Adobe Photoshop now spyware:

[alpal]

Gee whizz -
I'm glad I use a very old version of Photoshop -
none of the hassles of the latest version.
They insist on access to all your work.


https://petapixel.com/2024/06/06/photographers-outraged-by-adobes-new-privacy-and-content-terms/
Photographers Outraged by Adobe’s New Privacy and Content Terms.


Jun 06, 2024
Adobe, no stranger to controversy, finds itself in hot water yet again. People have taken note of updated terms of use for using Adobe software and are outraged, fearing that Adobe has complete access to a user’s content.

If users want to continue using the Adobe app in question, they must accept the revised terms of use, which is standard practice. They cannot continue using Adobe apps and services if they close the window without accepting.

Here it is. If you are a professional, if you are under NDA with your clients, if you are a creative, a lawyer, a doctor or anyone who works with proprietary files - it is time to cancel Adobe, delete all the apps and programs. Adobe can not be trusted.
One sentence in the pop-up has raised hackles among creative professionals: “Clarified that we may access your content through both automated and manual methods, such as for content review.”
“So Adobe can now spy on all the projects being worked on right now? That’s insane,” writes one Reddit user in a highly upvoted post about the controversy on r/technology.
“All that NDA work…” another user laments.
Numerous creative professionals are extremely upset, too, including designer Wetterschneider and artist Sam Santala.

[alpal]

It's discussed on Whirlpool:

Adobe break ur NDAs via PShop and Lightroom terms. - Retouching - Photography - Whirlpool Forums (https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/thread/9n1jln5p)


In a disturbing policy change, Adobe will not let users continue to use PhotoShop or Lightroom without first accepting new terms that give Adobe automated and manual access to your imagery.
All files stored in the Adobe Cloud, and any file where Content Aware or Generative Fill are used, is likely to be transmitted to Adobe where they can review and use as they please (ie, to train their AI models).
This will greatly concern commercial users who have signed NDAs with their clients.
Your portrait customers might not be too thrilled with their likenesses being used to power AI image generation either. There is seemingly no way to opt-out this time.
"...we may access your content through both automated and manual methods, such as for content review..."
"...using machine learning in order to improve our Service and Software..."

[leon]

Wow, that is just not right, :sadeyes: I too use Adobe Photoshop 2, old version but excellent for my needs, :thumbsup: it seems best to stay old school.:shrug:

Leon :thumbsup:

[alpal]

Me too - I hope it gets challenged in court.
No one should have a right to spy on your computer.

[Leo.G]

Apparently they get the rights to your work or some such RUBBISH according to what I read somewhere, may have been Whirlpool, may have been a computer related news email my son gets.
I liked the days when you bought the software/games and you owned the software /games, now this subscription based is ripping people off. Now many packages (and games) you pay a subscription to open up the features you really want. It would be like paying for a high level Tesla and having to pay a subscription to have the seat heaters working. WAIT..... They do that too, everything is built into the vehicle you purchase but if you don't know how to hack it (and my son would soon figure it out were I a Muskite (I'm NOT, FAR from it I can't stand the bloke or his BS)) but if you've paid for the feature in the cost of the vehicle it should be yours to use as you please without this subscription.

I love how one of the big business software packages whose name evades me (like most things), oh, MYOB, they advertise pay only for the months you really need it. I've managed a couple of businesses in my younger years, you always needed the accounting software, there wasn't an option to just skip this month and save money, the taxation office wouldn't have liked me for that I'm sure.


I see so many people moving to open source software which to be honest isn't quite as powerful as the professional packages but at what cost?

[Crater101]

I've continued to use Photoshop CS6 for some years now, and for the first time recently I got a little pop-up to say that this version is no longer supported. The timing of the pop-up coincided with the change in the new terms of use. :question:

Previously, there was an option - hidden deep within the settings - of Photoshop that you could turn off the sharing / Adobe access to your files. I haven't checked, but it would appear now that this option has been removed.

While you can use photoshop offline, depending on your subscription, you must log into your Adobe account at least once ever 30 days if your'e billed monthly (I think it's 90 days if you bill annually) to continue to use the software, so even working offline Adobe will eventually get the opportunity to see what you've been doing.

It will be interesting to see what comes from this. I'm going to start exploring other image processing programs. I wonder if Adobe has gone a step too far, and shot itself in the foot.

[alpal]

Maybe the answer will be for people to get an old copy of CS5.1 64 bit
and just block it in their firewall?
That old version is well before subscriptions were made
and doesn't need a connection to the internet to run.
Old is better.

[AnakChan]

I take it Adobe hasn’t actually tried to sue anyone using older versions too?

https://fstoppers.com/legal/adobe-customers-using-old-software-threatened-legal-action-company-battle-dolby-369032

Anyhow on the more current news I’m gonna stop my subscription of Lightroom. Will just have to find another photo organising software.

[Atmos]

I moved over to Capture One a couple of years ago. You can use a subscription OR buy it outright. I opted for the latter myself.

It allows Lightroom Library imports so you don’t lose all of your organising… not all of it anyway.

[leon]

I take it Adobe hasn’t actually tried to sue anyone using older versions too?


