What does Apple know about my iTunes library?

August 1, 2006 6:29 AM

How much does iTunes know about mp3s I add to my library? I buy from emusic; download the occasional podcast; and get stuff from archive.org--nothing from the iTunes store, ever. Nevertheless, does some kinda list of what I have in iTunes get beamed back to the Apple mothership via the iTunes software?
posted by mundy to computers & internet (3 comments total)

Apart from the iTunes Ministore (an optional feature that is only used to show you recommendations from the store based on what you've got in your library), no.
posted by chrismear at 6:34 AM on August 1, 2006

A little healthy paranoia is not a bad thing but you are pretty safe unless, as chrismear points out, you have the nasty little Ministore turned on. Turn it off and leave it off. I hate these "tools" that suggest other things that I might like based on what I am playing or reading (or whatever) at that moment in time.
posted by 543DoublePlay at 6:46 AM on August 1, 2006

It's not free, but you can also try Little Snitch which can be set to prevent certain apps from "phoning home."
posted by terrapin at 6:50 AM on August 1, 2006