AutoSketch

[#1]

Bob or Melissa,
A few weeks back, it was reported in this newsgroup that version 8 "may"
have attempted a background communication attempt on a computer that was
dialed in to the internet.

Please explain why this would be on the new version of AutoSketch. Some
programs have legitimate reasons and often allow a user setting to turn
off such a *feature.

Unfortunately, masses do not run any form of "outbound" firewall so
those with the product installed likely will not have any idea it is
doing this. The common view of this type of activity is referred to as
"Spyware".
Spyware, if indeed Sketch now has it, is not a very popular thing to
have in a software.

What is V8 connecting for, and to whom ?

Thanks,

Chris L

[#2]

Chris, AutoSketch 8 has been added to the Point A connection and I thought I
saw mention of automatic update notification being enabled with this version
of Sketch so that notification of new updates will be sent, much like
"AutoCAD Today" does in AutoCAD 2000i and later. From the menu bar at the
top of the screen, click the "A" button for PointA (directly below Database
in the menu.)

You'll notice that AutoSketch-specific topics will be listed on the Point A
page, like the link to this Discussion Group and the current topic
"AutoSketch on CADInfo.net". The intent is for new AutoSketch users to gain
access to a wider community of Sketch users and get useful utilities from a
central source.

I'm familiar with Steve Gibson's Gibson Research Corporation web page
(http://grc.com/downloaders.htm) that made the great utility "Optout"
available until last year. I'm not aware of any spyware installed with
AutoSketch that captures a unique ID tag to send anywhere. There is no
NetZip-descended downloader incorporated into AutoSketch as discussed in the
above link.

Could you point out for me the previous thread that discusses the background
communication attempt? I did a quick search by title and wasn't able to
locate the topic. Perhaps it was further back than 500 messages?

What might have been noticed was the traffic to PointA to determine if there
were updates available. I tried to ping the IP address that Barry
Higginbottom mentioned in a quoted reply by John Ehman and found no response
to 212.248.131.28.

I noticed that Barry was in the UK, and perhaps the IP address was his local
mirror site for PointA in the UK.
We have a support center in the London suburbs that may have had a
dynamically assigned IP at the time he saw the traffic.


Chris L wrote:

> Bob or Melissa,
> A few weeks back, it was reported in this newsgroup that version 8 "may"
> have attempted a background communication attempt on a computer that was
> dialed in to the internet.
>
> Please explain why this would be on the new version of AutoSketch. Some
> programs have legitimate reasons and often allow a user setting to turn
> off such a *feature.
>
> Unfortunately, masses do not run any form of "outbound" firewall so
> those with the product installed likely will not have any idea it is
> doing this. The common view of this type of activity is referred to as
> "Spyware".
> Spyware, if indeed Sketch now has it, is not a very popular thing to
> have in a software.
>
> What is V8 connecting for, and to whom ?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Chris L

--
Bob Felton
Autodesk Product Support, Americas
WW Support and Services, Autodesk
Discussion Q & A: <>

[#3]

John Ehman reported last week as follows:

"After 20 nodes (from Central California) that address appears to be in
Southwark near London, England."

That's where it may be originating and its destination. Why a low end
intro product would do such a thing is a mystery. Maybe ADSK is looking
for likely candidates to upgrade to LT!

I use Zone Alarm to prevent apps from phoning home. ZA has other
features, but this was the main one I wanted. It seems to work, but why
one should concern oneself with it using an ADSK product is troubling. I
prevent pings with Black Ice also. Could be that those two apps should
be used in concert with V8.

I've chosen not to go further with Sketch. Could be this is a good
reason, although I'm naturally paranoid. For the prevention of disease
only, of course.

Chris L wrote:
>
> Bob or Melissa,
> A few weeks back, it was reported in this newsgroup that version 8 "may"
> have attempted a background communication attempt on a computer that was
> dialed in to the internet.
>
> Please explain why this would be on the new version of AutoSketch. Some
> programs have legitimate reasons and often allow a user setting to turn
> off such a *feature.
>
> Unfortunately, masses do not run any form of "outbound" firewall so
> those with the product installed likely will not have any idea it is
> doing this. The common view of this type of activity is referred to as
> "Spyware".
> Spyware, if indeed Sketch now has it, is not a very popular thing to
> have in a software.
>
> What is V8 connecting for, and to whom ?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Chris L

[#4]

> Could you point out for me the previous thread that discusses the background
> communication attempt? I did a quick search by title and wasn't able to
> locate the topic. Perhaps it was further back than 500 messages?

