[REQ] Option to disable online accesses [#20489]

[Timo_Beil]

For privacy reasons, I would like to prevent the transmission of data to destinations that are completely unknown to me.
Other players have a single checkbox with which I can achieve this. I only want to maintain my own collection.
How do I prevent contact with google at the first start and where is the cookie stored (so that I can delete it)?
Why is google being contacted at all (i don't like that company).
Who will be informed about my tracks and why?
Even if I disable all checkboxes in "Metadata lookup", MM sends data to somewhere on the web.
After deselecting all "Sources" for metadata lookup" MM secretly re-enables all three options.

How can I use the [My Library] info box without MM sending track data? You could say, don't use the infobox at all, but with certain search options (Find more from the same...) the infobox is automatically activated (and occupies the artwork with nonsense from the web)
At the moment I have banned all internet access in the firewall and use Drakinite's ShowLinks for searching. But when burning I have to access external programs again.

To summarize: more transparency which, when and where my data are distributed and the option to exclude certain or all targets is essential for data protection.

[Rob_S]

I very much support this request, me too!!!

[a_daley]

Agreed...

[ZvezdanD]

I had the similar question for MM4 ten years ago, without any response. Maybe this time we will be more lucky:
https://www.ventismedia.com/mantis/view.php?id=20489

[Timo_Beil]

I have implemented on-premises applications in large companies throughout Europe. MM would have been eliminated in the first selection step due to the unclear data protection (GDPR) because nowhere is explained which data is sent to which servers (Sony Music?) in which situation. And yes... my fix ip-address is part of my personal data.
A question is asked in Mantis:
-
What to do when the user presses "Artwork Search" in this paranoid mode, should we do an online search? Or should we also hide all functions that can cause online queries? or for all remote functions in paranoid mode give the possibility to execute them manually anyway. And should we also block all attempts to play online radio and access online links...?
-
Just assume that the users are not paranoid.
Simple: all automatic background online lookups will be prevented if the user is not expecting them.
In the "YouTube" info panel, online access is obvious, but not in "My Library". In the "Artwork search", the order must be reversed. First automatically in the library (local), then online via a button; the same applies to the lyrics. It is also obvious that Internet radio and other services in the "WEB"-node are not blocked, of course, as the user can consciously choose this (or hide the node). But anything that happens secretly in the background must be able to be prevented.
An other idea: Like in the "Auto-tag metadata sources" selection list, all external online targets could be de/selectable (with short hints, which lookups are affected).
This would allow me to release MM in the firewall for normal contact with the Ventis server again.

[Blackcat12]

For privacy reasons, I would like to prevent the transmission of data to destinations that are completely unknown to me.
Other players have a single checkbox with which I can achieve this. I only want to maintain my own collection.
How do I prevent contact with google at the first start and where is the cookie stored (so that I can delete it)?
Why is google being contacted at all (i don't like that company).
Who will be informed about my tracks and why?
Even if I disable all checkboxes in "Metadata lookup", MM sends data to somewhere on the web.
After deselecting all "Sources" for metadata lookup" MM secretly re-enables all three options.

How can I use the [My Library] info box without MM sending track data? You could say, don't use the infobox at all, but with certain search options (Find more from the same...) the infobox is automatically activated (and occupies the artwork with nonsense from the web)
At the moment I have banned all internet access in the firewall and use Drakinite's ShowLinks for searching. But when burning I have to access external programs again.

To summarize: more transparency which, when and where my data are distributed and the option to exclude certain or all targets is essential for data protection.

I agree completely. I request MM support to specifically respond to the questions highlighted in red text above please. It would also be great to have an option in MM configuration to disable each type or destination specific external calls.

[Rob_S]

Would it be possible to have site by site exceptions to a "No access" setting overall?

ie If I click on for example search images I would get a dialog "allow access to google.com (or whatever site is involved) - never, one time only, always??" and the search would proceed accordingly, with my response recorded for future attempts?

If I click on any operation requiring internet access, I would be given the name of the site that would be used, and the same choices.

This would also need a reset to clear all previous permissions in the options dialog.

[Peke]

Hi,
Delete Google plugin and check again, also I have not observed MM to phone home or any site just out of the sudden.

What you ask of MM is implementing fully flagged Firewall in MM.

What you want you can easily get with Free https://www.binisoft.org/wfc which when you enable notifications would literally ask you for all traffic, personally MM is least of your worries.

[Rob_S]

I would be quite happy with an option to turn off all online access.

Others might want that as well except they might want some functions to work.

I was suggesting a method to please everyone.

[Peke]

Hi,
That is what WFC is for, you can fine grain it to the perfection.

[Timo_Beil]

Hi,
Delete Google plugin and check again

If THIS is the common method for operating MM by end users, surely you have a link to the corresponding place in the help wiki?

What you ask of MM is implementing fully flagged Firewall in MM.

I don't believe that MM should protect the entire PC from unwanted sending of private data like a firewall. It would be enough if his own need to communicate could be controlled at all or more precisely.

I'm using MFC for some time now. You can't ask end users to work out the addresses of the individual targets in order to build suitable rules in a firewall addon on each PC running MM.

[Peke]

If THIS is the common method for operating MM by end users, surely you have a link to the corresponding place in the help wiki?

Just delete google drive from Scripts folder.

I don't believe that MM should protect the entire PC from unwanted sending of private data like a firewall. It would be enough if his own need to communicate could be controlled at all or more precisely.

No need to protect whole PC but behave liek firewall limited to itself.

I'm using MFC for some time now. You can't ask end users to work out the addresses of the individual targets in order to build suitable rules in a firewall addon on each PC running MM.

WFC Can be used for privacy mode (High profile) or just block MM an dignore rest (eg. no notification, MM apps always block). Exporting Such rules can help us to build what most of users wants to block and then we can approach finding way to block something and not cripple MM too much in the process.

[Poiesis]

I'm looking for a way to disable any automatic MMW5 connection to internet (but without disconnecting the Pc with the NAS). I prefer to decide time by time if and when to send a request to any external site: wikipedia, last.fm, musicbrainz or any other.
Thanks

[Timo_Beil]

You're not the first one, worry about privacy.
https://www.mediamonkey.com/forum/viewt ... p?t=105472

[Rob_S]

I very much support this request.

If I turn off background metadata lookup and image search, I see no reason for MM to use Internet unless I actually open online sources

However, when you think the program is actually built on a web browser (chromium) and after re-reading the following thread, I see very little chance of this happening

https://www.mediamonkey.com/forum/viewt ... 55#p515555