Comments on: Crackdown on Third Party Viewer Encrypted IMs?

By: Sinden Lucks

Sinden Lucks — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:53:45 +0000

Linden doesn’t just spy on people, if they don’t like what your doing they can shrink you to the size of a pea, throw you in an endless boxed loop, and completely control your client. To the point that you cannot even do anything except logout. I’ve been saying this for years and no one wants to believe it. Play a serious game in SL and see where it lands you. They can control every aspect of your client. Take a snapshot of all of your client buttons greyed out and inoperable when it happens. Spying on IM’s and chat records is the least of what Linden has allowed and done. Then call them on the phone and get the arrogant ass that tells you to “prove it”.

Try turning in 50 to 100 abuse reports when the virtual land scammer rips you off for a grand and see what happens. Linden allows it and supports the concept that they are not responsible when someone rips another off in-world. And for any amount.

If people knew the truth, they most likely wouldn’t appreciate Linden’s way of doing things, and most certainly would have a better understanding of their server/client and how it operates.

By: JustMe

JustMe — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 09:25:50 +0000

BamBam said “I can understand the copying content being an issue, even data collection, but I have a problem with them telling us no chat encryption.”

I certainly agree with that. But what I’m wondering is why the Herald article singles out the least important item .. encrypted IMs, and ignores the copying and data collection issue? We can always do something about chat (use Skype, other chat/IM products, etc), but we have no protection against content theft or data collection. Isn’t THAT what the Herald should be reporting on rather than the ability of LL to read our cybersex sessions ?

By: Jumpman Lane

Jumpman Lane — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 22:18:53 +0000

they sure read my ims lmao

By: hiddenbehindtheglass

hiddenbehindtheglass — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:44:56 +0000

Lets put it this way, i think LL loves the idea of being able to spy on people’s chats. simply put dont say anything inworld that you wouldnt say on TV. if you are going to chat with your friends or family. use a IM tool like yahoo or skype atlest you know your not being spied on.

Also the SL veiwer returns data back to LL. such as your Hardware specs, your Harddrive ID and your OS. as well as this Linden Lab loves to collect data. so much so that they emoplyee someone to do this for them.

By: Sinden Lucks

Sinden Lucks — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 01:43:18 +0000

Linden is continually digging their own grave. I’ve never seen a company so mismanaged in my life. No visual perception, no innovation, no way to produce. All the real work is done out side of Second Life. The real innovations are always done “on the outside”. And what does Linden continue to do? Kick the open model in the teeth. The ones producing the next works. This is what proprietary software companies do. They love the idea of having free labor and donations of effort, but seldom comply with what it means to be open to such innovations. It’s their own demise, and everyone is witnessing it.

I’ve completely pulled out of SL and moved to opensimulator. Two years now. Far less lag, far better for those that prefer fast paced continued effort and an ever improving platform. All with open minds, and the talent to make it happen. And where does it come from? Open source collaboration where the best software in the world happens. Certainly doesn’t happen at Linden Lab.

By: Icarus Ghost

Icarus Ghost — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 02:21:02 +0000

Would Emerald be allowed to integrate a gChat client with OTR into the viewer? Why must LL maintain the ability to read all “private” IMs?

Are they logging all of them?

Are they reading them without a court order?

By: Emperor Norton Hears a Who?

Emperor Norton Hears a Who? — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:42:22 +0000

‘collecting user data without clear disclosure’ combined with “Emerald being full of Devs who also created Cryolife and copybot”
Interesting combination of concerns. Wasn’t copybot the one with the secret back door and keystroke logging?

By: Atra Lupis

Atra Lupis — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:41:50 +0000

Linden Lab won’t be able to stop users from using an “unregistered” third-party client so long as the client has the features that those using them actually want.

They don’t like Encrypted IMs?

Tough luck Linden Lab.

I know several people who would rather keep the ability to complain in private and say whatever they want to, to their friends than worry even one bit about some nit-wit Linden taking action on a conversation that should remain private.

Copy Bot?

Give users a way to back up inventory and that will eliminate 99% of the need for such programs.

By: Gwyneth Llewelyn

Gwyneth Llewelyn — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:56:30 +0000

Security vs. Privacy. “1984″ fans will always go for security.

By: Obvious Schism

Obvious Schism — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 05:19:57 +0000

I can’t understand what people are saying in IMs even when they are unencrypted, so how the Lindens could make any more sense of this gobbledygook is beyond me.