Go to 1/16/02, thread entitled "More problems importing LT2002 drawings
with AS8" from Barry Higgenbottom. That's where John mentioned this.

[#5]

Thank-you Bob for the explanation.

The past message in regards the issue I think has been posted here already. I
was under the influence that the connection attempt was only allowed to see
where it was going, but not allowed to actually connect. Not sure. I do know
that it was ZA that caught it. Boy, do I like ZA in this regard of outgoing
traffic!

If this "addition" has no method to completely eliminate the background traffic
or no user settings to make it an option, Likely myself and I am sure others
will depart ways with Sketch. I realize that more and more software applications
want to automate my life but there are way too many circumastances where such
"activity" just will not be allowed by me. The largest Software supplier has
demonstrated that too much "automation by default" is just plain dangerous in a
world full of crooks.

Companies can tell us whatever they would like to in regards what is being
transferred (like the famous "MS is not retrieving any information from your
computer", and "Always trust MS content"-----Right.....) , yet, unless we are
related to a man like Mr.Gibson, we may never know what information *actually*
transfers from our computers. We should not necessarily just stand by and hope
it is ok.

The concept of checking for updates, connecting users to a worldwide user
network are all fine on the surface. But, Unfortunately, 13 year old Script
kiddies can use poorly implimented concepts to compromise private information.
Is the background "pointA" communication "poorly laid out"? I do not know. I do
find myself correlating the concept of "poorly Something" when I dwell on the
thought that "this" was added *instead* of the users requests that have been
discussed in this newsgroup over the last 2+ years !

Think for a moment of a company with numerous copies of Sketch AND Customer
Credit Card information and you can see why the management gets nervous when
software communicates without our permission or knowledge.

At Minimal, the Sketch Manual should SAY that this is going to communicate by
default AND have an option to turn it off other than relying on 3rd party
"communication police" software. Maybe it does. I can't bring it into use until
I know.

Sure, It sounds like paranoia to a certain extent, But I am not sure a $100 give
or take program like Sketch needs any such "world wide user support" techniques
( I can only speak English), ESPECIALLY, and let me emphasize again ESPECIALLY
when many of the "drawing features", that individuals have been asking to have
fixed go un-addressed.

Sketch Users have come to know that Newsgroup type support for the product is
not very popular in regards A-Desk Contributions. Its low cost would clearly
have something to do with that, and really I must say "hats off" to those long
time Newsgroup fellows that have been here. They have been doing a lot of work
to help support the program.

What would be very helpful to know is if there is a new "goal" of actually
providing routine upgrades for Version 8. And, hopefully upgrades that would
address the very few real "inconveniences" in the program. THEN, this new world
wide update thing may be nice. I am skeptic because I just have not seen that
kind of directional view point from AutoDesk with previous program releases.

AutoSketch is a great 2d program. There truly are some great uses for it in
small size companies for everything from Flow Charting to Floor Planning. It has
been very easy to teach to even those who have had no drawing experience. I for
one, really hate to see it slip out from under me because it never gets those
Inconveniences addressed. With V8 and those issues still outstanding, things do
not look promising.

Just my opinion.

thanks,
Chris Luebke

"Bob Felton (Autodesk Support)" wrote:

