All Discussions > Steam Forums > Help and Tips > Topic Details
Saiph Mar 3, 2015 @ 3:04pm
Why does Steam survey need details of ALL my software?
I can understand why Valve regularly asks Steam users to provide helpful information about what kind of systems they have. It helps to guide new developments and allows Valve to make decisions about support for legacy hardware.

But why does the Steam survey supply Valve with a complete list of every piece of software I have installed on my PC? What is the purpose of this? How on earth can this be justified? I regard this as an excessive invasion of my privacy, and that is why I stopped the survey from sending the information.
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Showing 1-11 of 11 comments
Capt. Cadilac Mar 3, 2015 @ 3:08pm 
They take these surveys to see what people are using these days. The survey is also completely optional so if you dont like it dont take it.
#1
Terminus Mar 3, 2015 @ 3:08pm 
Hey

I just Googled it "Steam Hardware & Software Survey", since I haven't had to fill out one so far.

"Participation in the survey is optional, and anonymous".
Last edited by Terminus; Mar 3, 2015 @ 3:09pm
#2
Saiph Mar 3, 2015 @ 3:17pm 
The results of the hardware survey are always interesting, and Steam presents the figures very well, with graphics where appropriate. But nowhere on that results page does it list details of the software that people have installed. So what is the software catalogue from my machine used for?

And RhombusGod, I don't need anyone to tell me what a survey actually does. That's perfectly obvious. But you didn't explain WHY they need a list of my software. What purpose does that serve, especially if there are no results about software usage shown on the results page? Please explain the reason.
#3
supertrooper225 Mar 3, 2015 @ 3:35pm 
Originally posted by Saiph:
The results of the hardware survey are always interesting, and Steam presents the figures very well, with graphics where appropriate. But nowhere on that results page does it list details of the software that people have installed. So what is the software catalogue from my machine used for?

And RhombusGod, I don't need anyone to tell me what a survey actually does. That's perfectly obvious. But you didn't explain WHY they need a list of my software. What purpose does that serve, especially if there are no results about software usage shown on the results page? Please explain the reason.

Your computers performance is not just hardware related....it is the hardware/software combination that makes up your system. It can tell them performance details or other things. It is useful information to have for a program developer...but, as has been said, you don't have to do the survey.
#4
Dendrobates Tinctorius Mar 3, 2015 @ 3:41pm 
Originally posted by Saiph:
But you didn't explain WHY they need a list of my software. What purpose does that serve, especially if there are no results about software usage shown on the results page? Please explain the reason.
It helps to guide new developments and allows Valve to make decisions about support for legacy software environments.

How would you like them to present this information on the results page?
#5
Wanderer Jun 3, 2015 @ 12:10pm 
I disagree... First of all, when you ask someone to participate in a survey, you need to spell out what you want from their system before going through it all with a fine tooth comb, and then get permission for all that... they didn't, which just feels grubby to me... like they had a reason not to ask, because it's easier to get forgiveness than get permission, especially when a lot of the data is buried farther down the list than many people will bother to scroll before just hitting submit.... I just got hit with this survey today. The amount of data includes brands of cameras that I use and printers that I use and a load of other things that have nothing to do with Steam or Valve.

Second, the ONLY reason I can see to gather that amouont of data, rather than what they claim, which is simply to improve customer experience, is actually about mining data to sell to companies who want to see what percentage of valve customers are using this or that peripheral or this or that brand device, etc., etc. Seriously, why does Valve need to know what brand GPS I'm using? How does that help improve their products and services?

What they should've done instead was ask the participant first which types of data or software they were allowed to harvest. At least that wouldn't feel so intrusive and grubby. As it is, once I got to the data they mined, I backed up and declined to participate.


Last edited by Wanderer; Jun 3, 2015 @ 12:12pm
#6
Wanderer Jun 3, 2015 @ 12:17pm 
I also can't help but wonder how much of this is about software piracy, which is not my cause for concern. I don't mind companies being diligent about security for their products, but I draw the line when they want to bottom-trawl my system because reasons.
#7
Silicon Vampire Jun 3, 2015 @ 12:25pm 
It's just a list of installed software present in the Windows API that any webpage or program can access without your approval at all. At least they give you the option to NOT participate.
#8
Wanderer Jun 3, 2015 @ 2:06pm 
Originally posted by Silicon Vampire:
It's just a list of installed software present in the Windows API that any webpage or program can access without your approval at all. At least they give you the option to NOT participate.

Uhm... No. Just, no.

You youngsters who grew up after privacy was a concern of the past can let them in if you like and think nothing of it. Go ahead and soak yourself in Facebook fumes if that's your thing. Frankly I don't like being used like that. And I find it more than a little disengenuous to ask users if they have a microphone on their system when the following data mined clearly reveals the answer to that question and a bunch of other stuff. It's not even so much what they want as much as how they go about getting it. This isn't my first rodeo, skippy. I'm fairly certain I know what it's about. And it's grubby.
#9
Seven7 Jun 3, 2015 @ 2:38pm 
Silicon Vampire is youngster?! ROTFL :sadelf:

by experience, half of the people experiencing problems with Steam and games - pirates or they are not licensed operating systems or software or games
and necroposting is evil :summersun:
#10
Silicon Vampire Jun 3, 2015 @ 3:21pm 
Youngster? You bring much mirth to the thread...

unless you are 40 or older, I'm old enough to be your father and was on the Internet before it really became much of anything.

My point is, it's not searching your computer for anything besides exactly what it tells you it is. Don't want to participate? Don't. I'm sure Valve would not be put out over it. Why are you?
#11
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Date Posted: Mar 3, 2015 @ 3:04pm
Posts: 11
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