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How to block Client/Data Collection, but not lose Premier on Windows


MSattler

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MSattler

Since Emby Server does not give you the ability to block the sending of the anonymous data, I have come up with this work around.  Normally everytime a client connects, the server makes a call to the mb3admin.com site to upload information about the client.  

 

Step 1)  Create an outgoing Firewall Rule, set it to block, and under remote IP's enter:  104.28.22.116 and 104.28.23.116.  Note over time you will want to check to ensure additional IP's are not added, this can be done by doing an nslookup against mb3admin.com.

 

Step 2)  Create a powershell script and paste according to OS:

 

Windows 2012 -  replace "Block MB3Admin" with the name of your firewall rule.

 

Disable-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Block MB3Admin"
stop-service emby
start-service emby
Start-Sleep -m 10000
Enable-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Block MB3Admin"
 
Windows 2008 or older - only use this if your router has a FW too.  Powershell cannot disable a particular rule, so this disables the FW and re-enables the FW.
 
netsh advfirewall set allprofiles state off
stop-service emby
start-service emby
Start-Sleep -m 10000
netsh advfirewall set allprofiles state on
 
Step 3)  Setup a scheduled task to run this powershell script every week, or 12 days.  This will ensure every 12 days your Premier key is verified and you are made aware of new packages.
 
Hopefully the Dev's will decide to give us a way of opting out of the Data Collection.
 
 
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You guys are only hurting yourselves.  If we can't tell you are using an app, we are likely to stop applying resources to it.

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DrWatson

Well since there is no mention anywhere I can find of EXACTLY what is sent I would prefer to keep what little privacy I have left intact. 

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MSattler

You guys are only hurting yourselves.  If we can't tell you are using an app, we are likely to stop applying resources to it.

 

Well good thing Tia and Roku is out there then.

 

So I guess us blocking anonymous data will be the death of Emby?  Or just your revenue stream?

Edited by MSattler
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This data has absolutely nothing to do with revenue and everything to do with trying to give our users what they really want.

 

To this point we have left it as mandatory because the vast majority of features in the platform are free and the vast majority of users are using the platform for free.

 

We can certainly decide to change that and add it as an option. However, I know that as soon as we do that the statistics we have will be next to useless.

 

It will just be that much less information we have to help us provide what people really want.

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DrWatson

So your "right" to statistics outweighs our right to privacy?

 

I would just like a list of what is sent? I notice in the source that it appears the username are sent?

I assume this is for connect? Which i don't use and never will.

Can i also assume that my ip & my ddns is logged along with my mac address which is matched to my email?

 

Do you know what I am watching and when?

 

However, I know that as soon as we do that the statistics we have will be next to useless. 

 

With your statement you acknowledge that users will opt out because they don't want unknown data sent and stored in a database who's security is unknown.

 

 

If you inform users what is sent, why it is sent, how it is stored maybe they wont opt out.

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MSattler

This data has absolutely nothing to do with revenue and everything to do with trying to give our users what they really want.

 

To this point we have left it as mandatory because the vast majority of features in the platform are free and the vast majority of users are using the platform for free.

 

We can certainly decide to change that and add it as an option. However, I know that as soon as we do that the statistics we have will be next to useless.

 

It will just be that much less information we have to help us provide what people really want.

 

Ahh.... so can we expect the ability to block outgoing anonymous data to be a Premium Feature? =)

 

Just because you put the option there doesn't mean everyone will opt out.  All I am asking for is to give users the option, and to note what specifically is being sent, and not a damn link to a privacy policy that leaves enough room for someone to drive a tank through.

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We do not collect any information on your library content or what or when you watch it.

 

Your ISP, however, .... ;)

 

When presented with an option, 90% of people will opt-out (or not opt-in).  They won't bother to read any further description nor will they believe it if they do.

 

They will, just as you have, assume it is nefarious and not allow it.

 

So dies another way we can try to provide service to the community for free.

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spootdev

I looked at the data collection code just now.  It's not too bad, but still BS that one can't opt out.

 

Not sure why you keep harping on ISP's......if my ISP is collecting data on my LOCAL network they are breaking my contract and the law.

 

And yes, people will assume it's for nefarious uses as companies constantly prove that they can't be trusted to secure data and/or sell to data miners.

