Ereaders and Tracking

MrsJoseph · 04-18-2012, 03:30 PM

I was having a conversation today about the more popular ereaders/retailers and [personal/customer] tracking....when I realized I'd forgotten a few things and could not locate the privacy website that I originally got the info from.

Amazon
Kindle: Tracks and returns lots of details including the metadata on non-kindle books.
K4PC: ?? Same?

Sony
Older Models: tracks nothing
T1: ??
Sony Reader: ??

Kobo
Older Models: [s]Tracks nothing[/s] Tracks and returns lots of details including the metadata on non-kobo books. ??
Touch: [s]Tracks nothing[/s]
Kobo Desktop: [s]Tracks nothing[/s] Same??

B&N
Older Model: Tracks and returns lots of details including the metadata on non-nook books.
Current model: same
B&N Desktop Reader: ?? Same?

The reason this conversation came up was privacy. The original question was: Which ereader/retailer is best for privacy? My vote was for Kobo.

JD Gumby · 04-18-2012, 04:05 PM

Actually, Kobo tracks pretty much everything. Sends it all through Google Analytics and keeps track of your entire reading history, even if you've deleted books.

MrsJoseph · 04-18-2012, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JD Gumby

Actually, Kobo tracks pretty much everything. Sends it all through Google Analytics and keeps track of your entire reading history, even if you've deleted books.

huh. Did not know that. Is this via the desktop only or both the desktop and the reader?

booklover6 · 04-18-2012, 04:49 PM

Sony T1: nothing if you never connect it to the Sony software. I haven't even registered my T1 with Sony. It's completely independent.

spindlegirl · 04-18-2012, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by booklover6

Sony T1: nothing if you never connect it to the Sony software. I haven't even registered my T1 with Sony. It's completely independent.

Last month I replaced my T1 (which got lost) with a second T1. I have never registered it, also have never used internet on it. It's strictly for my files alone. I don't like things I own being married to some outside entity. It's that way with my Sansa Clip (for mp3 files), and I expect my ereader to be the same, just something I can use to manipulate my own stuff.

tecweston · 04-18-2012, 05:28 PM

I didn't know all this. I understand why these companies would want to know what their customers are reading, but shouldn't there be a box I have to check to make sure it's okay with me? I'd like to opt out of telling B&N about every book I read.

mr ploppy · 04-18-2012, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tecweston

I didn't know all this. I understand why these companies would want to know what their customers are reading, but shouldn't there be a box I have to check to make sure it's okay with me? I'd like to opt out of telling B&N about every book I read.

If it's anything like Amazon it will be in the terms and conditions you need to accept in order to be a customer. The only opt out would be not to use them. Giving away your privacy in return for services (whether paid for or free) is the norm now.

JD Gumby · 04-18-2012, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrsJoseph

huh. Did not know that. Is this via the desktop only or both the desktop and the reader?

I assume the desktop does it as well, but I only know for sure about the Touch.

HarryT · 04-19-2012, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr ploppy

If it's anything like Amazon it will be in the terms and conditions you need to accept in order to be a customer. The only opt out would be not to use them. Giving away your privacy in return for services (whether paid for or free) is the norm now.

The purpose of Amazon's data traffic is not to "track" anything, but to provide the sync-between-devices facility which is one of the very useful features that the Kindle offers.

Kumabjorn · 04-19-2012, 05:43 AM

Is it possible to set up a VPN connection on the Kindle?

mr ploppy · 04-19-2012, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

The purpose of Amazon's data traffic is not to "track" anything, but to provide the sync-between-devices facility which is one of the very useful features that the Kindle offers.

Why would that require your GPS location and the DRM status of what you are reading?

HarryT · 04-19-2012, 05:49 AM

Are those data sent to Amazon?

plib · 04-19-2012, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JD Gumby

Actually, Kobo tracks pretty much everything. Sends it all through Google Analytics and keeps track of your entire reading history, even if you've deleted books.

