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I am ok with Adobe wanted to protect their license – so the activation is a pain in the ass with frequent rebuilders (me) but understandable. What I want to know is what information EXACTLY Adobe is writing/reading to/from my boot sector and what information Adobe is sending from my computer to Adobe’s servers. I will be setting up my packet sniffer to see for myself – but I think it’s total crap if Adobe starts re-impliment call-to-home spyware. Anyone notice this? AT
Alex: If Adobe were foolish enough to do this in today’s more sophisticated and litigious society, the charges would be swift, the lawsuits furious, and the management would join the crew at Inron. Let us hope that are not that stupid. OTOH, there is nothing like a public pillory to deter other would-be miscreants.
Here’s some discussion relating to the above.
Stephanie Schaefer "Macromedia MX Product Activation" 11/13/03 3:12pm </cgi-bin/webx?14/381>
What I want to know is what information EXACTLY Adobe is writing/reading to/from my boot sector
You’ll never find out unless you become a Macrovision customer, if then. The activation process creates a machine hash – a number and it’s stored in that undocumented sector (not the boot sector) of the hard drive. Apparently, knowing what is written there isn’t for public consumption.
I’m not commenting on the righteousness of the issue, just that I don’t know that this information is, or ever will be disclosed.
Thanks for the quick reply. I did indeed see that other thread – but I am still concerned about what information Adobe is collecting from me, How it is used, stored and with whom it is shared. For example, why is my software attempting to contact the server when I am loading a new plugin?
Once activated, the activation code does not try and connect again (unless it detects that re-activation is required). There are other parts of the program that look for local services (Version Cue) even when turned off (yeah, I know – I’m upset about it as well). They don’t need access either and you can safely refuse the connection.
As for the info, from the Activation FAQ:
Adobe’s activation system does not collect, transmit, or use any personal information, including the customer’s hardware configuration.
-Scott
just wondering why PS CS still tries to connect to version cue if i only have ps cs installed?? my zonealarm detects it everytime i launch ps…, or it just have to be in this way? can i turn off it? or wait for next patch~~
/ed
Ed,
Click on the alert in ZA and "Add to Trusted"