 

Please enlighten me how your data collection is providing a "service" to me.  The forums, github tracker and support chat (ok, that was a joke since dev's are never in there) and actual internal testing should be plenty of info on what issues there are with the applications that you provide.

 

My 2 cents and I'm done.............

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Please enlighten me how your data collection is providing a "service" to me.  The forums, github tracker and support chat (ok, that was a joke since dev's are never in there) and actual internal testing should be plenty of info on what issues there are with the applications that you provide.

 

By telling us how many people are actually using which apps and the system as a whole.

 

This forum is a great feedback mechanism but only a tiny portion of users will ever actually post here.  It also can give us no true indication of what apps are actually in use.

 

If we have work to do in 12 different apps we can prioritize how we do that by working on the ones that will help the most people.  Knowing which ones those are is to everyone's benefit and the forums cannot tell us that.

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MSattler

By telling us how many people are actually using which apps and the system as a whole.

 

This forum is a great feedback mechanism but only a tiny portion of users will ever actually post here.  It also can give us no true indication of what apps are actually in use.

 

If we have work to do in 12 different apps we can prioritize how we do that by working on the ones that will help the most people.  Knowing which ones those are is to everyone's benefit and the forums cannot tell us that.

 

If that meant the Android app was fully functioning, then I would agree with you.  However, to this day when using Emby for Android TV, the images when you scroll right are often delayed.  I gave you guys the benefits of the doubt and figured the Fire TV Stick was slow, but it happens on the FTV2 and the shield as well.  The IOS App still does not have sync..  So your two primary apps need to be finished before you look anywhere else, so what good is this data doing you right now?

 

Now I'm not all that intelligent but I'm pretty sure without looking at your stats that your primary apps are Android/FireTV, IOS, and then everything else.  

 

Honestly, the 2 apps right now I have the least issues with are the Roku, and the TiaMat app.  No issues with playback, no issues scrolling through my content.  It seems like the apps with the issues are the ones worked on the most?

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Now I'm not all that intelligent but I'm pretty sure without looking at your stats that your primary apps are Android/FireTV, IOS, and then everything else.  

 

And that would be largely incorrect.  Proving my point :).

 

But, nonetheless both of us have said what we have to say.  I don't think there is anything else to discuss.  For now, people can use your method here if they wish.

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MSattler

And that would be largely incorrect.  Proving my point :).

 

But, nonetheless both of us have said what we have to say.  I don't think there is anything else to discuss.  For now, people can use your method here if they wish.

 

Tell ya what, why don't you put up a page that shows and represents some of the data you are gathering.   It would be interesting to see the makeup of top clients.

 

What is hilarious about all this, is that you want reporting of clients from our data, but I cannot even run a report on my own server to see what the most popular clients are......

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Sorry, but we aren't willing to share that information with our competitors by making it public :).

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I don't find that hilarious at all. Of course we'd like to give you those Emby Server reporting features, but from what we see, the majority of people want other things, so that's where our time gets allocated.

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MSattler

I don't find that hilarious at all. Of course we'd like to give you those Emby Server reporting features, but from what we see, the majority of people want other things, so that's where our time gets allocated.

 

It's whatever, this isn't personal but I'm done supporting the product in chat on daily basis.  I simply am not going to help support a product that forces users to submit to data collection.  It's as simple as that.  I mean even Plex gives you that option from what I recall.  

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We have already decided that we're going to make it an option, so not to worry.

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You can still tell participation for each client by using the "installed base" for the app on each store front. Granted this doesnt given an indiciation of real usage statistics, but it does give you an indication of how many users have the potential of using each app on a daily basis.

 

Even if users do "opt out" of usage statistics you can still tell where the resources should be focused. Using anonymous statistics to provide insight on where time should be spent is actually the wrong way to do this. Supporting free users who dont contribute a voice, and counting them as useful? How are they useful. The people who post on the forums, and are also premier account holders should be the focus. These people are your bread and butter. Without them the project fails.

 

Statistics can only be useful to tell you how many users keep the app installed, but are no longer using it. Asking active forum users questions, and following the "like the first post" counts, and keeping real users with voices using your service should be tantamount. Spend your money, time, and posts where it can be acknowledged. Stop thinking these invisible free users who make up the majority of the userbase are most important. Those who dont post on the forum have no voice. You cant assume for them what is best. These are the mistakes emby team is making which is alienating users. You are falling out of touch with your user base, regrettably.

