BF 2142 - Spyware

Post by **FZ1** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 8:09 am

Before you install, make sure you read all of the documentation...

kenc51 · Post by **kenc51** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 8:15 am

Is this mentioned on the box cover?

Also have you installed it yet? Can a sofware firewall block this spyware "calling home"

Even if this spyware doesn't give any personal info, there's a change someone else could use it to their benefit......doesn't take much to modify it and use it to seach your hdd for credit card info etc.

Boycotting this game...........

Thanx for the info.......you just saved me some cash

cadaveca · Post by **cadaveca** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 9:23 am

Um, google adwords do the same thing. So now websites are spyware too? Sheesh. grow up.

kenc51 · Post by **kenc51** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 9:46 am

cadaveca wrote:Um, google adwords do the same thing. So now websites are spyware too? Sheesh. grow up.

There's a difference between what you click on.....and software installed on your pc. If this spyware is mentioned on the box.....it isn't too bad.....but if you buy the game and have to open the box to find out then it's just wrong, you can't return open pc games!

Grow up?? haha

Post by **Apoptosis** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 10:03 am

It does not mention this on the box and if you go to return it you can't because you have opened the sealed box... Pretty sneaky. If all else fails they need to put a warning sticker on the box.

sbohdan · Post by **sbohdan** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 10:59 am

first of all it's outrageous that there is spyware of any kind in a game that costs too much anyway!!
if it would be free - than maybe

Post by **FZ1** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 11:37 am

kenc51 wrote:

Is this mentioned on the box cover?

Also have you installed it yet? Can a sofware firewall block this spyware "calling home"

Even if this spyware doesn't give any personal info, there's a change someone else could use it to their benefit......doesn't take much to modify it and use it to seach your hdd for credit card info etc.

Boycotting this game...........

Thanx for the info.......you just saved me some cash

I don't know, I saw this elsewhere on the net.

I guess if someone wasn't into multiplayer they could block it with their firewall (you are using a firewall aren't you?). Still it's crappy. I imagine there will be enough backlash that they release a patch to remove the adware/spyware portion.

Post by **FZ1** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 11:38 am

cadaveca wrote:Um, google adwords do the same thing. So now websites are spyware too? Sheesh. grow up.

Technically, yes. But I can choose to block cookies etc but I don't have a choice with the game. I don't think it's a matter of growing up. Being an adult means having an awareness of your personal privacy and having the choice to allow my information to be shared or not.

cadaveca · Post by **cadaveca** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 12:12 pm

I'm sry, but i think you are missing the point, due to the words i chose.

Every single website you go to has your IP number. this is nessecary in order for you to get the content that the webpage contains.

No big deal.

Google ads do the same thing, however they then analyze that IP for region, and provide content in the local language.

The BF2142 software takes this one step further, and can offer differing content, other than the displayed language, based on IP. You have to give your IP out to the server anyway, in order ot join an online game. The server will then analyze your IP in the same way that google adwords does, kinda, and provide advertizing based on that info. The ads can be seen on billboards ingame...this means the server's billboards when levels load, and possibly in-game while playing. This is not invading your personal privacy any more than connecting to any internet application does. Heck, even in a LAN it's the same...your IP HAS to be given(or the IP of your router).

This is not "spyware", and to call it such is wrong. The internet would not work if this was not already done. There's great animosity out there towards EA, and this "episode" plays into it. I'm old enough to see through all that. I can only hope you can do the same.

kenc51 · Post by **kenc51** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 12:27 pm

cadaveca EA don't need to install any extra software to get your IP address.....and from your IP alone they can tell where abouts you are in the world........This should be enough for them to give you "personalised in-game adverts"

The only reason why they install this extra software and make you agree to it's use, is so they can collect more info about you. They will prolly collect details like browser bookmarks or details on installed software..........
Sure this info is kept confidential and nothing personal is used but it's still wrong IMO.

They should have it as an option in the game to use personalised adverts etc.

FZ1 made a good point.....EA Games need to release a patch to either disable this or make it optional.......otherwise I won't be buying any of their games again.

It's a matter of principle.........they are too sneaky...and for that, I won't buy it!

Did they not learn from Sony? (a little bit more extreme but still)

cadaveca · Post by **cadaveca** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 12:45 pm

I agree it's "sneaky", but it does also say on the leaflet that it's temporary, that it is loaded on your machine so that it can verify what gets downloaded to your machine by the game, then transmits the data to a another server. It also says it does not track any personal info. it's tracking what A BF2142 SERVER PUTS ON YOUR MACHINE.

Valve have basically done the same thing with steam ,but actually monitor HOW YOU PLAY THE GAME. Don't see people screaming about it, and it's not on a leaflet in the box. At least EA let ya'all know.

I don't think it's as bad as ya'all make out. I actually think it's a good thing, becasue it allows them to track what server download to you, and can verify the integrity of thier network to hacks that can create "zombie" machines. To me, it's a security feature.

And really, I personally have nothing to hide. I don't care who knows what I do. Neither should you.

kenc51 · Post by **kenc51** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 1:00 pm

Valve is just as bad.....I personally own HL2.......have a genuine serial etc. (came with my old ATI gfx card) BUT I didn't use steam to play HL2 --> I cracked it using a warez tool.
I don't play CS Source........Tried it once on LR's server.......never again. I have no need for Steam so I don't use it.....I risk getting my a/c banned but i'd rather risk it, than use their crappy setup.

I know what your saying, but for them to get stats on their network, they can do it by logging that stuff on their own side.......AND GIVE THEIR USERS THE OPTION TO SEND DATA BACK.
Alot of software has the option to send peformance data back.........but the user can deline to do so. Look at Microsoft and their error reporting service, ATI has the same with VPU recover.

