Why origin..

"Oldeseadogge;c-17061541" wrote:
Even when not using it to play, or not even on internet?

Download Process Explorer to find out who dials out to send your data to somewhere.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/process-explorer

"nerdfashion;c-17061935" wrote:
@Cinebar that's just... how did you even get that information... that's so creepy, especially for the kids who play...

There are laws regarding what data can be collected from children. I'm generally not too worried about data-sharing - they don't share personally-identifiable data (such as your actual name, address or credit card number). What companies generally share is data about the web sites your log-in or IP visits, especially shopping sites, your zip code and any general information you've given them, such as your age range and income range. Any professional web site will have a statement regarding what they are sharing and in most cases, you can opt out. EA's says:

We do not share personal information that directly identifies you (such as your name, e-mail or postal address) with third parties for their own use without your consent, unless it is either required by law or we determine that disclosure is reasonably necessary to enforce our rights, property or operations or to protect our players or third parties. We may share anonymous or aggregated information, or other data that does not directly identify you, with third parties, for instance your persona and game stats on leaderboards or to show trends about use of our products.
We employ third parties located in and outside of your country of residence (including outside of the European Economic Area (EEA)) to collect or process personal information on our behalf for various reasons, such as conducting market surveys, facilitating credit card processing, or sending emails. When our third party agents or service providers collect or receive personal information, we require that they use the data only on our behalf and for purposes consistent with this policy.

Obviously, they have to share personally-identifiable information with your credit card company.

And yes, Origin does function to prevent piracy. From EA's privacy statement:

When you log in to one of our products, set up an EA Account or make purchases, we or third parties may use cookies and similar technologies, or collect data about your machine or device, to create a machine "fingerprint" or "hash" of your machine components, for fraud prevention, security and authentication purposes. We also may use anti-cheat technology with our products, including automated anti-fraud and abuse algorithms.

"invisiblgirl;c-17062246" wrote:

"nerdfashion;c-17061935" wrote:
@Cinebar that's just... how did you even get that information... that's so creepy, especially for the kids who play...

There are laws regarding what data can be collected from children. I'm generally not too worried about data-sharing - they don't share personally-identifiable data (such as your actual name, address or credit card number). What companies generally share is data about the web sites your log-in or IP visits, especially shopping sites, your zip code and any general information you've given them, such as your age range and income range. Any professional web site will have a statement regarding what they are sharing and in most cases, you can opt out. EA's says:

We do not share personal information that directly identifies you (such as your name, e-mail or postal address) with third parties for their own use without your consent, unless it is either required by law or we determine that disclosure is reasonably necessary to enforce our rights, property or operations or to protect our players or third parties. We may share anonymous or aggregated information, or other data that does not directly identify you, with third parties, for instance your persona and game stats on leaderboards or to show trends about use of our products.
We employ third parties located in and outside of your country of residence (including outside of the European Economic Area (EEA)) to collect or process personal information on our behalf for various reasons, such as conducting market surveys, facilitating credit card processing, or sending emails. When our third party agents or service providers collect or receive personal information, we require that they use the data only on our behalf and for purposes consistent with this policy.

Obviously, they have to share personally-identifiable information with your credit card company.

And yes, Origin does function to prevent piracy. From EA's privacy statement:

When you log in to one of our products, set up an EA Account or make purchases, we or third parties may use cookies and similar technologies, or collect data about your machine or device, to create a machine "fingerprint" or "hash" of your machine components, for fraud prevention, security and authentication purposes. We also may use anti-cheat technology with our products, including automated anti-fraud and abuse algorithms.

Have you been keeping up with yes, FB and Goggle share your personal info lately? They all do.

"Cinebar;c-17060557" wrote:


That is not the reason for Origin. Origin gathers data about your habits on your pc and your web browsing. It then compiles that data for EA to share your personal info with other companies, yes, EA may say they don't sell your info, but they share it. Even when you don't link Origin to your game, (inside the game) it will still transfer all your pc usage to EA. What did you open today on your pc? Origin knows and transmits that to EA. In turn EA uses that data or what you searched or looked for on the internet to give to third party companies about you. Just like Face Book and Google you are the product, not the game.

Wow... Super shady. The data 'sharing' (stealing through loopholes) is why I quit FB and all the other social media. Is there a way to block them?

I remember the good old days when friends would get a game and they would lend it to another friend to play- it was never stealing, it was sharing (good for those who grew up poor, and didn't have the privilege that wealthy kids did). It just seems that there is far too little kindness, enjoyment sharing, and general 'good human-ing' in the past ten+ years (except for thoughtful modders,and gracious cc creators- who are doing so much for free, out of the kindness of their hearts).... I digress.

"SimChi;c-17087435" wrote:
Is there a way to block them?

There is really no way to prevent your data being shared with other companies unless you just stop using Internet altogether or, well, don't give them your data by keeping it outside of your computer, like on paper, the old fashioned way. Even Intel or AMD CPUs (since 2000s as far as I know) have a backdoor in them through which both companies are getting your personal data. The Internet is their only means of gathering data however, same of course goes for software companies (including MS), though there are much easier ways to prevent them from doing it, you can just stop using their software altogether in worst case scenario, for example.

Dual booting so far is one of the best solutions to this problem, although obviously it's not ideal since it won't prevent companies from collecting your data if you plan to use the Internet, but you still can secure some of your private/sensitive data unless you don't plan to share it through the Internet (and only hardware companies would be able to have your data in this case, assuming you'd use trusted software/websites and VPN). You could just use your Windows for video games and do your usual stuff using second OS that is not connected to the Internet or if you don't care about Intel/AMD getting your data and still want to use the Internet for various stuff, you could just use Linux and other trusted software that does not collect your info (other websites may collect your info though, keep that in mind, but you can use trusted VPN to secure yourself). Encryption is a good way to secure data as well and no one would be able to reach it except for you, but it's better to browse such data offline only.

