kindle call home

alexxx · 06-15-2010, 05:35 AM

always investigating on the possibility of a Kindle (DX) purchase, another thought bit me.
With the celebrated backlash from the "1984" removal, I'd like to know how I can be able to control the Kindle communications with "home".
Is it possible to disable it at all? I do not like Amazon to know what I am reading, what I am highlighting and so on.

BTW I live in Italy, so I'd be in contact just by wireless.

thanks for any help

alessandro

Mike L · 06-15-2010, 07:29 AM

Keep the wireless switched off permanently and rely on a connection to a PC or Mac for loading up your library. That way, you can guarantee that Amazon can't touch your Kindle. You'll also be missing a few useful features, but none of them is essential.

alexxx · 06-15-2010, 07:59 AM

thank you Mike - though I fear I'd miss the possibility to use Wikipedia.
I just found this https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51371 thread that seemed useful, but it seems to be nonworking for the recent firmware.

alessandro

Mike L · 06-15-2010, 12:53 PM

Alexx,

The firmware mod you mentioned is specifically flagged as not working on the international version, which is the one you will have.

I take your point about Wikipedia. If I were you, I'd keep the wireless switched on for occasional uses like Wikipedia, and off the rest of the time. That's mainly to conserve battery. I wouldn't be too bothered about Amazon knowing what I'm reading.

In fact, I don't have the choice as I have the US version of the Kindle and am outside US Whispernet range.

SensualPoet · 06-15-2010, 01:21 PM

All you need to do is ensure you have a backed up copy of your Kindle purchases on a PC out of reach of Whispernet. The "1984" thing was a one-off; anyone with a back-up was fine.

The "1984" thing was also a breakdown in understanding of geography and copyright. George Orwell's books are public domain in many places, including Canada and Australia; but not in the US. The PD vendor in this case had "rights" to sell the title -- but not in the US. When the US rights holder -- fully protected as the title in the US is NOT public domain, Amazon took steps to "correct" the problem. It ended in a public relations fiasco. But no one who wants the e-book today is denied a copy.

alexxx · 06-16-2010, 02:31 AM

well, I'm not a privacy nut, but from what I saw the Kindle sends home a) what you're reading, b) what you highlight, c) your notes, d) your geographical location.

From what I read b) and c) could be disabled, but a) and d) frankly bother me a lot...

alessandro

kindlekitten · 06-16-2010, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexxx

well, I'm not a privacy nut, but from what I saw the Kindle sends home a) what you're reading, b) what you highlight, c) your notes, d) your geographical location.

From what I read b) and c) could be disabled, but a) and d) frankly bother me a lot...

alessandro

this topic has been done to death. really. Amazon is not tiptoeing through your Kindle.

Zorz · 06-17-2010, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike L

Keep the wireless switched off permanently and rely on a connection to a PC or Mac for loading up your library. That way, you can guarantee that Amazon can't touch your Kindle. You'll also be missing a few useful features, but none of them is essential.

You cannot really guarantee that even when switched off Amazon still does not connect and phone home.

neilmarr · 06-17-2010, 03:03 AM

In Italy, Alex, as in France and other non-US countries (there are quite a few, I believe), the simple answer is not to buy a Kindle. Geographical restrictions and the cover price loading on titles is enough to put me right off -- never mind the potential for intrusion. There are better options. Good luck. Neil

kindlekitten · 06-17-2010, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zorz

You cannot really guarantee that even when switched off Amazon still does not connect and phone home.

how do you figure?

Mike L · 06-17-2010, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zorz

You cannot really guarantee that even when switched off Amazon still does not connect and phone home.

Surely not. How would it communicate without the wireless feature?

bwaldron · 06-17-2010, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike L

Surely not. How would it communicate without the wireless feature?

But the wireless on/off on the K2 is a software/menu feature rather than a hardware switch as on the K1 -- so I guess Amazon could turn it on/off for a brief "call home" even if the user has it turned off.

Note that I'm not saying that they do.

kindlekitten · 06-17-2010, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwaldron

But the wireless on/off on the K2 is a software/menu feature rather than a hardware switch as on the K1 -- so I guess Amazon could turn it on/off for a brief "call home" even if the user has it turned off.

Note that I'm not saying that they do.

they would have to have a way into it to access that switch. without some sort of hard connection or wireless handshake that isn't happening

Anarel · 06-17-2010, 04:18 PM

The Kindle isn't CALLING home all your notes and highlights, they're not secretly collecting this information for nefarious purposes or doing secret work for the government.

It's for YOU, the customer. It's a service. They HAVE to know what books you have on your device, you did purchase it from them, after all, you can't expect them not to keep a record. Same thing goes with notes and highlights, they back up your notes and highlights so if something happens to your Kindle, you don't lose your notes (and your books!).

If you don't like some entity that is providing you a service has access to information like that, you might as well sell your computer and cancel your internet. Because whoever you buy that from knows where you are, how long you're on the computer, what sites you visit...... oh, and same thing with the phone and credit card companies, too.

