Privacy Experts: Legislation Needed To Curb Video Game Spyware

10 News ^ | December 15, 2006 | 10 News

[holymoly]

Computer games are high on wish lists for teens this holiday season.

However, some of those games could be hazardous to your computer and your privacy.

The company that makes the game “Battlefield 2142” is Electronic Arts, a trailblazer in computerized entertainment.

But EA is also blazing a different trail, using this particular game to reach into users’ computers.

“It basically said they’re going to be using advertising and data on your computer,” said computer gamer Ryan Arp.

Arp learned about the company’s use of spyware in the game after he opened the package, losing his right to return it.

A card inserted in the packaging said:

By installing and using the software, you agree to:

the transfer of advertising data to servers located outside of your country of residence

the collection and use of advertising data

the delivery of advertising and marketing content

“Many people might have problems running the game and the company recommended that if you were to have this problem, you should uninstall a critical Microsoft security update,” said Arp.

In other words, users are told to remove a patch that protects computers from viruses and other assaults.

Bob Fellmeth, founder of the California Children’s Advocacy Institute, said, “Your child is being used to put a Trojan horse into your system. I think if you’ve got a mechanical devices and it uses information for marketing or asks to remove a patch, there needs to be a disclosure before you buy it.”

“There is a technology that looks at all activity the entire family participates in. This is particularly vile and calls for legislation,” said Beth Givens of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse.

State Assemblymember Lori Saldana said she might be the one who introduces that bill.

“A parental notice telling them private information might be at risk is important to have,” said Saldana.

10News contacted Electronic Arts, asking the company to voluntarily post a notice on the outside of its game packaging or to remove the spyware altogether.

[holymoly]

Arp learned about the company’s use of spyware in the game after he opened the package, losing his right to return it.

Nice.

Of course, a bit of Googleing can help avoid this type of thing (don't forget to search Googles' archive of usenet postings at groups.google.com). If a game or other software is bundled with spyware, there's a very good possibility someones' posted a warning, somewhere. A few hours Googleing can help avoid a great deal of trouble.

---

BTW Anyone who wants to give their kids games for Christmas, there are tons of outstanding free games out there.

Here's just a few:

Microprose Railroad Tycoon (MS-DOS) Recently released as freeware. Includes manual & reference cards.

IIRC The RR Tycoon download also includes DOSBox, an open-source DOS "emulator" for those running NT-based versions of Windows.

Steel Panthers: Main Battle Tank for Windows.

Steel Panthers: Main Battle Tank version 3 for DOS. (Direct download.)

Steel Panthers: World War II for Windows.

Steel Panthers: World War II version 7 for DOS.

FYI: Another useful utility for running DOS software under NT-based windows is VDMSound

[Dengar01]

Not breaking news...

[gcruse]

" A few hours Googleing can help avoid a great deal of trouble."

Good gawd. Neither should a prospective buyer have to spend hours Googling to find out if the product is a Trojan horse. That sort of stuff should be part of the product label.

[jra]

What a cool tip.

Bumping for later read.

Merry CHRISTmas.

[beyond the sea]

Legislation Needed To Curb Video Game Spyware

Legislation Needed To Curb Video Games

[CrawDaddyCA]

There's a simple way to foil EA's misdeeds, simply deny the games access to the internet (if you play single player only mode, of course). I use Trend Micro's PC-cillin, and it alerts me every time a program tries to access the internet.

Of course, if you want to play it in multi player mode, you're screwed.

Just another entertainment company trying to access your info, and burying the facts in the EUL.

[guestfox01]

Legislation Needed To Curb Video Games

No... Legislation is needed to curb lawmakers who make stupid/useless laws. Hey, it's like this. If you have kids and you don't want your kids playing certain video games then DON'T BUY OR RENT THEM. Simple.

We don't need a nanny state.

[beyond the sea]

I was kidding. I've never played a video game in my life.

You do whatever you want.

[stainlessbanner]

bttt

[Publius6961]

Bob Fellmeth, founder of the California Children’s Advocacy Institute, said, “Your child is being used to put a Trojan horse into your system.

Normal people don't need a pontificating ******* to tell us that.
Any adult/parent who shares a computer with children (defined as anyone who does not earn a living) is too dumb to own a computer.

Natural selection at work.

[perfect stranger]

BTTT for comment.