Fwd: Re: [cobalt-users] Good news: traffic analysis

["manitu" <cobalt@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear Sirs or Madams,

we are the developers of the tool "musita" which is discussed here for a few
hours. Some of you were concerned because of our notice on our website
concerning the collection of some private data. We would like to explaint
this situation here for you.

As you know, there is the file format PKG which was developed by Cobalt
Networks in order to make it easier to install upgrades or additional
software on the Cobalt RaQ(1/2/3/4). The file format is pretty simple and
Cobalt has some example files on their website. Developers are encouraged to
exactly use this templates and only to alter the name, version number
and files contained in the archive.

We ourselves were very surprised when developing the PKG for musita that
Cobalt has a included something that sends some private information to
Cobalt AND to the software developer each time a PKG gets installed. This is
with almost all PKG files, independent if they come from us or Cobalt or
anybody else.

We also do not like this idea, and there is no real reason not to tell the
public which information are sent, but Cobalt does not tell customers that
they have this in all PKG files. We were surprised and we do not like the
idea of not telling the public about this fact, so we did include this kind
of disclaimer on our website.

In order to open all secrets, we want to inform you about all information
that are sent to us and Cobalt which is done via email. We and Cobalt get an
email with the contents at the end of the email (after the "snip" line).

We would like to know if this is too much of privacy that gets hurt here. If
you are against this behaviour, we would be happy if you would discuss this
here. If there is a real interested against this, we will modify the Cobalt
templates and kick this out. We are curious to hear your opinion.

Best regards
Manuel Schmitt
- manitu -


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SNIP------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------

<<COBALT RECEPTOR>>
<<VENDOR VENDOR_NAME = <manitu> >>
<<VENDOR PRODUCT_NAME = <musita> >>
<<VENDOR PRODUCT_VERSION = <1.0> >>
<<VENDOR PRODUCT_VARIANT = <full version> >>
<<VENDOR MULTI_SITE = [false] >>
<<VENDOR EVENT_TYPE = [install] >>
<<VENDOR MY_CUSTOM_TAG = my custom value >>

<<COBALT REGISTER_VERSION = 1.1.0 >>
<<COBALT INSTALL_DATE = 7/20/2000 10:40:39 >>
<<COBALT INSTALL_ZONE = GMT+1 >>
<<COBALT INSTALL_HOUR = 10 >>
<<COBALT INSTALL_MINUTES = 40 >>
<<COBALT INSTALL_MONTH = 7 >>
<<COBALT INSTALL_DAY = 20 >>
<<COBALT INSTALL_YEAR = 2000 >>
<<COBALT HOSTNAME = ns1.mcspar.net >>
<<COBALT ADMIN_EMAIL = admin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx >>
<<COBALT CPU = MIPS >>
<<COBALT CPU_MODEL = Nevada V10.0 >>
<<COBALT SYSTEM = Cobalt Networks Server >>
<<COBALT MEMORY = 79556 kB >>
<<COBALT HARD_DISK_CONFIG = hda1(495745/) hda3(198601/var)
hda4(11426246/home)  >>
<<COBALT RELEASE = release 4.0 (Fargo) >>
<<COBALT BUILD = build 2.561 for a 2800R in English >>
<<COBALT KERNEL_RELEASE = 2.0.34C52_SK >>
<<COBALT KERNEL_VERSION = #1 Tue Nov 30 18:14:40 PST 1999 >>
<<COBALT IP_ADDR = 208.46.123.179 >>
<<COBALT MAC_ADDR = 00:10:E0:00:EB:F5 >>
<<COBALT /RECEPTOR>>



--
____________________________________________________________________
manitu                    Postfach 1622, D-66596 St. Wendel, Germany
                                            mailto:manitu@xxxxxxxxxx
Fax: +49-(0)-6851-912505                       http://www.manitu.net