> Chris, AutoSketch 8 has been added to the Point A connection and I thought I
> saw mention of automatic update notification being enabled with this version
> of Sketch so that notification of new updates will be sent, much like
> "AutoCAD Today" does in AutoCAD 2000i and later. From the menu bar at the
> top of the screen, click the "A" button for PointA (directly below Database
> in the menu.)
>
> You'll notice that AutoSketch-specific topics will be listed on the Point A
> page, like the link to this Discussion Group and the current topic
> "AutoSketch on CADInfo.net". The intent is for new AutoSketch users to gain
> access to a wider community of Sketch users and get useful utilities from a
> central source.
>
> I'm familiar with Steve Gibson's Gibson Research Corporation web page
> (http://grc.com/downloaders.htm) that made the great utility "Optout"
> available until last year. I'm not aware of any spyware installed with
> AutoSketch that captures a unique ID tag to send anywhere. There is no
> NetZip-descended downloader incorporated into AutoSketch as discussed in the
> above link.
>
> Could you point out for me the previous thread that discusses the background
> communication attempt? I did a quick search by title and wasn't able to
> locate the topic. Perhaps it was further back than 500 messages?
>
> What might have been noticed was the traffic to PointA to determine if there
> were updates available. I tried to ping the IP address that Barry
> Higginbottom mentioned in a quoted reply by John Ehman and found no response
> to 212.248.131.28.
>
> I noticed that Barry was in the UK, and perhaps the IP address was his local
> mirror site for PointA in the UK.
> We have a support center in the London suburbs that may have had a
> dynamically assigned IP at the time he saw the traffic.
>
> Chris L wrote:
>
> > Bob or Melissa,
> > A few weeks back, it was reported in this newsgroup that version 8 "may"
> > have attempted a background communication attempt on a computer that was
> > dialed in to the internet.
> >
> > Please explain why this would be on the new version of AutoSketch. Some
> > programs have legitimate reasons and often allow a user setting to turn
> > off such a *feature.
> >
> > Unfortunately, masses do not run any form of "outbound" firewall so
> > those with the product installed likely will not have any idea it is
> > doing this. The common view of this type of activity is referred to as
> > "Spyware".
> > Spyware, if indeed Sketch now has it, is not a very popular thing to
> > have in a software.
> >
> > What is V8 connecting for, and to whom ?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Chris L
>
> --
> Bob Felton
> Autodesk Product Support, Americas
> WW Support and Services, Autodesk
> Discussion Q & A: <>

[#6]

Bob

Well since it was me that it happened to I thought that I should report back
to say that there has been no further instances of AS8 trying to 'phone
home'. I have been using the product on a daily basis and ZA has not since
reported any misdemeanours!

Just out of interest my previous postings concerning problems importing dwg
files, I did get one reply form Melissa but ny reply to her has not been
answered. Is there any likelihood of anything being further resolved with
regard to dwg imports?

Barry.

"Bob Felton (Autodesk Support)" wrote in
message news:3C5B024F.AC34426D@autodesk.com...
> Chris, AutoSketch 8 has been added to the Point A connection and I thought
I
> saw mention of automatic update notification being enabled with this
version
> of Sketch so that notification of new updates will be sent, much like
> "AutoCAD Today" does in AutoCAD 2000i and later. From the menu bar at the
> top of the screen, click the "A" button for PointA (directly below
Database
> in the menu.)
>
> You'll notice that AutoSketch-specific topics will be listed on the Point
A
> page, like the link to this Discussion Group and the current topic
> "AutoSketch on CADInfo.net". The intent is for new AutoSketch users to
gain
> access to a wider community of Sketch users and get useful utilities from
a
> central source.
>
> I'm familiar with Steve Gibson's Gibson Research Corporation web page
> (http://grc.com/downloaders.htm) that made the great utility "Optout"
> available until last year. I'm not aware of any spyware installed with
> AutoSketch that captures a unique ID tag to send anywhere. There is no
> NetZip-descended downloader incorporated into AutoSketch as discussed in
the
> above link.
>
> Could you point out for me the previous thread that discusses the
background
> communication attempt? I did a quick search by title and wasn't able to
> locate the topic. Perhaps it was further back than 500 messages?
>
> What might have been noticed was the traffic to PointA to determine if
there
> were updates available. I tried to ping the IP address that Barry
> Higginbottom mentioned in a quoted reply by John Ehman and found no
response
> to 212.248.131.28.
>
> I noticed that Barry was in the UK, and perhaps the IP address was his
local
> mirror site for PointA in the UK.
> We have a support center in the London suburbs that may have had a
> dynamically assigned IP at the time he saw the traffic.
>
>
> Chris L wrote:
>
> > Bob or Melissa,
> > A few weeks back, it was reported in this newsgroup that version 8 "may"
> > have attempted a background communication attempt on a computer that was
> > dialed in to the internet.
> >
> > Please explain why this would be on the new version of AutoSketch. Some
> > programs have legitimate reasons and often allow a user setting to turn
> > off such a *feature.
> >
> > Unfortunately, masses do not run any form of "outbound" firewall so
> > those with the product installed likely will not have any idea it is
> > doing this. The common view of this type of activity is referred to as
> > "Spyware".
> > Spyware, if indeed Sketch now has it, is not a very popular thing to
> > have in a software.
> >
> > What is V8 connecting for, and to whom ?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Chris L
>
> --
> Bob Felton
> Autodesk Product Support, Americas
> WW Support and Services, Autodesk
> Discussion Q & A: <>
>
>


---
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Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
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[#7]

Could have been a "run once" entry..... But then I doubt it would be anything to
do with this "Point A" thing. Who knows ??? I'm not getting it.

