MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Is Adobe Digital Editions spying on our ereading?

almagary · 08-01-2011, 03:49 AM

xposted from Kobo Reader forum.

Here is the situation that led to a discovery: My WiFi Kobo has never gotten along with Adobe Digital Editions. Whether plugged in via USB before or after booting ADE on my PC, ADE has always gone blank and crashed. Meaning I always had to download bookstore or library ebooks via ADE, then sideload via Calibre. OK as a workaround, but I won't mention the DRM problem.

This evening I wasn't thinking as I hooked up the Kobo to my PC, which was already running ADE and, as it happens, Calibre. I sighed as there was flashing, momentary blankness--the usual signs of a crash--and I started to eject the Kobo. Then I was shocked to see a series of message-size ADE boxes flash by with the titles of some ebooks not acquired via ADE.

The only way that ADE could know about these ebooks would be by spying on either my Kobo or Calibre.

I hated ADE before for its monopolistic role in my ereading life, its poor design and lack of extended elibrary functions, and of course its inability to work with my Kobo. Now I hate it because it is a spy.

I can't get any screengrabs on this ADE wiretapping. Anyone else catch Adobe on this?

08-01-2011, 03:49 AM	#1
almagary Wears funny hat (cloth) Posts: 28 Karma: 26 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Limbo Device: Kobo WiFi, Kobo Touch	Is Adobe Digital Editions spying on our ereading? xposted from Kobo Reader forum. Here is the situation that led to a discovery: My WiFi Kobo has never gotten along with Adobe Digital Editions. Whether plugged in via USB before or after booting ADE on my PC, ADE has always gone blank and crashed. Meaning I always had to download bookstore or library ebooks via ADE, then sideload via Calibre. OK as a workaround, but I won't mention the DRM problem. This evening I wasn't thinking as I hooked up the Kobo to my PC, which was already running ADE and, as it happens, Calibre. I sighed as there was flashing, momentary blankness--the usual signs of a crash--and I started to eject the Kobo. Then I was shocked to see a series of message-size ADE boxes flash by with the titles of some ebooks not acquired via ADE. The only way that ADE could know about these ebooks would be by spying on either my Kobo or Calibre. I hated ADE before for its monopolistic role in my ereading life, its poor design and lack of extended elibrary functions, and of course its inability to work with my Kobo. Now I hate it because it is a spy. I can't get any screengrabs on this ADE wiretapping. Anyone else catch Adobe on this?