Reminder about Video Game Security

[Norkali]

I'd expect a healthy percentage of us IC'maggers play video games online....whether it be Xbox, PS, or PC. This is just a little reminder to keep your lips shut, even when online. I've heard many a gamer talking about their 'x-light set-ups that are about to come down' or their 'boy who's got the hook-up' or whatever...

People on the Xbox had to agree to an updated Terms of Service today...had this sent to me by a buddy who was trippin' on it (lol)...I'm sure it's been this way, but actually reading it kinda puts in a new light:

Privacy.
In order to operate and provide the Service, we collect certain information about you. We use and protect that information as described in the Microsoft Online Privacy Notice (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=81184, and its successors). In particular, we may access or disclose information about you, including the content of your communications, in order to: (a) comply with the law or respond to lawful requests or legal process; (b) protect the rights or property of Microsoft, our partners, or our customers, including the enforcement of our agreements or policies governing your use of the Service; or (c) act on a good faith belief that such access or disclosure is necessary to protect the personal safety of Microsoft employees, customers, or the public.

Personal information collected by Microsoft may be stored and processed in the United States or any other country or region in which Microsoft or its affiliates, subsidiaries, or service providers maintain facilities. You consent to any such transfer of information outside of your country or region. Microsoft abides by the safe harbor framework as set forth by the U.S. Department of Commerce regarding the collection, use, and retention of data from the European Union, European Economic Area and Switzerland.
We may use technology or other means to protect the Service, protect our customers, or stop you from breaching this contract. These means may include, for example, filtering to stop spam or increase security. These means may hinder or break your use of the Service.

To provide you the Service and improve the Service and Authorized Devices, we may collect certain information about Service performance, your Authorized Device, and your Service and Authorized Device use. We may automatically upload this information from your Authorized Device. Such data may include console hardware and operating performance data, unique identifiers on game discs, network performance, and Service quality data. In the event you are using the console with Kinect, we may also collect data about the way in which you interact with the console and the Service to improve Microsoft products and services. Any software or hardware errors, which may occur while you are connected to the Service or offline, may be uploaded and reported. All such data may be stored with the console’s unique identifier, and may be associated with other personally identifiable information. You may read about this data collection in more detail in the Microsoft Online Privacy Notice at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=81184.
Additionally, to evaluate and enable the features and functions of the Service, such as leaderboards, live-hosted gameplay, achievements, tournaments, and gamer profile sharing, you grant Microsoft and each of our affiliates, resellers, distributors, service providers, partners, and/or suppliers (each, a "Microsoft party"), permission to use, track, store, copy, distribute, broadcast, transmit, publicly display and perform, and reproduce your game scores, your game play sessions, your presence on the Service, the time that you spend on or within particular portions of the Service, portions of the Service that are displayed on your monitor or screen and the duration of that display, rankings, statistics, gamer profiles, avatars, content that you may submit, and other usage information with or without attribution to you, your gamertag, or avatar and without notice or compensation to you of any kind. To avoid any confusion, we have the right to make information pertaining to your use of, and gameplay on, Xbox LIVE available through Games for Windows LIVE, and vice versa.

You should not expect any level of privacy concerning your use of the live communication features (for example, voice chat, video and communications in live-hosted gameplay sessions) offered through the Service. These communications may be monitored; however, we cannot monitor the entire Service and make no attempt to do so. You understand that these communications can be recorded and used by others, and communications in live-hosted gameplay sessions may be broadcast to others. Some games may utilize game managers and hosts. Game managers and hosts are not authorized Microsoft spokespersons, and their views do not necessarily reflect those of Microsoft. We do not routinely monitor your use of the communication features of the Service. However, to the maximum extent permitted by law, we may monitor your communications and may disclose information about you as set forth in this Section 9.

The Kinect part is interesting....who's to say Microsoft won't monitor 'passively' and log who is in your home and for how long doing what? Granted, this is a video game in the living room...but I bet the CIA/NSA could cook up some very interesting uses for Kinect set-ups if they wanted to....*tin foil hat zone* lol

Stay safe people!

 

[Graham Purwatt]

good call sir.