Sean, how could they possibly sue you for using a copy of PS when you legally bought it some years ago and own it outright and don't need to use it online.:shrug:

Leon:thumbsup:

[AnakChan]

I don't know how as I'm not Adobe (although technically, I could think of a few different sneaky indirect ways they could do it).

But per the link I shared in my original post (and here's another post (https://www.vice.com/en/article/a3xk3p/adobe-tells-users-they-can-get-sued-for-using-old-versions-of-photoshop) from Vice) of Adobe warning users on using older version of software.

[leon]

Thanks for the second link again Sean, but seriously I don't believe they would have a leg to stand on if I, or someone bought a copy of PS many years ago, had a licence for it, and had used it for ten years.

Thanks for sharing that.

leon

[alpal]

You never know what lawyers will try when backed up by $millions?

I suppose we'll have to wait for a test case?
Perhaps Adobe will go after a major user for profit -
perhaps a medical imaging company? -
or maybe a news organisation?
- some company that makes a lot of money out of Photoshop
and didn't read the pages of fine print?

[Leo.G]

Piracy, crack codes and a rush on open source?





They have had some BS fair use policy, apparently, we never purchased the software, we only purchased a part time licensing.



I have always had a lot of respect for AutoDesk, they had (may still have) a student licensing system where anyone with student credentials (studying) could get full, unrestricted access to any of their software though on the outer perimeter of a border it would say student license if you printed the things out and no need to pay expensive licensing or trial periods. Other software offering student discounts would give very cut down versions (Autodesk was free, full working versions) and often no save capacity. My son had Autodesk engineering as he was studying at the time, amazing software, I was welding up a jig for bending 1" box section (1/8" or 25x25x3mm) 90 degree radius using the jig and 12 tonne press and designed and welded this thing up with the strongest steel I had laying around and my son came in and in minutes designed it on his computer and showed me the points at which it would fail. After studying fabrication engineering I stated the software was incorrect. You'd never guess exactly where my bending jig failed, right where the program said it would. I'd used 6mm steel and only a small radius and well braced, I was sure it would be fine. It's now 10mm steel with reinforcing 12mm square solid bar along its side edges, it won't fail again.

Sometimes I get it right, not often but when it matters, thankfully.

[rustigsmed]

GIMP 3 is neeeeeeeaarly here....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0bpGdpBvvw
will be a solid update/improvement

[AstroViking]

Affinity Photo is a solid Photoshop competitor (especially when you add James Ritson's macro library) and according to the email Affinity sent me last week all their products are 50% off.

Yes, I bought Affinity Photo, but I am NOT otherwise affiliated with the company in any way, shape or form.

Cheers,
V.

[AnakChan]

I've got Affinity Photo too for quite a few years now. Mostly compatible with PS. Interesting workflow though that may need a little getting used to.

I do with Affinity will make a Lightroom photo management equivalent. Looking at Darktable or Peakto as a replacement.

[Nikolas]

Looks like the backlash had some effect (https://petapixel.com/2024/06/10/adobe-revising-terms-of-use-to-clarify-content-licensing-ai-and-privacy/)

[alpal]

The thing is -
can the latest Photoshop still work if you block it in your firewall?

[Nikolas]

yes I still use it even if I'm
I'm not connected to the internet no issue, never even seen that agreement pop up.
I don't save my work to the cloud only on my device.

[AstralTraveller]

There is the free software packages GIMP, Raw Therapee and Darktable available for Windows, Mac and Linux. I don't know how they compare to Photoshop but they are more than adequate for my needs.

[Ryderscope]

I was just having this thought myself Nik which is the answer is to not store your files on the clouds. I have a bank of large capacity NAS on my system and store all of my work locally. That should be out of the reach of Adobe unless they maliciously access local files as well.

[Leo.G]

Saving to the cloud may be what brings the pop ups?
I have nothing to do with the cloud, it's bugged me for years, lol.
In all seriousness I know just a little about computers and my son knows a hell of a lot more running his own server network and an ability to program in any language. We've oft discussed the reality of security issues with the cloud yet everyone thinks it's the greatest thing since sliced bread (Or Elon Musk).
"We'll keep your data for you, it WILL not be secure!"
No thank you, my data is my data!

[alpal]

The cloud is everywhere now.
The cloud saving of data is very concerning for Windows users -
it can be difficult to even turn it off with Win11.
I have Win10.
Our privacy is getting harder and harder to hold on to.
See the link below of how you have to fight with Windows
to preserve your privacy.

https://www.computerworld.com/article/1616461/how-to-protect-your-privacy-in-windows-11.html

[Crater101]

I still use Win 10, but that article was an eye-opener in some respects. Thanks! :)

[Leo.G]

I still run Windows 7 from back when we still had clear skies and none of this cloud vulnerability we're being force fed "is secure" BS.
How about we ask Medicare and Optus about the security of our data?
Wait.......
I'd rather purchase another 2TB drive than rely on someone else securing my data for me. Call me old, call me stupid but my privacy extends as far as the information I care to freely share.

[alpal]

There is a good video about it and 2,645 Comments.

ADOBE LOOKS AT YOUR PRIVATE PICS!! Seriously.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEbgh-q7RCc