Apple iTunes Plus Borders on Spyware

Wed May 30, 2007 10:26PM EDT

See Comments (41)

Well, I figured something like this would happen. I've written previously about Apple's gracious offer to let you pay an extra 30 cents each for tracks without DRM, but now something more sinister is afoot: When you buy those tracks, it turns out they are tagged with your iTunes user name and your email address.

The iTunes Plus store opened today to mixed reviews and lots of bugs, but it wasn't long before Ars Technica took a look under the hood of those files. And there it is: your account data, for the world to see. (Old, DRM'ed iTunes files contain account info too, but they're useless to file sharers.)

The privacy implications here are enormous. This is obviously a ploy to keep DRM-free files from ending up on file sharing networks (and to make it brainlessly easy to sue those who do share their music), but the reality is far worse than that. Clever P2P users will simply delete the data in the files and go on sharing the music. More clever ones will forge different email addresses and account names into the music, then share the files. It won't be long before the first RIAA subpoena is delivered to someone on the basis of a forged email address found in an iTunes track. Maybe it'll be you. It'll be up to you to prove you didn't download the track in question.

Sorry to be the bearer of doomsaying news, but there's just no reason that Apple needs this information embedded in music files. There's nothing to be gained from it and everything to be lost, as the last thing digital music needs is more bad press. But here's yet another reason to avoid these tracks. (In related news, no one seems to be able to tell the difference in quality vs. the old 99-cent tracks, anyway.)

Also, I'll let you know when someone delivers a utility to strip personal info from iTunes tracks. I figure it'll be a week or two at the most.

LINK: Apple hides account info in DRM-free music, too 

Comments on Apple iTunes Plus Borders on Spyware

Post a Comment

Join in the discussion. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.

  • 26 Posted by aec9823 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:46PM EDT Report Abuse

    Just another reason I will NEVER buy or use an iPOD..there are far too many spyware programs out here already, and what's being done to curtail this illegal habit? NOTHING! If I sent MY version of spyware to Apple, I'll bet the feds will be knocking on my door with questions about theft, IP violations and more, but when we the people scream the same thing, it falls on deaf ears. DO the right thing and STOP buying anything that has or uses spyware, no matter what it is...then once the $$ turn into vapor, MAYBE big business will finally get the message! Or...all affected people file a huge class action suit to halt this destructive practice once and for all. Hit them where the RIAA hits us..in the bank account! And while we're at it..take out the RIAA as well. I guess I'm from the old school...once you PAID for something, it becomes YOUR PROPERTY, no different than buiying a house or car or any tangible item. Once you affix a price tag to something, you LOSE control of that item, straight forward and simple! Maybe the next time I sell a house, I'll simply create a licensing scheme, so I can dictate how the house is used even after I sell it...sounds good to me, after all, it works for the RIAA and Apple, or should I say Crapple.

  • 27 Posted by mpmikemp on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:27PM EDT Report Abuse

    In the sixties, the surpreme court ruled that cassette tape recorders are legal for personal use and that any individual could download anything that has been played on the air (Radio) for personal use. So songs on the internet have been on the (radio) and The internet is the same - downloads should be covered by that decision as long as you are not giving your downloads to others - file sharing - why should anyone file share when everyone can legally download for personal use. If you want a copy, go download it for yourself. Simple - easy - and legal according to the supreme court. So now, they want to ban internet radio and they can't as we have sirius and other satellite radio and radio on cable TV, etc. They think that if they ban internet radio, they circumvent the supreme court ruling......? They don't. It was on the radio and thus I can record it for my own use. Decision made and has held since the 60's.

  • 28 Posted by pumalover34 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:22PM EDT Report Abuse

    Wow i cant believe that itunes would ever do that to its customers. thats crazy.

  • 29 Posted by duncanvw on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:50PM EDT Report Abuse

    This is another reason why, after 15 years and tens of thousands of dollars, I'm divorcing myself from apple products. Too much butt-kissing to record labels who don't understand the technology. Apple chose to align itself with corporations and attorneys rather than users, and that significant change caused me to give up on them.

  • 30 Posted by richardlwells on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:40PM EDT Report Abuse

    Spyware does in fact send data back to someone, hence it's clever name. Your iTunes username and email address are simply informational tags in the music files. Nowhere do I see a compelling argument to prove how iTunes Plus borders on spyware. In fact, after clicking on the link provided and reading the article at arstechnica.com it seems that these tags are not currently used by iTunes at all, because "Apple's current privacy policy does not appear to allow for this." If we were to liberally apply the term spyware to this situation, then wouldn't meta data and other tags also be spyware? While these may not be providing others with your username and email address, is that information really that important to keep secret? It's not your social security number or other sensitive personal data. So I fail to see how the privacy implications are enormous. After all your information sits on your own devices, unless you unethically distribute someone else's intellectual property. Apple is simply trying to provide it's customers with a way to use the music they purchase for their own personal use without being restricted to just 3 to 5 devices. Has anyone else even tried to legally buck the system for it's customer's? No. Journalist ethics should have influenced the author to research in more depth and to properly title this article.

