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What is Traitorware?

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Re: What is Traitorware?

#31

Post by smashing »

nickpinkston wrote: post #9
_delirium wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think most people know about this sort of thing. Most non-techies I've talked to are actually quite surprised about the printer thing: the idea that a printer would secretly print a pattern of light yellow dots on your paper that wasn't in your source file is very surprising to everyone I've mentioned it to. It's the sort of thing that's weird enough that some people think I must be telling them a conspiracy…

Yea, it's true. Companies aren't really acting in our best interests - probably the legals driving this one. It should also be mentioned that your car probably has a black box that records what you're doing - already used in many court cases.

I used to worry that all this data could be used to track us, but then I realized how inefficient the government is.

Re: What is Traitorware?

#32

Post by famblycat »

nickpinkston wrote: post #10
ck2 wrote: post #7

Hmm, but there's something negative implied about the original intent in the word though, like you were doing something wrong. How about "snitchsoft", nah, same problem. Really it's "trackware" because regardless of how you use the device/product, you are being tracked. Even your PDF documents have serial numbers by default.

Ha - I thought most people would think "trackware" were related to running, but I Googled the term and got all spyware related links - interesting...

Try "trackwear". Now you're on the trolley.

Re: What is Traitorware?

#34

Post by dspeyer »

nickpinkston wrote: post #2

I love the coining of this word - let's claim the language high ground on this. Do mainstream people even know/care about this yet?

It's a little overgeneral. There are ways your software can betray you besides spying on you.

Or maybe the term is meant to include that stuff too, despite the explicit definition.

Re: What is Traitorware?

#35

Post by bcl »

towelrod wrote: post #18
nickpinkston wrote: post #2

I love the coining of this word - let's claim the language high ground on this. Do mainstream people even know/care about this yet?

Most people don't care about things like this at all. Look at how many of them happily use Facebook. If Apple put in a warning screen that said, "Angry Birds is requesting the following information: your location, your contact list, and your phone number. Is that ok?", then I would bet at least 90% of the users would just click "sure, no problem". We are losing this battle because very few people care about privacy a…

Just to be clear, iPhone apps have to ask before they are allowed to use location information.

Even though most consumers don't care about things like this there are those of us who do care, and we can eventually make a difference. This is one of the reasons why I support the EFF.

Re: What is Traitorware?

#36

Post by alanh »

I made a (small) bit of cash after the Sony DRM rootkit fiasco broke by selling T-shirts that read, in camouflage-pattern Army-stencil lettering:

$sys$

INVISIBILITY COURTESY SORY CORP

Re: What is Traitorware?

#37

Post by dkarl »

smashing wrote: post #31
nickpinkston wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yea, it's true. Companies aren't really acting in our best interests - probably the legals driving this one. It should also be mentioned that your car probably has a black box that records what you're doing - already used in many court cases.

I used to worry that all this data could be used to track us, but then I realized how inefficient the government is.

Yeah, now your privacy will only get invaded if the government actively decides to cast their eye your way. The downside is that being chosen for a look is enough to convince your fellow citizens that invading your privacy is a special case that doesn't erode their rights, plus if the government is interested in tracking you, it might be dangerous not to let them.

And of course the "inefficiency" of government only helps until they reach a certain level of technological sophistication, which doesn't leave us much time even if you assume they're ten years behind the private sector.

Re: What is Traitorware?

#38

Post by nickpinkston »

nickpinkston wrote: post #11
baud wrote: post #4

My first thought was this scenario: Company A with software X. Employees from Company A defect to Company B and "recreate" software X. Hence Traitorware! Have to start clicking before thinking. But getting on track with topic, we could also consider cookies a somewhat primitive form of Traitorware...

Cookies are being exploited more and more for just personalization by other sites using Facebook cookies or the like - not sure if this is quasi-legal or just a full loophole.

Did I say something wrong? I'd really like to know.

Re: What is Traitorware?

#39

Post by nickpinkston »

famblycat wrote: post #32
nickpinkston wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ha - I thought most people would think "trackware" were related to running, but I Googled the term and got all spyware related links - interesting...

Try "trackwear". Now you're on the trolley.

Haha - yea I guess "wear" would be a jersey, but wouldn't a pedometer be "ware" - not sure...

Re: What is Traitorware?

#40

Post by gallerytungsten »

So my question: which of you guys is going to start the comprehensive "traitorware awareness" database, and then intermediate it to the rest of us via facebook, twitter, or your own platform, so that we can be secure in our persons, house, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizure.

Where the traitors are rocks, be a river that flows around them.

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