Possible to subscribe but not send viewing data?

[ogre73]

Hello. This may be my first post on here, but I hav been reading and searching for hours trying to figure out if this is possible. First, before anyone has thoughts of "that guy wants to steal service", get that crap out of your head now. I pay for a sub to both my S2 DT and my S2 single tuner stand-alones, and it will stay that way. I like having the service, and like knowing what I have recorded (being able to see the name).

My concern is this, and has been ever since the Janet Jackson "wardrobe malfunction" during the Super Bowl: TiVo obviously knows what people are recording, and what they are pausing, and what they are reviewing. I know that this data gets sent to TiVo, and I know that it is supposed to be kept anonymous. I am, however, one of those "conspiracy theory" kind of people, and I want to know if it is possible to still subscribe, but not have to send my viewing data to anywhere?

Thanks for any help here.
Ogre

[Da Goon]

TiVo offers the option for customers who don't want anonymous viewing information collected to be "opted-out". I don't know if you are looking for some kind of "hack" to disable this, if there is one for S2 units, I'm unaware of it. http://www.tivo.com/5.11.3.asp

[ogre73]

OK, so this is kind of like the used car dealer promising that the car you are about to buy has been driven by a little old lady and she drove it only 35000 miles in the last 10 years. Promise. You can't really know that the odometer wasn't turned back, and unless you hire a private investigator, you don't know who owned it. What I'm saying is that you need to take their word for it. I'm not entirely sure I like that or trust that.

So I will do all I can that way to ensure that my viewing info doesn't get collected, but I guess if there was a S2 hack for this I wouldn't turn it down.

[Mars]

I can't imagine what you could possibly view and have to be concerned later that someone knows what you were watching. Some of us have figured it actually can be a way to "vote" for your favorite shows. Might keep it from being canceled. The data is only specific to number of people in your zip code area watched a certain show. Relax!

[classicsat]

Don't get a TiVo then.

[David Platt]

People on other forums more centered on hacking have analyzed the information sent to TiVo and have determined that it is indeed truly anonymous and contains no personal information. We're not allowed to post the name of that forum here due to this forum's rules, but a quick google on TiVo hacking should get you to it fairly easily.

[Turtleboy]

This isn't an attack, but an honest question. Please explain to me what your concern is, because I don't get it.

I don't understand why anyone would care if Tivo knows what they are watching. Again, I'm not saying your opinion is wrong, I'm just trying to understand it.

[mick66]

What I'm saying is that you need to take their word for it. I'm not entirely sure I like that or trust that.

Are you equally paranoid about your cable company knowing what you're watching? maybe they say they don't track that information, but are you going to believe them?

Are your doors locked? They're out there and they're going to get you. Sshh, I think I hear them coming now.

[BTUx9]

OK, so this is kind of like the used car dealer promising that the car you are about to buy has been driven by a little old lady and she drove it only 35000 miles in the last 10 years. Promise. You can't really know that the odometer wasn't turned back, and unless you hire a private investigator, you don't know who owned it. What I'm saying is that you need to take their word for it. I'm not entirely sure I like that or trust that.

So I will do all I can that way to ensure that my viewing info doesn't get collected, but I guess if there was a S2 hack for this I wouldn't turn it down.
You may also want to check on that "other" forum... it may very well be that when you opt out, that data is never xferred, which would prove the little old lady claims.
(network sniffing and/or file access check on the tivo could verify this)

[ogre73]

OK, OK.

Mars: It's not what I'm watching that I am concerned with people knowing. I have the most basic cable package (also known as the network package) that only includes about 25 channels, because I don't want a cable box.

Classicsat: If I don't do TiVo, the options are to get the cable company's dvr or build a dvr for myself and use one of the other software packages out there. Of the things I have listed, I trust TiVo the most, so lesser of three evils.

David: That is the kind of information I like to hear. Thank you for the informative, non-inflammatory reply.

Turtleboy: See my response to Mars.

mick: Thanks. Now I am going to have to install new locks. Great. Thanks. (Just kidding)? No, I would not like for the cable company to know what I watch. I don't really think it is any of their business. If I could, I would set up a huge antenna tower and would receive all of the (25 or so) channels that I get now through the cable company over the air. I just don't know why they would think they have a right to that info just because they are providing me with the service. If I were receiving a discount on that service as a result of providing that info, then it may be more understandable, but I'm not.

BTU: Do you know how I can Opt-out? I have checked on my Manage my Account page, and it says that for both units I am Opt-default. Does anyone know how I can Opt-out?

Ogre

[IcedTivo]

Call or email customer support.

You could also delete your logs daily w/TWP; I recall seeing a script for that but having no interest in such a thing don't have any info on it..