It's amazing that one can demand this voluntary program to change it's code or they're going to take their ball and go home. .......

This I think you will find is illegal
Failure to comply "WILL" result in action
Remove this function forthwith.

......

Sorry, this guy just rubbed me the wrong way.

He did 'take action'.

He took all his toys and left in a huff :)

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Need help? Check out the excellent Unofficial BOINC-Wiki!
'We are the BOINC. Prepare to be assimilated.'

It's amazing that one can demand this voluntary program to change it's code or they're going to take their ball and go home.

I've seen people come in here making demands of the programmers and threaten to leave if they don't get their way. I'm sorry, but talk about childish!

People have a right to be concerned about privacy, but they do not have a right to tell others what to do.

It sucks that you are so willing to pack up and leave, but then again, I guess that shows your true dedication to the project.

The programmers don't have to bow to the needs of the minority just to satisfy a few. If most people aren't concerned about it, then I think they need to focus on larger issues (such as their current server problems).

This I think you will find is illegal
Failure to comply "WILL" result in action
Remove this function forthwith.

Hmm... guess his ultimatum was nothing but an idle threat to get his way (like a little child). He left instead of taking "action". Please, it's not worth the time or money to force the scientists and programmers at Berkeley to remove something which you don't like.

Oh, and it's BOINC not bonic.


Sorry, this guy just rubbed me the wrong way.

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Legal action....hmmmmm . I think it could be argued you did agree as we all did to do bionic by virtue of installing and running the software. ( I'm sure it's all in there in the software agreement)As you know there is always a risk involved everytime we connect to anything outside of our own system. Your main point seems to be with the other computers you have that are not involved with bionic that are being potentially violated. IF that is the case I do beleive that is a reasonable concern and should be addressed IF possible. If it's not possible I guess you have to do what's right for you and if it means you leave then thats the way it is. For what it's worth I often get a computer showing up as 3 or more and I suspect a kernal or server issue. WU's get assigned to the "ghost" computers and all I do is "merge" with the "real" computer I'm using. IF in fact your other computers ( non bionic) are seen and you don't want them to be a $20 hardware firewall would appear to be the answer to that problem wouldn't it? As far as the credit game goes so what. The purpose of this project still happens regardless of the motivations of the participants. If someone or group is vying for "top dog" in the credit department thats ok because the purpose of this project remains and "top dog" is still doing computations that benefit the project. It dosn't matter if they get a blue ribbon and I don't as long as the credits are earned and calculated fairly. We do what we can and it all ends up for a greater purpose. I'm content to be contributing to something as remarkable as this project and don't feel a need to compete. There are groups of many multiple systems that generate massive amounts of completed WU's. Mine dosn't. No big deal. I still contribute. I also happen to like the idea of being able to "see" participating computers speeds, WU's, OS's etc. I would have an issue with someone "invading" my system and taking info I didn't agree to but I doubt that is happening with bionic. As someone else said bionic (or it's decendants) will be here if you change your outlook and wish to return.

Just because you could not see the same information stored on Classic Seti, how do you know it was not? I am betting that the same information about your computers is on Classic, they just were not showing you your own information.

It's checks and balances that they use to make sure the same computer sends back the result that is sent.

I am also betting that it is a lot safer than your own ISP.

If you go, your choice, but you are missing out on why we do the science.

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In case anyone believes his rant...

Do you read “every word” when you have to read the agreements.

Their privacy policy explaining exactly what they take is only three short paragraphs. They make no secret of it.

And all the machines that I have used to access the bionic site has been listed.

That's just not true. I've visited BOINC sites from a number of computers and my BOINC account only lists computers that I've personally installed BOINC on and attached to the project. BOINC has no use for data on computers not running its software. Even it were true, it would be your browser sending that information, which any website you visit can take.

My IP is what I want it to be, nice and safely screened and shielded (for such reasons as this)

What reasons? If you use the web browser on your computer, your IP address can be taken by any website you visit. Even so, knowing someone's IP doesn't immediately give you access to their computer, you still have to hack into it. If you're using these computers as servers, then you're already at an elevated risk of being hacked, so you should already have pretty good protection.

