Emby apps are regularly calling home -> mb3admin.com

[Jarkkoooo 2]

I am in the process of reviewing my network and devices regarding privacy and I am taking appropriate action.

Unfortunately, I discovered that the Emby server and all the Emby apps I use are regularly calling home -> mb3admin.com
When I block the internet on my LG TV, the Emby app works very poorly or not at all. It takes 1 minute for it to even start. After chosing a movie and start it, it takes about 20 seconds for the Premiere ad to come on with the 10 second wait. This then no longer disappears automatically. I need to press the back button.

I do not have Emby Premiere and everything I have found here on the forum refers to the paid versions.

Why is this connection necessary and how do I get the apps to work when this connection is blocked? What can I do to have my LG App work properly?

I switched from Plex because I don't like this behavior of spying on users.

[rbjtech 5284]

It needs to connect to the internet to check your license - if you do not have premier, that's fine, but how is it going to check if it can't connect ?  Maybe the timeout delay could be reduced, but it will obviously have to default to 'No Premier' in this circumstance.

According to my own logs this appears to be a one off check per 'session' (one per day) - it does not keep checking, nor is it passing any info about the content you are watching as it's doing it at the start of the session (unlike Plex which is passing info on everything you watch)  - THAT is invading your privacy, checking a usage license is not (imo).

I can't see/capture the contents of the packets as it https - maybe the Dev's would like to add what info is passed/returned ? @Luke @ebr

[Jarkkoooo 2]

Thank you for the quick reply.

It could check with the local server first if I have Premiere or not. If I don't there is no need to connect to the internet. I would prefer a setting on the server if the check is wanted or not. I totally understand that in case of Premiere a license check is necessary.

You are right: It is https and we do not know what is inside the data sent.

However, it is correct that there is only one check per session and not throughout the playback.

Edited March 19, 2023 by Jarkkoooo

[rbjtech 5284]

18 minutes ago, Jarkkoooo said:

Thank you for the quick reply.

It could check with the local server first if I have Premiere or not. If I don't there is no need to connect to the internet. I would prefer a setting on the server if the check is wanted or not. I totally understand that in case of Premiere a license check is necessary.

Maybe something to add as a Feature Request - although I think this has been raised before for those that have no way to access the internet to validate.

If you are able, you could maybe try and force mb3admin.com to resolve to localhost/blackhole - and this may reject quicker - allowing you to just use the non-Premier version without the delay (as opposed to waiting for a DNS timeout) ?

[Jarkkoooo 2]

3 minutes ago, rbjtech said:

try and force mb3admin.com to resolve to localhost/blackhole

That is a really useful idea! Thank you! I will try that and report back.

[ebr 16187]

Hi.  This is checking the license and also possibly for available updates.  The check would only happen repeatedly if it is failing all the time.  Once it succeeds, it shouldn't have to check for 24 more hours. 

2 hours ago, Jarkkoooo said:

I don't like this behavior of spying on users

No "spying" is taking place.  We have no idea what you are playing or what your content is (unlike some other products).

55 minutes ago, Jarkkoooo said:

It could check with the local server first if I have Premiere or not.

Unfortunately, this is too easy to defeat. 

[Jarkkoooo 2]

4 hours ago, Jarkkoooo said:

I will try that and report back.

Unfortunately I am unable to do so. I can block the LG TV completely but I do not know how to redirect mb3admin to 127.0.0.1 at the same time. I am using Adguard Home. I guess it is possible but I don't understand all the possible rules.

3 hours ago, ebr said:

No "spying" is taking place. 

I guess we have to trust in that.

[Sammy 790]

I used to be paranoid but now I figure I am just not that interesting!

[rbjtech 5284]

17 hours ago, Jarkkoooo said:

Unfortunately I am unable to do so. I can block the LG TV completely but I do not know how to redirect mb3admin to 127.0.0.1 at the same time. I am using Adguard Home. I guess it is possible but I don't understand all the possible rules.

Just add that host to the OS local hosts file as that is always queries first - If you don't know what that is, then you probably shouldn't be dabbling ..