Is steam recording my DNS cache?

[K-tel Records]

I read an iteresting article on gizmodo that steam is watching what websites I visit and may be recording my DNS cache?

Will anyone confirm or deny this?

I would like to know the truth about this matter.





Answer: Steam cannot record dns data if you remember to flush your dns cache before logging on. Problem solved


I had to get the answer elsewhere. Please lock this thread.

[ShelLuser]

It's all a load of bs.

Every website can see what website you visited prior, that's due to the way HTTP requests work; this is the so called referral site, but that's it.

(edit)

On Windows the only way to check the DNS cache is through the ipconfig command. In specific you'd use "ipconfig /displaydns". However, you can only do this as administrator and well, the Steam process doesn't have admin privileges.

[K-tel Records]

Publicado originalmente por ShelLuser:

It's all a load of bs.

Every website can see what website you visited prior, that's due to the way HTTP requests work; this is the so called referral site, but that's it.

(edit)

On Windows the only way to check the DNS cache is through the ipconfig command. In specific you'd use "ipconfig /displaydns". However, you can only do this as administrator and well, the Steam process doesn't have admin privileges.

I use Linux. I often flush my DNS cache. I don't think gizmodo would lie about this, do you?

[ShelLuser]

Publicado originalmente por XM237258:

I don't think gizmodo would lie about this, do you?

Being misinformed doesn't necessarily imply lying.

[Judgmental Amaterasu]

Publicado originalmente por XM237258:

Publicado originalmente por ShelLuser:

It's all a load of bs.

Every website can see what website you visited prior, that's due to the way HTTP requests work; this is the so called referral site, but that's it.

(edit)

On Windows the only way to check the DNS cache is through the ipconfig command. In specific you'd use "ipconfig /displaydns". However, you can only do this as administrator and well, the Steam process doesn't have admin privileges.

I use Linux. I often flush my DNS cache. I don't think gizmodo would lie about this, do you?

Fear mongering is the best way to get clicks and views.

[K-tel Records]

https://gizmodo.com/if-you-use-steam-valve-might-be-tracking-every-website-1524340357

[Washell]

Publicado originalmente por XM237258:

I read an iteresting article on gizmodo

8 year old article... and refuted by Gabe Newell in that article... Why tf are you posting this ♥♥♥♥ before doing your due diligence?!

https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/1y70ej/valve_vac_and_trust/

[K-tel Records]

Publicado originalmente por Washell:

Publicado originalmente por XM237258:

I read an iteresting article on gizmodo

8 year old article... and refuted by Gabe Newell in that article... Why tf are you posting this ♥♥♥♥ before doing your due diligence?!

https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/1y70ej/valve_vac_and_trust/ [/quo


I think you could be wrong. How do you prove a negative? There are some intersting questions in the comment section, afterward, that should be read. I see no proof that what you say is true. This appears to be merely your opinion based on the assertions of others.

I am merely asking a question. Your response is interesting. Me doth think thee protest to loud, perhaps. Is it safe to assume that you deny this then?

Besides, I am asking about DNS and not VAC. The article you refer to is talking about VAC.

What possible motive could the CEO of valve have in denying the collection of data from it's users. Please trust us? NO.

[Tito Shivan]

Publicado originalmente por Washell:

Publicado originalmente por XM237258:

I read an iteresting article on gizmodo

8 year old article... and refuted by Gabe Newell in that article... Why tf are you posting this ♥♥♥♥ before doing your due diligence?!

https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/1y70ej/valve_vac_and_trust/

The day cheaters managed to attack anti-cheat software through social vectors. Instead of trying to beat VAC with better cheats they could spread FUD about it to have the new feature removed.

Nothing that wasn't already invented. The old 'This anticheat is malware' FUD has been around for ages. But they could link it to something people could be scared about: "Someone knowing what sites you browse at night"

[Muppet among Puppets]

Publicado originalmente por ShelLuser:

It's all a load of bs.

Every website can see what website you visited prior, that's due to the way HTTP requests work; this is the so called referral site, but that's it.

Reminds me on the brilliant idea to put login stuff in url.........

Anyway, there are addons to handle "referer".