  • 31 Posted by toyguy75 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:18PM EDT Report Abuse

    Screw iTunes. Why pay when there are hundreds of P2P networks still out there? .99 cents? What a RIP OFF. Apple and iTunes are like the communists of the computer world. As long as there is a file share program that can supply me with what I want for free? I won't be doing anything with iTunes but "Changing all the information" in those files to suit my needs. Tired of paying for your music? Check out download.com and enter Music and take a look! They are bigger than iTunes.

  • 32 Posted by j4f0 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:26PM EDT Report Abuse

    Oh please, they have to do something to make people accountable and have you seen the DRM for yahoo and the other online music providers! I started using itunes because they did the DRM free stuff. Now I use my songs on my PSP and my cell phone wich is great. The people who are going do illegal stuff already know how to strip that kind of info so whats the big deal.

  • 33 Posted by jimandjanetstern on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:35PM EDT Report Abuse

    Boycott APPLE!!! Bill Gates was recently reduced form first to second richest man in the world. This is an outrage. To help him we must boycott everything Apple, even the Beatles. Microsoft would never charge us more and then steal our personal information without our knowledge. Oh wait, in the Microsoft License Agreement Paragraph XXI, subparagraph G, Line 114.2.07.16a says they will...nevermind.

  • 34 Posted by aj_bz on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:48PM EDT Report Abuse

    i Feel Betrayed by Itunes, i really dont trust the itunes people anymore ever since i bought Stings song moon over bourbon street and it having skipped it areas in the song and among other songs.

  • 35 Posted by raysbatra on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    that's very interesting...I'm not going to use those probably

  • 36 Posted by droolberry on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:48PM EDT Report Abuse

    I own a dinosaur IBM compatible 10g I pod and will proly continue using it, I find it a more convenient way to carry my music. For many years I have traveled with a couple CD cases, Day pack, carry on and my luggage, I have lost more music than is in my pod… my thoughts.... Since I started using this nifty little toy. I have often wondered, how much are my preferences worth to the Corporate Industry....? If I had the worlds tastes in Music, Videos, Books, and Games, catalogued by 'age, race, location, financial status, ect, ect, ect, in a nice little package for sale to the highest bidder...? When apple I-Store takes so long to load, is my data flying away at light speed for sale...? Are we at identity risk...? Is apple I-store just another DB waiting to be infiltrated......!

  • 37 Posted by lonely_one_65 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    I wish I had read this article before I purchased a iTunes Plus single (my first and last) this evening. But,after I read it,I went and deleted every Plus album/single that was in my shopping cart. Now I'm going to be worried about the info that is on the one song I did buy.

  • 38 Posted by bunnyhoptwelve on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:15PM EDT Report Abuse

    You can't have it both ways people. If we don't pay for intectual property, we can't expect much in return.

  • 39 Posted by jaycee9999999 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:29PM EDT Report Abuse

    For those of you ----- ing about the title, and how it really doesn't apply to this, don't blame the author for it, it's the editors that choose what title to give an article, but I would agree, his editors are pretty stupid, I have seen several titles that just don't belong with the article.

  • 40 Posted by a_bliss on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:00PM EDT Report Abuse

    This article is worthless and your ploy for more press by calling it spyware is weak. This is not software that reports back to Apple or anyone else, jsut some data in the file that dosent show up unless you put it out there anyway... Stop hyping something that is a non issue.

  • 41 Posted by dandelionpublishing on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:35PM EDT Report Abuse

    An Apple a day.......remember that. Give it up.....you can't distroy the Apple...remember?

More Posts: First Prev 1 2 3 Next Last

Post a Comment

Sign In to Post a Comment

My Tech

Please enable your browser's cookies to activate the My Tech column.

Also on Yahoo! Tech

Computers Home Office Wi-Fi & Networking Phones & PDAs Cameras & Camcorders TV & Home Theater Portable Audio
 

Site Map | Tour | Subscribe to Yahoo! Tech

Question and Answer content at Yahoo! Tech is written by Yahoo! users at Yahoo! Answers. Yahoo! does not evaluate or guarantee the accuracy of any Yahoo! Answers content. For more information, read the Full Disclaimer.

Opinions expressed by the Advisors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Yahoo! Inc. Yahoo! receives no compensation from any manufacturer or distributor nor does it compensate any Advisor for the coverage of any product or service in any Advisor's content.