=X= · 06-17-2010, 08:08 PM

The notes you are concerned about are a "synchronization" feature that backups your highlights, bookmarked, and notes. This data is kept in a MDP file with the same name as your eBook, with an MDP extension.

This backup only happens for books that you bought from amazon. If you wish to keep Amazon from backing up your annotations you can disable the feature by disabling the "Backup Annotations".

=X=

06-15-2010, 05:35 AM	#1
alexxx Connoisseur Posts: 68 Karma: 479602 Join Date: Aug 2006 Device: Kindle DX	kindle call home always investigating on the possibility of a Kindle (DX) purchase, another thought bit me. With the celebrated backlash from the "1984" removal, I'd like to know how I can be able to control the Kindle communications with "home". Is it possible to disable it at all? I do not like Amazon to know what I am reading, what I am highlighting and so on. BTW I live in Italy, so I'd be in contact just by wireless. thanks for any help alessandro

06-17-2010, 04:18 PM	#14
Anarel Evangelist Posts: 424 Karma: 61399 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: K1, GKDX, K3	The Kindle isn't CALLING home all your notes and highlights, they're not secretly collecting this information for nefarious purposes or doing secret work for the government. It's for YOU, the customer. It's a service. They HAVE to know what books you have on your device, you did purchase it from them, after all, you can't expect them not to keep a record. Same thing goes with notes and highlights, they back up your notes and highlights so if something happens to your Kindle, you don't lose your notes (and your books!). If you don't like some entity that is providing you a service has access to information like that, you might as well sell your computer and cancel your internet. Because whoever you buy that from knows where you are, how long you're on the computer, what sites you visit...... oh, and same thing with the phone and credit card companies, too. Last edited by Anarel; 06-17-2010 at 04:23 PM.

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06-15-2010, 07:29 AM	#2
Mike L Wizard Posts: 1,479 Karma: 3846231 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Device: Kindle 3, Samsung Galaxy	Keep the wireless switched off permanently and rely on a connection to a PC or Mac for loading up your library. That way, you can guarantee that Amazon can't touch your Kindle. You'll also be missing a few useful features, but none of them is essential.

06-15-2010, 07:59 AM	#3
alexxx Connoisseur Posts: 68 Karma: 479602 Join Date: Aug 2006 Device: Kindle DX	thank you Mike - though I fear I'd miss the possibility to use Wikipedia. I just found this https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51371 thread that seemed useful, but it seems to be nonworking for the recent firmware. alessandro

06-15-2010, 12:53 PM	#4
Mike L Wizard Posts: 1,479 Karma: 3846231 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Device: Kindle 3, Samsung Galaxy	Alexx, The firmware mod you mentioned is specifically flagged as not working on the international version, which is the one you will have. I take your point about Wikipedia. If I were you, I'd keep the wireless switched on for occasional uses like Wikipedia, and off the rest of the time. That's mainly to conserve battery. I wouldn't be too bothered about Amazon knowing what I'm reading. In fact, I don't have the choice as I have the US version of the Kindle and am outside US Whispernet range.

06-15-2010, 01:21 PM	#5
SensualPoet Wizard Posts: 2,302 Karma: 2607151 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo Aura HD, Kindle Paperwhite, Asus ZenPad 3, Kobo Glo	All you need to do is ensure you have a backed up copy of your Kindle purchases on a PC out of reach of Whispernet. The "1984" thing was a one-off; anyone with a back-up was fine. The "1984" thing was also a breakdown in understanding of geography and copyright. George Orwell's books are public domain in many places, including Canada and Australia; but not in the US. The PD vendor in this case had "rights" to sell the title -- but not in the US. When the US rights holder -- fully protected as the title in the US is NOT public domain, Amazon took steps to "correct" the problem. It ended in a public relations fiasco. But no one who wants the e-book today is denied a copy.

06-16-2010, 02:31 AM	#6
alexxx Connoisseur Posts: 68 Karma: 479602 Join Date: Aug 2006 Device: Kindle DX	well, I'm not a privacy nut, but from what I saw the Kindle sends home a) what you're reading, b) what you highlight, c) your notes, d) your geographical location. From what I read b) and c) could be disabled, but a) and d) frankly bother me a lot... alessandro

06-17-2010, 03:03 AM	#9
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,216 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	In Italy, Alex, as in France and other non-US countries (there are quite a few, I believe), the simple answer is not to buy a Kindle. Geographical restrictions and the cover price loading on titles is enough to put me right off -- never mind the potential for intrusion. There are better options. Good luck. Neil

06-17-2010, 08:08 PM	#15
=X= Wizard Posts: 3,671 Karma: 12205348 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: Galaxy S, Nook w/CM7	The notes you are concerned about are a "synchronization" feature that backups your highlights, bookmarked, and notes. This data is kept in a MDP file with the same name as your eBook, with an MDP extension. This backup only happens for books that you bought from amazon. If you wish to keep Amazon from backing up your annotations you can disable the feature by disabling the "Backup Annotations". =X=