However.
There is such a thing as international and local legislation that comes into play, and no amount of careful writing or paraphrasing will protect anyone. You just have to look at Microsoft in that aspect.

Again, this is freely available from your web browser. Lots of pages take this information so they can determine what kinds of computers are used to visit their site, so they can make sure it works for the majority of people. BOINC uses it so they can make sure you can make a useful contribution to the projects to which you try to attach. I'm no legal expert, but I would be very surprized if BOINC has broken any laws here.

And on that note, do you believe that Data about you that is stored is safe anywhere.
Yet. In this occasion. It is being taken about your networks and machines and then stored on a server. And not one that has the security to hold it.

Anything can be hacked by a sufficiently motivated and skilled person, yes. SETI BOINC does not deny or try to hide this. Yet, I'd still be willing to bet that their servers are far more secure than yours, and if someone managed to hack into them, they'd have access to much more interesting things than your IP address.

I could go on.
But I will not.

Thanks.

The point is that if I am to continue with this “Bonic” software, then the functionality and information about my systems, must be left in my hands and not in the hands of another.

They need that information. They're not just storing it for fun. With millions of users and a tight budget, they can't afford to store information they don't need.

There are too many chiefs here trying to ply for the top spot.
This is not what I or many people that do this with “reason” started to do this.

What? The projects that use BOINC are valid, scientifically oriented projects that harness the world's idle computing power. The only people that try "ply for the top spot" are those donating their computer time, which happened just as much in classic as it does in BOINC. Besides, what's wrong with a little friendly competition? If you don't like it, ignore the credits.

This purpose from what I have seen in relation to the bonic system of doing things is not what seti was started for.

It's doing exactly what SETI was started for and so much more. It has enabled many smaller projects to have a shot at immense computing power at very little cost. Not everyone can afford the time and money to write their own backend software. Since SETI was going to do it anyway, why not let everyone use it?

One comment implied you want to see the back of me, then so be it.
I will return to Classic Seti and if I have to be the last one out and have to turn out the lights, then I will be.

I'm sorry to see you go. Your idle time will be missed. You know where to find us if you reconsider.

All I can add is that I will be sorry to see the end of something that could have benefited all people.

Just because you leave doesn't mean it's the end of the project. I'm sure it will go on strong for many years to come, and the door will be there if you change your mind.

---

Here's an Installation Guide.
Try the Wiki for other questions.

To all that have answered.
First thank you for your responses.

A number of things were said and I will comment on them, and not in any given order.

Why do I do this? Because I have been running Seti on my servers for a number of years.
The foreseeable proposed closure/stopping of Seti Classic has made me look at the software.
Do you read “every word” when you have to read the agreements.
And all the machines that I have used to access the bionic site has been listed.
My IP is what I want it to be, nice and safely screened and shielded (for such reasons as this)
I am also aware that there is additional information sent on most every occasion, every time anyone uses a web browser.
Etc etc etc…..

However.
There is such a thing as international and local legislation that comes into play, and no amount of careful writing or paraphrasing will protect anyone. You just have to look at Microsoft in that aspect.
And on that note, do you believe that Data about you that is stored is safe anywhere.
Yet. In this occasion. It is being taken about your networks and machines and then stored on a server. And not one that has the security to hold it.
I could go on.
But I will not.
The point is that if I am to continue with this “Bonic” software, then the functionality and information about my systems, must be left in my hands and not in the hands of another. As in this case the bonic system
I have looked at what is being done by a mismatch of groups and little organisations as such, and am not impressed.
There are too many chiefs here trying to ply for the top spot.
This is not what I or many people that do this with “reason” started to do this.
It is not a game of numbers to get to the top of the heap.
This was started with a purpose.
This purpose from what I have seen in relation to the bonic system of doing things is not what seti was started for.

