than others.

#5650306

RealNC

2019-03-15 16:22

WhiteLightning:

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!

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.

#5650318

Clouseau

2019-03-15 17:01

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.

#5650347

Kaarme

2019-03-15 17:58

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.

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.

#5650354

WhiteLightning

Moderator

2019-03-15 18:09

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.

This is not true, because the Privacy law, ever application has to ask for permission in a way. Steam is just as bad as what Facebook did before.

#5650356

schmidtbag

2019-03-15 18:11

Ugh people are so whiny and paranoid over the stupidest things. "Oh no, public data is being collected without my consent! How dare they make connecting with friends on other platforms easier to do!" Seriously, this isn't an infringement upon your privacy. Epic isn't doing anything to harm you, your gaming experience, or your friends. Worst-case scenario, you get some ads regarding games you're interesting in. Wow, what a horrible thing to deal with (/s)!

#5650358

WhiteLightning

Moderator

2019-03-15 18:16

schmidtbag:

Ugh people are so whiny and paranoid over the stupidest things. "Oh no, public data is being collected without my consent! How dare they make connecting with friends on other platforms easier to do!" Seriously, this isn't an infringement upon your privacy. Epic isn't doing anything to harm you, your gaming experience, or your friends. Worst-case scenario, you get some ads regarding games you're interesting in. Wow, what a horrible thing to deal with (/s)!

But it is up to the user what to share. You clearly do not care about your privacy. That doesn't mean others don't have to either though.

#5650360

schmidtbag

2019-03-15 18:17

WhiteLightning:

But it is up to the user what to share. You clearly do not care about your privacy. That doesn't mean others don't have to either though.

Again, it's public data. That means it's not for the user to decide to share. If you don't want it shared, stop using Steam. EDIT: Doesn't change my point that people are whining over something so petty. It's not like any of that data is incriminating or can be used for potential malice.

#5650365

WhiteLightning

Moderator

2019-03-15 18:25

schmidtbag:

Again, it's public data. That means it's not for the user to decide to share. If you don't want it shared, stop using Steam.

You need to give permission to share any data that has you involved. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Data_Protection_Regulation Why do you think Facebook got fined if data is just public ? Just another case of Steam writing its own rules. Their policy: https://store.steampowered.com/privacy_agreement/ Doesn't say anything about this! only that they will share it with valve related company or customer support. doesn't say anything about Epic , or anyone else who has access to our data in the cloud.

#5650371

schmidtbag

2019-03-15 18:30

WhiteLightning:

You need to give permission to share any data that has you involved. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Data_Protection_Regulation Why do you think facebook got fined if data is just public ? Just another case of Steam writing its own rules.

That article you linked to is about a different problem: whether Valve has the right to assume your data is public. That has nothing to do with whether Epic is allowed to collect that data (which they do, because again, it's public). So - if the complaint is "I don't consent to this data being public" then I would totally side with that. But people here seem to be more complaining "I don't consent to this public data being collected" which is nonsense and as far as I'm aware, there is no legal restriction on that (of course, excluding stuff like plagiarism or redistribution, which Epic isn't doing). EDIT: When it comes to stuff like Facebook, they took private data, collected it for themselves, and redistributed it to ad companies. They deserved being sued for that.

#5650373

WhiteLightning

Moderator

2019-03-15 18:37

schmidtbag:

That article you linked to is about a different problem: whether Valve has the right to assume your data is public. That has nothing to do with whether Epic is allowed to collect that data (which they do, because again, it's public). So - if the complaint is "I don't consent to this data being public" then I would totally side with that. But people here seem to be more complaining "I don't consent to this public data being collected" which is nonsense and as far as I'm aware, there is no legal restriction on that (of course, excluding stuff like plagiarism or redistribution, which Epic isn't doing). EDIT: When it comes to stuff like Facebook, they took private data, collected it for themselves, and redistributed it to ad companies. They deserved being sued for that.

They cant share your history if you don't agree with it. That is by law. Now it is the other way around , they share everything , until you say no cant do that. that data is private, not public.

#5650379

schmidtbag

2019-03-15 18:45

WhiteLightning:

They cant share your history if you don't agree with it. That is by law. Now it is the other way around , they share everything , until you say no cant do that. that data is private, not public.

I understand all of that and on the surface, I agree, but there's still 2 problems here: 1. It's put in plain writing in Valve's privacy policy that they can in fact publicize your data, in section 5.4: https://store.steampowered.com/privacy_agreement/ Again - if you don't like it, don't use Steam. They are not doing anything illegal because you are required to agree with the TOS in order to use their service. As far as I'm concerned, ignorance on the user's part does not put Valve at fault. 2. People seem to be complaining more that this legally publicized data is being collected [for your convenience]. That's what I find irritating.