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03-28-2010, 02:24 PM
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430 posts, read 881,682 times
Reputation: 72
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First of all, I've tried to look up for a Law forum here (city-data.com) to no avail and this forum seems the closest... hence, post it here, hope some lawyers hang on there...
Do you think the following text is adequate to address privacy issue during software installation that would send a simple status code from the user's computer to us (software maker) during installation (so that we would know it has been successfully installed or not) and of course we should ask permission first?
"
The installation involves three processes:
(1) Extraction and Installation. Which takes several minutes.
(2) Configuration. Which takes about 2 minutes. Do not mistake it as screen freezing.
(3) Launch IE browser with the Knowledge NoteBook Software.
Click on the Install button to start the process and by doing that you have given XYZ LLC (VWA) permission to send a notification from your computer to VWA to indicate installation status upon its completion.
"
Thank you for your time.
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03-28-2010, 03:22 PM
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Location: 3rd rock from the sun
3,857 posts, read 6,704,251 times
Reputation: 1817
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I see no mention of privacy issues above.
IMHO a software privacy policy should include:
- what information is collected? how it is used? is it shared with other parties? (ie: email addresses, purchasers' personal info, IP addresses, cookies...),
- does the app. phone home?
- does the app. include or install any spyware, adware, viruses, or third party software?
- uninstall instructions
-what does a 2 minute configuration do? Does it get it's claws into my registry or install nasty or undisclosed stuff on my PC?
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03-28-2010, 05:10 PM
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430 posts, read 881,682 times
Reputation: 72
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Gary,
First, thanks for the follow-up. And a quick public statement, many of my Internet postings in recent years have been twisted by evil doers, yes evil doers. This OP did not have "hope some lawyers hang on there...", it was "hope some lawyers hang out here..." and yes, I use simple password. And I say, f??? all those scumbags, not born of human mothers!
Back to the topic.
The software does not, nor would it capture user's private information including email addresses, personal info (it does not ask for these sort of private info and it wouldn't have this sort of info).
IP addresses: yes, it is able to know but it won't capture it for doing so would be a violation.
Phone home? Why? We're talking funny here...
cookies... Yes, it's a way to keep track of Trial Software's Days of Use status but it does not have any sensitive data in it, so, anyone who knows how cookies work would fully understand it's not an enemy per se but rather a friend. Now, if some stupid software developer ask a user for SSN and save it as a cookie then we got a problem here. Hope you understand what I'm saying here.
or install any spyware, adware, viruses,
Only scumbags and "companies" in the same category would do that!
or third party software?
Yes, and it is disclosed at my company website in the Support section. FYI, modern software is complicated, many uses components from the open source community.
Don
Chunshen Li
Roanoke, VA
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03-28-2010, 05:38 PM
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Location: 3rd rock from the sun
3,857 posts, read 6,704,251 times
Reputation: 1817
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By phone home I mean does it occasionally check in with your server - like RealPlayer that keeps checking for updates. I was not implying that you were a nogoodnik but that these are the types of anwers that I look for in a privacy policy. It can be covered with a statement like "100% spyware free. Does not contain any spyware, adware, viruses, or third party software."
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03-28-2010, 06:53 PM
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430 posts, read 881,682 times
Reputation: 72
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Sorry, Gary, misunderstanding on my part.
Regarding "phone home"
Yes, to some degree, that is, if the user's computer is connected to the Internet it would provide direct link to Help and Tutorials etc. on the software's website for currency.
Also, it would periodically send sort of "OK" note back to us so that we know that the copy is running fine at the user end (2 or 3 times within 30 days).
And yes, I do like your notion of having a privacy policy statement on the website and possibly bundle it with the license agreement? Oh man, it's important and I've neglected, thank you.
Don
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03-29-2010, 04:31 PM
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430 posts, read 881,682 times
Reputation: 72
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Gary and other attorneys,
Does the following Privacy Policy statement suffice? <br/>
(it's a web URL, a link, but city_data call it "download", oh well)
Download (http://www.knowledgenotebook.com/Privacy_policy.html - broken link)
Many thanks.
Don
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