 

You need to turn this around and make this a positive. Show you care about users, and they will care about your platform. Until you understand it isnt about your competitor and who is better. Forget about them, what they are doing, and grow your own brand. Learn from your mistakes and move forward.

 

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

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Nologic

hmm I can see a need for that data & spootdev says it's not all that scary.

 

Why not instead of an option to opt out...give an option to email a copy of data sent to the user.

 

hmm actually maybe the best idea is to actually explain what data is sent...and point to the source code in question.

 

Far as blocking...couldn't this be done the old fashioned way? thus editing the HOSTS file?

 

@ speechles

 

I disagree with you in a number of area's, but not all.

 

First off free users are the ones that become paid users...so if free users don't like the app...they will not become paid users. Sadly paid users...well they have paid and normally for lifetime...so not likely to get more money out of them. So pursuing free users and making them pleased with the app is worth while.

 

Also a good suggestion or bug report should be pursued regardless of if it came from a free or paid user. To only listen to paid users is to put blinders on.

 

Far as posters on the forum...there are a lot of folks in the world that don't speak english or one of the other supported forum langs...or don't speak them well enough to be understood.

 

Example the stats could show that folks in Brazil often start LiveTV 4-6 times in one hour then not at all for the rest of the day...this could point out that there is for some reason an issue with LiveTV in Brazil, and while I a paid user in Seattle, WA USA have no problem with it...those folks could have....and they certainly have a large population...and who knows maybe a large user base of Emby servers...however there is no Brazilian-Portuguese forum here...or hell just a portuguese forum...so these folks would be left in the dark.

 

Also the folks on the forum may very well not be the biggest users of Emby...I for one spend more time on the forum than using Emby. Course I spend more time writing my little scripts to support Emby than on the forums as well...but my son & my cousin who live with me, spend a great amount of time using Emby and nether of them have ever posted to this forum...and probably have never even viewed it.

 

Not to mention their use of Emby, is split into all kinds of area's. My Cousin views via his Smart TV, PC, Playstation & Android phone, my Son PC, xBox, Android phone...so while there is only ONE server...it's being accessed from a number of different client devices...and paying attention to OS based installers...gives absolutely no clue in how Emby is being used and abused. :)

Edited by Nologic
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I didnt say, only listen to paying customers. I said, you must treat those already paid as the most important. These people are how the project became the way it is today. To say because you already paid you are now just cattle with a brand, and no longer relevant is causing this rift.

 

Your argument in favor of this is to allow seeing that people in brazil use livetv at 6pm to watch football(aka soccer)? So basically its geographically deciding based on users perhaps that french people are a minority compared to dutch? What point is there to tracking, knowing or even having that information? I am one of those people who have no facebook. The reason is simple. Facebook has annoying bullshit all over it. Now we see, emby does too. It could give all these useless factoids and basically start to geographically discriminate against you. Now dont you feel used?

 

To me, you in washington or the fellow in brazil. Who cares? What the hell. Emby should not be wasting resources using these tactics. It should instead focus on human users, who post in threads, as the thermometer. Now it is true, a fact, only a small margin of the userbase posts. Most of us do it in english. For each other language, even less post. So why are we focus on where people are from? This part seems unfair, biased, and racist. The moment you call someone a color, or put them in a group you are doing it. This is wrong.

 

Emby should not know what you are using it for, period. To pretend it has a reason to know, is like calling a black man the n-word. It is ignorant. You are not a number. You are a person who is real. So when you see the person appear online they matter. At that point you may ask them all the questions you want about usage.

 

To secretly and surreptitiously track data about users (even if somewhere you disclose this fact) is what criminals do. So do honest people, but when you see it you think what kind of shady 2-bit operation is this. Why do they have to resort to this? You start to feel they are disingenuine in their approach.

 

Btw, tracking app installs AND server installs is all a person needs to do. Compare the IP these installs occur on. I can tell which users have just apps and use another persons server. Conversely, you easily see who has both a server and apps they use on their own server.

 

Lets not pretend these statistics are useful more than they are intrusive and unwarranted. Thanks.

 

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

Edited by speechles
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Indeed. Enjoy being just another drone. One day your pc will make a chinaman rich.

 

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

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Redshirt

One day your pc will make a chinaman rich.

 

I want that on a t-shirt :D

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