I'm going to look at the one (turbocad) we used to snear at when they went out
of business. They offer upgrade pricing from version to version and have gained
a large following. 3d and lots of NG support too.

If you can't beat 'em, Join Em ??

Chris L

Barry Higginbottom wrote:

> Bob
>
> Well since it was me that it happened to I thought that I should report back
> to say that there has been no further instances of AS8 trying to 'phone
> home'. I have been using the product on a daily basis and ZA has not since
> reported any misdemeanours!
>
> Just out of interest my previous postings concerning problems importing dwg
> files, I did get one reply form Melissa but ny reply to her has not been
> answered. Is there any likelihood of anything being further resolved with
> regard to dwg imports?
>
> Barry.
>
> "Bob Felton (Autodesk Support)" wrote in
> message news:3C5B024F.AC34426D@autodesk.com...
> > Chris, AutoSketch 8 has been added to the Point A connection and I thought
> I
> > saw mention of automatic update notification being enabled with this
> version
> > of Sketch so that notification of new updates will be sent, much like
> > "AutoCAD Today" does in AutoCAD 2000i and later. From the menu bar at the
> > top of the screen, click the "A" button for PointA (directly below
> Database
> > in the menu.)
> >
> > You'll notice that AutoSketch-specific topics will be listed on the Point
> A
> > page, like the link to this Discussion Group and the current topic
> > "AutoSketch on CADInfo.net". The intent is for new AutoSketch users to
> gain
> > access to a wider community of Sketch users and get useful utilities from
> a
> > central source.
> >
> > I'm familiar with Steve Gibson's Gibson Research Corporation web page
> > (http://grc.com/downloaders.htm) that made the great utility "Optout"
> > available until last year. I'm not aware of any spyware installed with
> > AutoSketch that captures a unique ID tag to send anywhere. There is no
> > NetZip-descended downloader incorporated into AutoSketch as discussed in
> the
> > above link.
> >
> > Could you point out for me the previous thread that discusses the
> background
> > communication attempt? I did a quick search by title and wasn't able to
> > locate the topic. Perhaps it was further back than 500 messages?
> >
> > What might have been noticed was the traffic to PointA to determine if
> there
> > were updates available. I tried to ping the IP address that Barry
> > Higginbottom mentioned in a quoted reply by John Ehman and found no
> response
> > to 212.248.131.28.
> >
> > I noticed that Barry was in the UK, and perhaps the IP address was his
> local
> > mirror site for PointA in the UK.
> > We have a support center in the London suburbs that may have had a
> > dynamically assigned IP at the time he saw the traffic.
> >
> >
> > Chris L wrote:
> >
> > > Bob or Melissa,
> > > A few weeks back, it was reported in this newsgroup that version 8 "may"
> > > have attempted a background communication attempt on a computer that was
> > > dialed in to the internet.
> > >
> > > Please explain why this would be on the new version of AutoSketch. Some
> > > programs have legitimate reasons and often allow a user setting to turn
> > > off such a *feature.
> > >
> > > Unfortunately, masses do not run any form of "outbound" firewall so
> > > those with the product installed likely will not have any idea it is
> > > doing this. The common view of this type of activity is referred to as
> > > "Spyware".
> > > Spyware, if indeed Sketch now has it, is not a very popular thing to
> > > have in a software.
> > >
> > > What is V8 connecting for, and to whom ?
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > >
> > > Chris L
> >
> > --
> > Bob Felton
> > Autodesk Product Support, Americas
> > WW Support and Services, Autodesk
> > Discussion Q & A: <>
> >
> >
>
> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.320 / Virus Database: 179 - Release Date: 30/01/2002