I think there was a comment on one of the Kobo threads that a complete reboot prior to connecting to the Kobo desktop will delete the GA history. Alternatively it's possible to just go in with a file manager and delete the necessary files.

As the only reason to connect it to the Desktop is to upgrade the firmware that shouldn't be too onerous. It's even possible to d/load the firmware and update independently if you can find the update file.

plib · 04-19-2012, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr ploppy

If it's anything like Amazon it will be in the terms and conditions you need to accept in order to be a customer. The only opt out would be not to use them. Giving away your privacy in return for services (whether paid for or free) is the norm now.

I have a feeling that might be tested in court soon, there are a number of privacy cases on the US Supreme Court docket already. Although, given the current composition of the US Supreme Court, I'd have more hope in rulings coming from some of the EU privacy regulations. Meantime I guess we have to use Firefox addons, file cleaners and other work arounds.

And give false information on any required login whenever you can.

danskmacabre · 04-19-2012, 06:55 AM

I have a KT. There's a thread somewhere on the KT forum showing how to stop the tracking on it working, which I have done.

04-18-2012, 03:30 PM	#1
MrsJoseph Loves Ellipsis... Posts: 1,554 Karma: 7899232 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Washington, DC Device: Kobo Wifi (broken), nook STR (returned), Kobo Touch, Sony T1	Ereaders and Tracking I was having a conversation today about the more popular ereaders/retailers and [personal/customer] tracking....when I realized I'd forgotten a few things and could not locate the privacy website that I originally got the info from. Amazon Kindle: Tracks and returns lots of details including the metadata on non-kindle books. K4PC: ?? Same? Sony Older Models: tracks nothing T1: ?? Sony Reader: ?? Kobo Older Models: [s]Tracks nothing[/s] Tracks and returns lots of details including the metadata on non-kobo books. ?? Touch: [s]Tracks nothing[/s] Kobo Desktop: [s]Tracks nothing[/s] Same?? B&N Older Model: Tracks and returns lots of details including the metadata on non-nook books. Current model: same B&N Desktop Reader: ?? Same? The reason this conversation came up was privacy. The original question was: Which ereader/retailer is best for privacy? My vote was for Kobo. Last edited by MrsJoseph; 04-18-2012 at 05:05 PM.

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04-18-2012, 04:05 PM	#2
JD Gumby Cynical Old Curmudgeon Posts: 1,085 Karma: 8495696 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Halifax, Canada Device: Kobo Mini, Kobo Arc, HTC Desire C	Actually, Kobo tracks pretty much everything. Sends it all through Google Analytics and keeps track of your entire reading history, even if you've deleted books.

04-18-2012, 04:49 PM	#4
booklover6 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,545 Karma: 14008730 Join Date: May 2008 Location: PA (USA) Device: Kobo Clara, 2E, Libre 1, PW4, PW5, 2022 Kindle, Kobo Libre Colour	Sony T1: nothing if you never connect it to the Sony software. I haven't even registered my T1 with Sony. It's completely independent.

04-18-2012, 05:28 PM	#6
tecweston Comic book artist Posts: 553 Karma: 1760679 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Detroit Device: Nook Glowlight, iPad, iPhone	I didn't know all this. I understand why these companies would want to know what their customers are reading, but shouldn't there be a box I have to check to make sure it's okay with me? I'd like to opt out of telling B&N about every book I read.

04-19-2012, 05:43 AM	#10
Kumabjorn Basculocolpic Posts: 4,356 Karma: 20181319 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sweden Device: Kindle 3 WiFi, Kindle 4SO, Kindle for Android, Sony PRS-350 and PRS-T1	Is it possible to set up a VPN connection on the Kindle?

04-19-2012, 05:49 AM	#12
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Are those data sent to Amazon?

04-19-2012, 06:55 AM	#15
danskmacabre Guru Posts: 733 Karma: 3593438 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Glo. Galaxy Tab S 8.4	I have a KT. There's a thread somewhere on the KT forum showing how to stop the tracking on it working, which I have done.