 

[RewTheJew]

Appreciate the heads up. I never read those things, but it would be smart to start.

 

[RoachClip]

I had to d/l the new policy yesturday myself and it took a few minutes but Norkali is right on and it's fucked up because of me calling peeps names and going off on assholes my option to send a message to other players is in black and blocked so now I really have to watch my back & security.

I guess telling to many peeps to fuck off got my yearly subscription to communicate to others blocked other then still being able to send a friend request.

These days I can bet people will have a gps system set up in their home and even now who knows what's in our cable black boxes we use to watch cable tv???

 

[Guest3498]

If only my xbox didn't have the red ring of death for the 5th time!!!!! What a solid console the 360 is. I haven't played video games in months simply because I'm sick of paying $100 every couple of months to get a refurbished one...

In all seriousness, good thinking norkali.

 

[kigy]

If only my xbox didn't have the red ring of death for the 5th time!!!!! What a solid console the 360 is. I haven't played video games in months simply because I'm sick of paying $100 every couple of months to get a refurbished one...

In all seriousness, good thinking norkali.

I did that same shit a couple times. Then I bought a new one for $200 that came with a warranty and it hasnt happened since. I think when that red ring shit came out everyone sold their xboxes and got new ones and everyone that buys the used machines get the shitty end of the stick...

 

[Guest3498]

I've been thinking about doing just that and getting one of those shiny new black ones. I don't play games all that much anymore but it's definitely nice to have around for kicks.

 

[Graham Purwatt]

vado,if you're handy the rrod is an easy fix,the problem is the clamps they used to hold down the heatsinks.look on youtube and you'll find a lot of tutorials on it.i've fixed a few that way,only about 3 bucks in washers and screws,all that said,i still love my ps3 more than my 360

 

[RoachClip]

I had the red ring of death and paid the $100.00 to receive the box and send it in and get a used one and so far so good but all in all it always happens to break down only days after the warranty expires go figure.

a new system is worth paying the $200.00 but it's worth paying the $100.00 because they give you a year warranty plus 2 xtra months of gold card online so it's worth it for me I'm a cheap vato! what can I say

 

[Lapides]

I got a Kinect because it is the coolest device I have ever played with. I don't do anything illegal, and if I did, I would make sure not to do it in front of the Kinect with it turned on or even plugged in for that matter.

Unless one day they consider fucking my girl on the living room couch illegal, then I've got nothing to be paranoid or worried about.

 

[Darth Fader]

If only my xbox didn't have the red ring of death for the 5th time!!!!! What a solid console the 360 is. I haven't played video games in months simply because I'm sick of paying $100 every couple of months to get a refurbished one...

In all seriousness, good thinking norkali.

This guy was an army avionics repairman. Fixed mine like a charm, super quick turnaround, and surprisingly inexpensive.

 

[Darth Fader]

vado,if you're handy the rrod is an easy fix,the problem is the clamps they used to hold down the heatsinks.look on youtube and you'll find a lot of tutorials on it.i've fixed a few that way,only about 3 bucks in washers and screws,all that said,i still love my ps3 more than my 360

watch this guys vids ( I linked to it above) & he'll show you why that's a bad idea & how to fix it correctly. btw he charged $40 to fix mine the right way. Awesome.

 

[bromhexine]

microsoft is a big company they wouldnt risk going over the line to spy into your room through the camera they'd be sued and be put out of business. as usual the only real people that need to worry are the pirates and the online harassers. btw dont get a kinect if you dont have a giant tv!

 

[Norkali]

microsoft is a big company they wouldnt risk going over the line to spy into your room through the camera they'd be sued and be put out of business. as usual the only real people that need to worry are the pirates and the online harassers. btw dont get a kinect if you dont have a giant tv!

While I mentioned they whole Kinect 'spy' thing mostly as a joke, you may want to do some research and see if you still believe that...

Hepting vs. AT&T

 

[bromhexine]

not a whole lot you can do if the nsa is intersted in you. got windows and a microphone set up? they can get into that anytime they want. cell phones? they can activate and listen in any time. emails, im's you get the picture.. they want in they can find a way which is why its best to not worry about it and keep your nose clean.

 

[Yggdrasil]

eerie man