In fact, you can also go even more hardcore and get older CPU with no backdoor or even just IBM CPU, but it would take some good efforts and money to do that (well, besides the fact that old CPUs are not as powerful and won't allow you to play modern video games or use some software, but hardcore would overcome this problem). The positive thing about it is that it allows maximum security.

"SimChi;c-17087435" wrote:

I remember the good old days when friends would get a game and they would lend it to another friend to play

Companies were always like that, the reason why it's getting this bad now is because the Internet with digital software is very accessible and thus it allows more control for the companies, but not total because there are still laws that can prevent them from doing some things, this is the reason why they want game service to be come a huge thing, that would allow them to have total control over software, they would be even able to take their games away from you absolutely legally since those games are not good but a service.

"NorthDakotaGamer;c-17091867" wrote:
I play offline 99.9% of the time. It is easy to do. I hate the "games as a service" model with a passion. Origin is only really needed for game updates or IF you really need gallery content.

Playing off line doesn't stop data feeds. You are still connected to the internet - regardless of how you play your pc still gathers info that it is designed to gather and sends it where it needs to go. You would need to shut off all internet that you use - hard wired and wifi to stop info being sent. When you install a game and click "I agree" to their terms of service so you can play the game - you give them permission to gather and collect the info.

Usually it is just game info with big companies - I cannot speak for the small ones - but the info is usually just to see how their players play and things to do with that. But if you believe playing off line stops that - it doesn't stop it at all. Also choosing to play any game you actually gave them an okay to do it. Besides that - if you do not agree and try to circumvent any of that - you cannot play their game. But you want to actually see what you have agreed to let them do when you install their game - Read the Terms of Service - before you click okay.


Keep in mind big companies like EA are far more secure then little fly by night Indie studios too. EA is also a public company - they have stock holders - people like you and me - so they are not trying to hurt you. Their interest is mainly in your playing habits an their game.

Data gathering has been going on long before Origin - but thanks to Origin and Steam and these services - it is far more safe then some people here realize. We had data gathering well before EA had Origin in place. Origin keep others though out of your data and encrypts it... so you are actually safer.

But like I said all games now a days gather info - they send the info to their companies the minute you go online. Your computer will store that info until you go online. How you play - off line or online makes no difference at all but apparently you think it does so it gives you a since of some kind of sense of security - that really does not exist.

Don't buy and install games - don't ever go online or have any form of internet or cable or satellite - in other wise do not use any electronic devices - including phones and apps is the only way to truly not get info gathered in todays world and for the last 15-25 plus years. Keep in mind todays gatherings are far safer than they used to be.

ETA - My husband is a pc technician and Security in networks are his specialty. He sets up systems the most secure they can be for all kinds of companies - its what he does most of, and he thinks EA does a good job at keeping their players safer and their info protected than some companies do.

"Writin_Reg;c-17091910" wrote:
How you play - off line or online makes no difference at all but apparently you think it does so it gives you a since of some kind of sense of security - that really does not exist.

This is not exactly true assuming you don't use software that does collect your data. If your game is not tied to specific client like Steam or Origin (or basically, in other words, is DRM-free), no one except for MS (if you use Windows OS) and hardware companies can collect your data.

Anyway, it's worth noting that besides sharing data with other companies, EA and many IT companies in US do share your data with American and in some cases with Israeli government (mainly, Intel and AMD) just as well, but I'm pretty sure anyone knows that already. Of course there are also Chinese that also collect your data and share it with their own government. But same happens with your Internet provider and VPN providers too.

"Writin_Reg;c-17091910" wrote:
EA does a good job at keeping their players safer and their info protected than some companies do.

There were plenty of Origin user data leaks (mainly passwords what actually matters) that happened through various backdoors/exploits/security breaches. In fact, even Intel & AMD CPUs backdoor opens possibility for security risks from hackers, but closed and hard to reverse-engineer technology kind of serves like a protection against them, at least for now. There are some issues with Google too, actually, mainly it's related to a couple of specific things which are not that easy to figure out, but otherwise all your data (like emails and other stuff) is freely available to anyone on the web.

They might be better than some, but there are still better companies when it comes to this, Steam is definitely one of better ones, though Steam too (but rarely) had security breaches that were caused by bugs. The last one I remember was related to all users being able to access other random user accounts instead of their own by clicking on "account details" link.

There is no security anywhere on the web these days. It is up to you to keep up to date with OS security updates and choosing a very strong password and a separate one each app. important for you. I understand some people can download a pirated Sims 4 not from Origin but no security at all comes with that.

I don't particularly like others getting things free that I paid the right money for and there is less piracy from EA taking this step with Origin. It's just unfortunate that it has to be this way now.

Origin was never about Piracy, if it were they could easily change the .exe files of the game to not need it after the game has been cracked by pirates.

It's about the profitability of trading people's personal information and using it to manipulate people.

But you do not need internet to play sims 4 with origin? you only need internet for installation and gallery
also personally I do not wish to accumulate big hoard of discs I use once in 3 years to install something
just not practical and discs are dying out we in 2019 it is becoming old tech

one thing is tho idk how long we can trust origin to be around like what if they just stop having origin? then what? we just lose our games or?
also they really should come up with some new way to sell games irl because atm they just sell them in game boxes even if there is only a code which seems rather silly to me like you really need to use that much packaging for a code ea?