Our Lord and Savior GabeN responds to the VAC updates

[Jrjy3]

Yes, and they have to look through your history to check if you have been to these sites.

Though the history is being looked through, it's an automated process. They aren't hiring individual workers to look through your porn and anime websites to find one URL that you visited. I have not seen anywhere the fact that they store your history and I also haven't seen anything that says they share the history with any 3rd party. If either of these things were true, I wouldn't accept this as much as I do now. In regards to technology, you just have to know that everything you do can be and most likely is being tracked. 

[LAwLz]

Though the history is being looked through, it's an automated process. They aren't hiring individual workers to look through your porn and anime websites to find one URL that you visited. I have not seen anywhere the fact that they store your history and I also haven't seen anything that says they share the history with any 3rd party. If either of these things were true, I wouldn't accept this as much as I do now. In regards to technology, you just have to know that everything you do can be and most likely is being tracked. 

Oh the good only "other people are doing it too" argument. Can we please stop using that? It's an idiotic argument. "It's automatic" doesn't make it OK either. The data harvesting from the NSA is automated and that's not OK. Some hypothetical kill drones that attacks innocent people would not be OK either, even though it is automated. It being automated is not an excuse, at all.

OK, they haven't said they share it with third parties. They didn't inform anyone that they gathered it to begin with. Neither did the NSA.

 

Anyway apparently it was only active for 13 days, and is not longer active, so at least Valve corrected this horrible idea. They have regained some of my respect.

[LordGarth6]

Thy steam sell come 

Thy wallet come 

On PC as it is in my hard drive 

Give us this sell and forgive us of being broke 

In thy Gaben, Thy Steam and the holy 4chan

 

Shall game

shall game

[digitalheadless]

Let's not forget that the real threat to us is NSA not Valve...

 

I like Valve and I think they're doing it for good not for bad...

 

Again I'm totally against spying and stuff like that...But come on guys It's Valve and If they were to use for bad things did you think they'd take the time to actually explain what it is with it....

 

Anyway like He said: "you have to make the call if we are trustworthy" .

[Jrjy3]

Oh the good only "other people are doing it too" argument. Can we please stop using that? It's an idiotic argument. "It's automatic" doesn't make it OK either. The data harvesting from the NSA is automated and that's not OK. Some hypothetical kill drones that attacks innocent people would not be OK either, even though it is automated. It being automated is not an excuse, at all.

OK, they haven't said they share it with third parties. They didn't inform anyone that they gathered it to begin with. Neither did the NSA.

 

Anyway apparently it was only active for 13 days, and is not longer active, so at least Valve corrected this horrible idea. They have regained some of my respect.

 

The reason I made the point that it is automated is because no human is going to see your history. After they analyze the data, the data isn't stored anywhere. It is deleted after that. If it were humans going through the data and they see a website that's called "Child Porn", then they would have to report that for legal reasons. If it's a machine doing it, it won't report that. I'm just using that as an example, but you get the point. 

 

I don't understand why you think the "other people are doing it too" is an invalid argument. If you assume that every single thing you do with technology can be seen by anybody, and you act accordingly, everything should be ok. One of my teachers thought that she didn't have much personal information on the internet, so I proved her wrong. I found her cell phone number, home phone number, and address with a quick google search. This means that many companies are doing it, and most of your personal information is probably already out there somewhere, accessible to the public. You should come up with some good reasons as to why it's an "idiotic argument" instead of just saying it's idiotic. You have no points to back up your claim right now.

 

And just so you know, I'm not trying to be hostile and say that my opinion is completely correct. That's what the YouTube comments are for. I'm trying to have an intelligent discussion and try to learn more about the view of someone who has a different opinion than me. 

[LimpCurve]

glad I have built a reputation. I wonder what everyone thinks of me...*ponders*

I think of you as... "unique!" :3

[LAwLz]

The reason I made the point that it is automated is because no human is going to see your history. After they analyze the data, the data isn't stored anywhere. It is deleted after that. If it were humans going through the data and they see a website that's called "Child Porn", then they would have to report that for legal reasons. If it's a machine doing it, it won't report that. I'm just using that as an example, but you get the point.

How do you know it's not stored anywhere? You are making a lot of assumptions in favor of Valve.

 

 

I don't understand why you think the "other people are doing it too" is an invalid argument. If you assume that every single thing you do with technology can be seen by anybody, and you act accordingly, everything should be ok. One of my teachers thought that she didn't have much personal information on the internet, so I proved her wrong. I found her cell phone number, home phone number, and address with a quick google search. This means that many companies are doing it, and most of your personal information is probably already out there somewhere, accessible to the public. You should come up with some good reasons as to why it's an "idiotic argument" instead of just saying it's idiotic. You have no points to back up your claim right now.

