How do I opt out of Steam tracking my app use?

[gjpc]

Hi it creeps me out seeing that steam tracks every second of when and where and what I have been doing in my apps. How do I turn off Steam tracking my every move? I only used Steam to buy the game not be my Big Brother.

[AmsterdamHeavy]

Steam is DRM. Stay in offline mode forever.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

If you go offline, it still tracks certain things.

If you don't like it, buy from GoG or something.

[Supafly]

I guess you don't own or use a smart phone? They track and record much, much, more than Valve does. The only PC platform that allows you to play games without it even being open is GOG.

[gjpc]

Originally posted by AmsterdamHeavy:

Steam is DRM. Stay in offline mode forever.

Thanks AmsterdaHeavy, How do I go into "offline mode"?

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Offline Mode - How to...

But as I said, it sill tracks you.

[gjpc]

Originally posted by Suicidal Monkey:

I guess you don't own or use a smart phone? They track and record much, much, more than Valve does. The only PC platform that allows you to play games without it even being open is GOG.

Actually there are loads of options to opt out of on my Android. I turn them all off. I never ever download an app onto the phone. I use developer tools and remove suspicious programs on the phone.

Just saying Steam should have similar opt-out controls. Or is there a different Steam client for the EU?

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Originally posted by gjpc:

Just saying Steam should have similar opt-out controls. Or is there a different Steam client for the EU?

Steam is compliant with EU laws.

[gjpc]

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

Offline Mode - How to...

But as I said, it sill tracks you.

:qr:

Thanks Hotsauce, I'll give it a try.

UPDATE: No Man's Sky runs in offline mode.

[The HopelessGamer™]

Originally posted by gjpc:

Originally posted by Suicidal Monkey:

I guess you don't own or use a smart phone? They track and record much, much, more than Valve does. The only PC platform that allows you to play games without it even being open is GOG.

Actually there are loads of options to opt out of on my Android. I turn them all off. I never ever download an app onto the phone. I use developer tools and remove suspicious programs on the phone.

Just saying Steam should have similar opt-out controls. Or is there a different Steam client for the EU?

If your using a browser like chrome on your mobile, when you use it, its recording every word you say for advertising.

You have GPS on your phone which alot of apps can use and track.

If your using the internet, your being tracked/data mined, period.

If you do not want this? Do not use the internet.

Jeez, even Windows tracks and data mines tons of stuff.

[gjpc]

Firefox with advertisement and java script blocking add-ons.

GPS is OFF (along with all apps being denied location rights)

All traffic goes through a privacy VPN

Listen Sonny, I was a system admin on 3 of the ARPA net computers when ARPA net consisted of 14 computers in 1974.

Other Precautions:

1. the phone STAYS AT HOME unless REQUIRED for that particular day's activities.
2. I run my own private mail server (just call me Hillary)
3. I run my own private contacts list on a private IP

Others precautions I take are not for public disclosure.

[Supafly]

Originally posted by gjpc:

Originally posted by Suicidal Monkey:

I guess you don't own or use a smart phone? They track and record much, much, more than Valve does. The only PC platform that allows you to play games without it even being open is GOG.

Actually there are loads of options to opt out of on my Android. I turn them all off. I never ever download an app onto the phone. I use developer tools and remove suspicious programs on the phone.

Oh I disable everything I can and don't download many apps either. Especially those that already have a website that does the same or more.....

Android 6 being the earliest version to allow ability to deny permissions on an app by app basis is the only reason I upgraded my phone from my lovely Note 2.

Problem is some apps block access to certain features unless you give them access to certain permissions they don't need. Least not for how you intend to use the apps. I can no longer put my phones screen on my TV without giving permissions it really doesn't need. My Location. Previous version didn't need it but the updated version I can't revert does.

Just an FYI with Offline mode.

1. Obviously online games won't work.
2. Some games require a constant online connection even for single player games.
3. Other games may require to connect to the servers once every xweeks/months.

In the case of three if a game stops working just switch to online mode load the game then close and switch to offline again.

[ペンギン]

Originally posted by AmsterdamHeavy:

Steam is DRM. Stay in offline mode forever.

Tracking and spyware has nothing to do with DRM. If you have no idea, it's best not to say/write anything. Especially when a company has forgotten its original task.

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

If you go offline, it still tracks certain things.

If you don't like it, buy from GoG or something.

Another one who knows nothing, Nothing new with you. But the main thing is to write your opinion everywhere, right?

Even GoG tracks and make use of serveral (3rdparty)services....they also track with dll files from installed products on your own hd. They (CD Projekt S.A.) are not better as the many others.

Besides, this "(don't) buy/use/wallet phrase" wouldn't change anything at all and it does not show any trace of intelligence~

Originally posted by gjpc:

Hi it creeps me out seeing that steam tracks every second of when and where and what I have been doing in my apps. How do I turn off Steam tracking my every move? I only used Steam to buy the game not be my Big Brother.

Just few examples for Valve Corporation

1. Userbility tracking with self refreshing values on every site
   
2. Affiliate linksystem
   
3. Personalized advertising and abuse consumers as advertising media
   
4. Give/Copy user generated content to Amazon .com Inc, and Google LLC (Recognition and Vision)
   
5. Cloudsaves -> Google LLC and Microsoft Azure
   
6. Google Analytics on every ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ site here, even in private areas or in private tickets
   
7. Google Captcha for feeding their AI system
   
8. Third party Google Analytics function for curators, developer and publisher
   
9. Regular hidden upload of crashanalytics (hardware and software data of users) without a crash -> Telemetry
   
10. Youtube LLC (belongs to Google LLC / Alphabet Inc. -> Youtube Logging and tracking. No Video isn't active? No problem, they still track
    
11. Paypal and other trackingcookies from third party companys in Steam without using any "service"
    
12. Self evident data mining in support-tickets without a chance for users to decline or see own data....
    
13. An unsecure browser which is abused by some companys here

There is much more....not to forget the API and the joke with the "Steam-Lab"... The only "labs" here are consumers -> laboratory rats and a free resource.

Opt out? difficult.... it's possible to block a part with PI-Hole or a good hosts file (phone and desktop) and personally i would avoid to use a phone with the Valve-"App". It has absolutly no worth. Especially when fake restrictions has been integrated to bait users (waiting time)

Valve Corporation is breaking several privacy rules and laws and claim more rights as they deserve.That they can hide behind a set of laws just makes it more worse. Funny point too, the so-called "support" block and ignores all related concerns and proofs.

Self-Defense is all what you or anyone can do or make use of laws like GDPR

[Supafly]

Originally posted by gjpc:

Firefox with advertisement and java script blocking add-ons.

Noscript? My favourite Firefox addon

I also like Lightbeam. Mainly to shock people with how many sites try to track me/them when you visit a websites. Particularly all the third party sites. Since the 24th August I've visit 140 Sites and have 1244 Third parties trying to track me. Just 3 days and sooooo many invisible stalkers attempting to track me

[gjpc]

Yea ペンギン & Monkey, the data miners and concentrators are completely out of control. With most of the governments being run by people that are even older than me I have no hope of any meaningful regulation in my lifetime.

I'll just wait for the NMS XMAS sale and buy an unencumbered copy. That is another thing that steams me about Steam, I can't sell any of my old unwanted software licenses.