Are you spying on me apple

I have had various apples now for over ten years... yesterday I opened I photo to be told there is a new version of life 08 available to be bought ....blah--blah--blah. I did update any software prior to this, I dont remember anywhere being offered the chance to not recieve information from Apple and the obvious conclusion I have come to is that Apple is sending information from my computer about me and my programs. Im not sure, but I think this illegal where I live (in Germany) hopefully someone will sue you.

Come on! great products you dont need this!!!

macbook pro, Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on Aug 12, 2007 12:39 AM

Aug 14, 2007 12:28 AM in response to Trickydicky

Though I tend at times toward the paranoid, it seems reasonable that 'Software Update' needs learn much about your computer. It needn't (notice I don't say "doesn't") send this information back to Apple.

'Software Update' must presumably scan your software version & releases for software patches & updates, and scan for hardware for firmware patches & updates. Whether any information travels backward during this process, I don't know. However, it can just package pop-up ads with with updates to iPhoto 5 after iPhoto 6 is released.

If information does travel backward (always something to think about), your computer has a unique 'MAC' (not Mac) number, which Apple has likely associated with its serial number. If you bought your computer from Apple it associated the serial number with your personal identity.

This seems a great way for our NSA & CIA to protect us Americans from terrorists home & abroad, at least those who buy legally from Apple and don't bother to encrypt their e-mail. :-] Whether we're also being protected from people with DVD rippers, &c, is another question.