It is an invalid argument because it doesn't justify their actions. It's just a red herring. A lot of people use illegal drugs like cocaine. That does not mean that it is OK to do so just because "other people are doing it too!". A lot of people abuse their partner, but that does not mean it is OK to do it. Of course I am not saying that what Valve was doing is anywhere near as bad as those examples, but I am using them to point out that the whole "other companies are doing it too" argument is a logical fallacy.

I am OK with companies harvesting my data, if they are open about it and I am the one giving them the data. Valve secretly pushing out malware that can look up all servers I have contacted in the last 24 hours is not OK, and I am very glad they removed it.

[Critical Jeff]

So all the hackers know to not goto their hacking sites with just any old browser

[Jrjy3]

It is an invalid argument because it doesn't justify their actions. It's just a red herring. A lot of people use illegal drugs like cocaine. That does not mean that it is OK to do so just because "other people are doing it too!". A lot of people abuse their partner, but that does not mean it is OK to do it. Of course I am not saying that what Valve was doing is anywhere near as bad as those examples, but I am using them to point out that the whole "other companies are doing it too" argument is a logical fallacy.

 

I think you may be misunderstanding my point. What I am saying about this is that most of your data is already accessible to anybody who knows your name. All you they have to do is poke around a little bit on the internet and they will find it. I know this doesn't make it right for companies to collect the data, but they would have been able to access it anyways. 

[Abakan]

Everything is fine, I hope everyone reads up on it and understands what it does. Honestly even the OP here kind of misleads everyone, it doesn't at all look at your browser history, per se, it's merely watching for specific traffic from your PC, back to a very specific IP/Server; for goddamn good reason too. These cheaters would have...would have WON by now if not for companies like Valve.

 

I don't trust them blindly, but I knew not to even bother to post early on, I knew it would turn out fine; well I hoped:) And it's just fine. I'm glad 'most' of you agree.

 

Oh btw how is everyone, been away a long while.

[Abakan]

Oh the good only "other people are doing it too" argument. Can we please stop using that? It's an idiotic argument. "It's automatic" doesn't make it OK either. The data harvesting from the NSA is automated and that's not OK. Some hypothetical kill drones that attacks innocent people would not be OK either, even though it is automated. It being automated is not an excuse, at all.

OK, they haven't said they share it with third parties. They didn't inform anyone that they gathered it to begin with. Neither did the NSA.

 

Anyway apparently it was only active for 13 days, and is not longer active, so at least Valve corrected this horrible idea. They have regained some of my respect.

 

I'm sorry and I don't even want to debate it, especially not on 'this' forum (a bit young and immature ppl here) but I think you may need to look over how the technology works, and what it actually snooped. My head hurts....

 

Dbl post uhg

[LAwLz]

I'm sorry and I don't even want to debate it, especially not on 'this' forum (a bit young and immature ppl here) but I think you may need to look over how the technology works, and what it actually snooped. My head hurts....

 

Dbl post uhg

Actually it's the other way around. You don't know what it does, and you should look into it.

Do you know what your DNS cache (what the VAC went through) is for and what it contains? It contains all the domain names and the IP address of all domains you have accessed the last 24 hours. VAC went through every single address you have been to (not only your browser history, but also what other programs such as Skype and Origin accessed).

 

I have no idea where you got the "it's merely watching for specific traffic from your PC, back to a very specific IP/Server" from, because I have no idea how you drew that conclusion.

It went through your DNS cache (yes, all domains your PC has looked up in the last 24 hours), if it found a match for a specific domain it sent that to Valve.

[Abakan]

I don't actually disagree, entirely, but you're painting it the wrong way and scaring everyone for no good reason. There isn't any need to get technical, especially here being mindful of the younger nature of the users(I learned this the first day I visited this forum). I realize what you say, but if you're actually trying to convince people it's any more complicated than I said, you wish to scare everyone into believing Valve are NSA evil and everyone should kill it with fire. Again, my head hurts. It's all in the subreddit, stop fear mongering. And yes, it 'does', 'look', at them, it's not formatting it and sending it to your family, coworkers, employers, etc etc. Just, uhg.. There's a difference between 'looking', in this case I believe fairly and absolutely justified, and logging it all for later use of some kind; we can't actually believe Valve would do that, and from the looks of things that would be an outrageous accusation.