[Washell]

Publicado originalmente por XM237258:

Besides, I am asking about DNS and not VAC. The article you refer to is talking about VAC.

So you don't even understand the whole issue... someone posted some code that supposedly meant that VAC was reading the DNS cache and sending it to valve.

Someone else saw that the code was reading the dns cache, but there was nothing in there that send the results anywhere. Nor was there anything pointing to VAC or Valve, other than the person's claim that was where they found it. Yet they were unable to find said code in the relevant files of their own steam client.

If the code was there, Gabe would've known lying about would come back to bite Valve. It would have been found , he would have been exposed. The only plausible option they would've had if it was true was to come clean.

You resurrected an 8 year old piece of attempted slander and lies. If there was any truth to it, any of valve's competitors would've found it and exposed them by now.

[K-tel Records]

Publicado originalmente por Washell:

Publicado originalmente por XM237258:

Besides, I am asking about DNS and not VAC. The article you refer to is talking about VAC.

So you don't even understand the whole issue... someone posted some code that supposedly meant that VAC was reading the DNS cache and sending it to valve.

Someone else saw that the code was reading the dns cache, but there was nothing in there that send the results anywhere. Nor was there anything pointing to VAC or Valve, other than the person's claim that was where they found it. Yet they were unable to find said code in the relevant files of their own steam client.

If the code was there, Gabe would've known lying about would come back to bite Valve. It would have been found , he would have been exposed. The only plausible option they would've had if it was true was to come clean.

You resurrected an 8 year old piece of attempted slander and lies. If there was any truth to it, any of valve's competitors would've found it and exposed them by now.

Yea.... sure.

[bricmpt]

Safe to assume ANY web site is aware of what you may be doing in another tab. As far as Steam client snooping on other traffic? If it is possible, I assume it is being done. What is it used for? Ad design and demographics. They want to know if we like blondes or brunettes. lol.

[[N]ebsun]

Publicado originalmente por bricmpt:

Safe to assume ANY web site is aware of what you may be doing in another tab

Web requests are stateless, unless information is being sent with the request there is no way of knowing.
Referrer is only sent when clicking a link (and only when specified), or when explicitly set - if you are visiting a website by typing in the url, from bookmark ect. then it is not set - it can also be controlled by the referrer-policy header

[K-tel Records]

Publicado originalmente por bricmpt:

Safe to assume ANY web site is aware of what you may be doing in another tab. As far as Steam client snooping on other traffic? If it is possible, I assume it is being done. What is it used for? Ad design and demographics. They want to know if we like blondes or brunettes. lol.

What worries me is that earlier this year the government of Canada demonstrated how their use of corporate data was used to shut down people's bank accounts if they did not like they're opinion.

An earlier poster said something about fascism. Interestingly it was the founder of fascism himself, Benito Mussolini, who said that fascism should have been named corporatism.

Governments around the world are purchasing corporate data to pursue their agendas and objectives. So if corporations are allowed to collect our data, this is a danger, as they appear all too willing to share data with governments. Governments that corporations have captured and corrupted.

So you are correct I think when you say that if it is possible, assume it is being done. Who knows where the data goes from there. I do not think ad design and demographics is why they are doing this.

Therefore I want to know if this data is being collected for whatever purpose and for whatever reason.

I like to take steps to limit the amount of data collected by any corporation by doing things like flushing all data like dns data from my system before I log onto a valve corporation site. You never know when some entity might not like one's opinion.

I want to know what data valve takes is all. And if anyone knows the answer to this question.

[Muppet among Puppets]

Publicado originalmente por XM237258:

I like to take steps to limit the amount of data collected by any corporation by doing things like flushing all data like dns data from my system before I log onto a valve corporation site. You never know when some entity might not like one's opinion.

I want to know what data valve takes is all. And if anyone knows the answer to this question.

Are you sure the dns service is not "in on it" in your idea?
Its time to type in numbers in the url bar, if you are really that concerned.

Publicado originalmente por XM237258:

An earlier poster said something about fascism. Interestingly it was the founder of fascism himself, Benito Mussolini, who said that fascism should have been named corporatism.

What if he had liked to call it church or friendship?