It seems that the heart and soul of what seti stands for is being lost.
And for this I feel great sorrow.

One comment implied you want to see the back of me, then so be it.
I will return to Classic Seti and if I have to be the last one out and have to turn out the lights, then I will be.
All I can add is that I will be sorry to see the end of something that could have benefited all people.
It has now turned into a game, for which I will not play.
I may be wrong from what I have looked at on the two sites, but, I fear that those that truly believed in this have already come to this conclusion.

Therefore, I wish you all a good bye. And enjoy your games.
When Classic goes, then so will I..
And with the closure of classic I see the end of an era and an end to a project. The kids can have there toys to play with, but what a shame that now we may never know.

Farewell

(I will not be returning so don’t expect any further comments from me)

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heh, my computer is listed as FIVE computers (two reflect two different linux kernels used, three are Windows accounts; I believe the first duplication occurred because of OS reload; and it appears the second due to a memory upgrade.) However, I see no information that I am worried about. It IS agreed upon as part of the usage of SETI@Home. If you don't like it being shown, hide it; if that doesn't suit you, you might need to enroll your computer in a different project, as I don't see them disposing of this feature.

You gave permission when you agreed to the "Software Agreement" during the install.

I am pretty sure Berkeley has had their legal department look into this type of things before.

As others have said, your browser sends out more information about your PC than Berkeley has put on their books about your computer. If you computers were not hidden, you see a lot more information about them than we do. As you already know what the list looks like for your own computers, click on my ID and look at my computers. You see processor, OS, memory, benchmarks and credit information. You can not see the names of my computer nor the IP. So your "personal" information is pretty hidden from most of the users. Plus as you have done, you hid them from everyone else, so we can't see anything.

Legally, you'd not have a leg to stand on.

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If you're so severely concerned about your computer sending information to the SETI Server, why are you running the software? Nobody twisted your arm and forced you to set it up.

As the other respondants say, even on systems not hidden, the information seen is minor, usable for (some) problem diagnosis and (in some other cases) computer envy. With yours, we can't even see that.

MJ

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This is all anyone can see of anothers computer, so relax, as stated your browser gives a lot more info like, IP, for one......

64069 1 0.00 0.00 GenuineIntel
Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.20GHz Microsoft Windows XP
Professional Edition, Service Pack 2, (05.01.2600.00) 4 Sep 2005 21:00:00

Besides, he hid his computers, so all we can see is

Computers hidden

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Here's an Installation Guide.
Try the Wiki for other questions.

This is all anyone can see of anothers computer, so relax, as stated your browser gives a lot more info like, IP, for one......

64069 1 0.00 0.00 GenuineIntel
Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.20GHz Microsoft Windows XP
Professional Edition, Service Pack 2, (05.01.2600.00) 4 Sep 2005 21:00:00

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And the beat goes on
Sonny and Cher

BOINC Wiki

I think you'll find your browser sends more information about your system than BOINC takes, and that this is far from illegal. Everything BOINC takes, it needs in order to determine if you can support projects with the system you have. You can optionally hide your computers from the view of all other users (which I see you have done), and their servers are quite secure, so I think the security risk you take running a web browser is much greater than the security risk you take running BOINC.

I think you are mistaken about BOINC supplying any information about your computers not using BOINC. Sometimes BOINC will mistakenly give two identities to the same computer. My guess is that this is what you are seeing.

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Here's an Installation Guide.
Try the Wiki for other questions.

Lack of Security!

I hate to say it but, I am not happy with the fact that I find that bonic is sending information about my system to the server.
You are placing any and all computers and system in jeopardy with this action
I deliberately did not use the gui for this sort of reason, however, it seems that it has made no difference and all the computers on my system here (even those not running Bonic have been listed)



I therefore "Strongly" request that this be shut off
I am using "cli" and not the GUI interface. Yet this information seems to be still being supplied "WITHOUT MY PERMISON"
This I think you will find is illegal
Failure to comply "WILL" result in action
Remove this function forthwith.

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