[coder-guy22296]

I trust Gabe N : " I don't think so, but you have to make the call if we are trustworthy. We try really hard to earn and keep your trust."

he encourages people to think

[coder-guy22296]

My question is if Gaben came into your house dropped his pants and said "Do the honors boy" would you do it?

What is this world coming too. *sad sigh for humanity*

[LAwLz]

I don't actually disagree, entirely, but you're painting it the wrong way and scaring everyone for no good reason. There isn't any need to get technical, especially here being mindful of the younger nature of the users(I learned this the first day I visited this forum). I realize what you say, but if you're actually trying to convince people it's any more complicated than I said, you wish to scare everyone into believing Valve are NSA evil and everyone should kill it with fire. Again, my head hurts. It's all in the subreddit, stop fear mongering. And yes, it 'does', 'look', at them, it's not formatting it and sending it to your family, coworkers, employers, etc etc. Just, uhg.. There's a difference between 'looking', in this case I believe fairly and absolutely justified, and logging it all for later use of some kind; we can't actually believe Valve would do that, and from the looks of things that would be an outrageous accusation.

It's nice that you recognize that you were wrong in your previous statement when you said it didn't look at your browser history, because that's precisely what it was designed to do (and also other programs than your browser).

I am not really trying to spread fear. I am just saying exactly like it is, and then letting people decide how they want to react. You on the other hand, is trying to defend Valve by flat out lying (intentionally or unintentionally) to people.

Right now you are just backpedaling and trying to make a strawman argument.

 

Apparently Valve removed the DNS snooping so there is no reason to fear anymore.

It was an idiotic way of looking for cheaters to begin with. Having visited a website does not prove or disprove that you're a cheater.

[beebskadoo]

I think of you as... "unique!" :3

hope that's a good thing lol

[nathanhd123]

In GabeN we trust.

[LimpCurve]

hope that's a good thing lol

The world may never know!!!

[Abakan]

It's nice that you recognize that you were wrong in your previous statement when you said it didn't look at your browser history, because that's precisely what it was designed to do (and also other programs than your browser).

I am not really trying to spread fear. I am just saying exactly like it is, and then letting people decide how they want to react. You on the other hand, is trying to defend Valve by flat out lying (intentionally or unintentionally) to people.

Right now you are just backpedaling and trying to make a strawman argument.

 

Apparently Valve removed the DNS snooping so there is no reason to fear anymore.

It was an idiotic way of looking for cheaters to begin with. Having visited a website does not prove or disprove that you're a cheater.

 

Maybe I generalized a bit but my statement isn't wrong, just oversimplified. I absolutely don't like getting technical here. But really, and I don't wish to have this 1-1 debate on a public forum, but the way you're advertising your ego is so obvious and..  abrasive. Anyway: I'll admit I over-simplified it and left details out, but for good reason, the same reason Valve did so, because of exactly what happened here and all over the internet. I knew what it was. I don't want to install fear in my fellow gamers and techies just to prove a point and save-face my technical know-how. Btw I run the entire network at my university, we have set records for up-time and security, I know what's up... but that's all I'll say and I didn't want to, really, but I think people here should see what I meant and understand why I left out details and kind of outlined Valve's actions the way I did; maybe not absolutely true but I'm sure I left a better lasting impression of what happened than, others..

 

Anyway it's over now and we'll all watch Valve and see where this all ends up.

[Jrjy3]

I'm sorry and I don't even want to debate it, especially not on 'this' forum (a bit young and immature ppl here) 

 

There isn't any need to get technical, especially here being mindful of the younger nature of the users(I learned this the first day I visited this forum). 

 

Why do you have to generalize everybody on this forum like that? That's one of the great things about a public forum, you get to share knowledge and learn from others. If people didn't come to a forum to learn/share information, then there would be no point to a forum at all. You don't have to get into such detail that it's only esoteric knowledge, but you can use tech-savvy language at expect people to know it. Besides, if you do that, then people will be more likely to trust your knowledge, whether right or wrong, because you would appear to know what's up. 

 

One of the main reasons this forum exists is so people can learn about technology. Don't be afraid to use big words and use names of things that people might not know. If they're smart, they can go look it up for themselves and learn something. 

 

I'm not trying to degrade or insult you, I'm just saying that if you truly are what you say you are (the network admin for a university), then this forum would benefit from you.

[Abakan]

The generalizing was only for this topic and for very specific reasons, but point taken, through and through; I need time here to adjust to the atmosphere.