RealPlayer Uploads Your ID Too

Posted by jamie on Saturday November 6, 1999 @08:00AM from the just-tell-me-who-DOESN'T-send-a-GUID dept.

Wired revealed this morning a "New Privacy Glitch" which may actually be years old. Real Networks' RealJukebox isn't its only software to send a Globally Unique Identifier (GUID): RealPlayer does too. The free RealPlayer has 69 million users of all its versions; Real isn't saying which versions send the GUID. It's sad when the "good news" is that RealPlayer doesn't scan your hard drive. Oh - and by the way - Windows Media Player sends one too but it's OK because registration is not required. Are we living in cuckooland? Update: 11/08 08:44 by J : On the just-launched real.com site, their Software Privacy Statement says: "the Globally Unique Identifier - GUID has been disabled for electronic registration so it cannot be used to identify you." This is for RealPlayer 7: still, apparently, no word on earlier versions.

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Privacy Panda by gad_zuki! · 1999-11-06 03:43 · Score: 4

Now that privacy issues are getting more and more press, the time is ripe for a cartoony privacy mascot. Companies can attach his picture to their products if their software doesn't reveal or track any user info. I'm gonna suggest 'Peter, the Privacy Panda.' Maybe he can hang out with Smokey the Bear and McGruff.

If we're lucky some guy in a Panda suit will follow around the fed's new anti-hacking mascot around to all the gradeschools.

If we're really lucky he'll pick a fight with the anti-hack gerbil as he tries get converts for the CIA kids program. "No kids, snitching is bad, take that you filthy gerbil!"