It's all about being transparent and honest......if they done that I wouldn't care, since you have the choice.

I also haven't anything to hide on my PC.......but it's just that, a Personal computer.........Privacy is sacred nowadays and we should fight to keep it! IMO.

kenc51 · Post by **kenc51** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 1:09 pm

Actually my point about making it an option is mute......since no-one can verify if you can or can't enable/disable this in-game.

I guess we will have to wait and see.

cadaveca · Post by **cadaveca** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 1:26 pm

LoL. "Personal" computer. But all you own is the hardware, and a right to use the software, not the software itself. INcluding the OS...nothing personal about a personal computer at all.

What's this thing...privacy? Piracy?

J/k. seriously tho...nothing private about using a pc on the internet. NOT A DAMN THING.

kenc51 · Post by **kenc51** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 1:29 pm

cadaveca wrote:LoL. "Personal" computer. But all you own is the hardware, and a right to use the software, not the software itself. INcluding the OS...nothing personal about a personal computer at all.

What's this thing...privacy? Piracy? J/k. seriously tho...nothing private about using a pc on the internet. NOT A DAMN THING.

I have no responce, you have me there mate...........

Dragon_Cooler · Post by **Dragon_Cooler** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 1:42 pm

kenc51 wrote: I also haven't anything to hide on my PC.......but it's just that, a Personal computer.........Privacy is sacred nowadays and we should fight to keep it! IMO.

I agree, Im not buying anything that makes adds... Its like going to the movies, and watching commercials before the movie starts. Its ridiculous!!! (AND THEY STILL CHARGE YOU AN ARM AND A LEG TO WATCH THE MOVIE)

I could understand if they made 2 versions of the game one cheaper with adds and one more expensive without.

THANK YOU FOR SHOWING THIS, I AM NOT GOING TO BUY THE GAME NOW!!!!!!!

Tim Burton · Post by **Tim Burton** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 5:37 pm

cadaveca wrote:LoL. "Personal" computer. But all you own is the hardware, and a right to use the software, not the software itself. INcluding the OS...nothing personal about a personal computer at all.

Which is why I have written my Congressmen requesting that they change the law to allow me to own the software on the disk.

But I solved this issue of EA screwing people a long time ago. I quit buying EA games. I regret being given BF2 by my ex.

I will never buy a BF2 game, and I won't miss a thing. I haven't even found an EA game worth pirating in a while....

If people quit buying their stuff, they'd straighten up.

cadaveca · Post by **cadaveca** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 6:46 pm

You are right, in a way, and wrong in another.

I tend to look at the big picture. And with that perspective, there are people making these crappy games...crappy because they don't have enough development time...not because of a lack of skills, or want, to deliver a better product. Punishing EA directly punishes the people that are really behind these games, the programmers, the artists, the sound people, the story writers.

Each of those do something very special. They take an idea and make it a reality, of sorts. Concept becomes design, design becomes product. the intellectual input is what i reward by buying these games(yes, I have BF2142, and a whole host of EA games). In order to make sure food stays on the creative people's plates, we gotta buy games...which, from my perspective, are works of ART. DIGITAL ART.

Just like all art, there's good and bad. Just like all other art forms, there are copies and cheap imitations. It's the nature of art, as a whole. Then there's those that take advantage of the real artists.

You can look at it as funding EA. I tend to look at it helping some people survive, regardless of thier circumstances. The people that work @ EA have wives, husbands, kids, cats and dogs too. they work @ EA, because they got bills to pay.

Got another way for these thousands of peopel to get paid? I'm sure they'd love to hear about it.

By the way, games, and the way they are classified, prevents you from owning them. You'd need to change copyright laws, and writing your congressman/woman ain't gonna do squat about that. Hire a laywer, and really do something, and then we can talk. Otherwise you might as well be talking to a wall...Valve won against Vivendi with the whole STEAM fiasco jsut because of this. Viviendi has lots of lawyers, and lots of cash, and couldn't change things...what makes you think you can, by writing such a letter?

NAiLs · Post by **NAiLs** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 6:56 pm

Just to clue some people in if it wasn't mentioned... it has been said that it *may* be necessary to UNINSTALL a Windows XP Security Patch in order for this spyware to work. Yes, freaking uninstall a SECURITY patch.....

It's also said that this software can be used to collect data about you, like what you search for on the web, where you actually go, etc. VERY WRONG! This IS the definition of spyware...

I refuse to purchase this game for this fact.

Yes, you can just go ahead and install it, and make your firewall block the port(s) that it uses, but it's very wrong.

Also, cadaveca, EA did NOT mention the necessity of installing this software on the outside of the box, instead, you get that fancy little letter inside. This is bad on EA's part. It's just like Sony or whoever that was, installing their software on your computer without you knowing. They finally got found out and released a fix for such.

I'm one of those people who just read the box and install from there. I don't read the advertisements that come in the box usually.

I also heard that some news agency was going to have a small report on this little EA thing.

cadaveca · Post by **cadaveca** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 7:01 pm

Um, actually, it says on teh back of the box that an internet connection is required to register, and to play. Seeing as there is a an off-line single-player version, howcome you need an internet connection?

And yes, the software DOES NOT WORK UNLESS YOU REMOVE A WINDOWS SECURITY PATCH.

It doesn't work.

So, uh, what's the big deal?

Like i said in the first post reporting what it does, it can only use info garnered via your ip...harmless, and not spyware.

LoL. You better get off the internet dude...you know that this very forum could od the same thing?

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying EA is ok...because this is totally not what i think. But you don't know what you are talking about, and are voicing your OPINION as fact. that I cannot tolerate. It's like teaching kids that killing cats for fun is ok.