Emerald Viewer Snoop Device

It's been publicised elsewhere that some opportunist has a gadget for sale that will intercept the Emerald client whenever its user looks at a profile. In the interests of not discouraging people from either filling in their profiles, or other people from looking at profiles, here's a little more information.

This little script will allow you to listen to your own Emerald Bridge (I'm not going to get into how you would listen to other people's even though I'm sure anyone with moderate scripting skills can probably work it out).

default
{
    state_entry()
    {
        // Listen to Emerald's Bridge Channel
        llListen((integer)("0x"+llGetSubString(llMD5String((string)llGetOwner(),1),0,6)),"",llGetOwner(),"");
    }

    listen(integer channel, string name, key id, string message)
    {
        llOwnerSay(message);
    }
}

The bridge basically hears two types of request: [online_status], and [pos]. The former is used whenever a profile is viewed (and it's this that is being intercepted), and the later is used by the Emerald Radar.

To negate the snooping device you simply need to uncheck the Emerald's 'True online status in profiles' feature (Under: Edit... Preferences... Emerald... Page 1... Misc).

I guess there's a certain poetic justice that to disable one snoop device you have to disable a different snoop device.

You can, of course, uncheck, and check this option as required (the setting will be changed real-time). I believe it is also the case that later versions of Emerald will randomise the channel used by the Bridge.

It bears repeating that this only works on Emerald 950. Older versions don't use the bridge, and subsequent versions won't be using predictable channels like this.

Why would I care that someone knows I'm using Emerald? And why would they care in the first place?

It's not that someone is using Emerald, it's that it tells the world whose profiles someone is peeking into. That creeps some people out, they like to do their stalking in private

The shame is that the device in question is designed not only to intercept the fact that an Emerald user is looking at a particular profile (arguably no worse than the fact that the Emerald viewer similarly exploits the online status leak in Linden's server code), but it will also optionally relay that information in open chat.

So, someone quite legitimately looking at profiles can have that activity spammed into open chat potentially embarrassing them.

One thing they may, or may not, be aware of is that an Emerald user can in turn determine who owns any object talking in open chat simply by clicking on the object's name in the chat window.

So this is not an anonymous stunt.

Actually, what's really hilarious is that I sell an object which is no more than a "talker" that lets the owner TELL everybody in chat just exactly who they are perving! It's a pretty good seller too, so I guess it really depends on which crowd you're in

I don't understand why someone is a perv , or is stalking for looking at a profile .
If that is true, whats the point of all the info we put into them like our picks of fav places and such . if you have alot to hide don't put it in your profile,
Looking at a profile eliminates the need to ask alot of questions. and how most of us find out where people are selling items , also some of the best clubs. We all need to chill on the profile scare. It's not a big of a deal as some are making it out to be .

Yup. I work with newbies all the time. We tell them to fill in their profiles and we show them how to get to know other people by looking at their profiles. It's a terrific way for people to get suggestions about interesting places top visit or groups to join. The notes pages in a profile is a good place to store your own reminders about a person that you just met, too. There's nothing pervy about it.

the other problem with advertising which viewer you are using is that the information can be used to target any known exploits in that viewer (or features, like llTextbox) win some lose some...

Dunno though, might be fun to make an attachment that sends messages to listeners on that channel to mind their own business LOL

or better, duplicate the normal output and then have them wonder why their special coding isn't working as planned =X

my thoughs about all these snoop and privacy fringe features is that is will discurrage people from using these viewers
-was that intended?
if not ..
mission failed
:/

No, many many people use them because of these features. These were some of the first features mentioned during the 3rd Party Viewer brown-bag meetings with the Lindens, when Jeska asked everybody what features we used the most and felt were the most important.

This.

Silly me I thought profiles were there to be looked at

All these paranoia features in Emerald are there for people who want to see everything about everything all the time. Really, this divatude paranoia can only go so far until it becomes a dramafest to end all friendships. (=_=)

*Are you looking at me!?!?!?!

*Are you reading my profile!?!?!?!

*Why are you standing at a store two sims away from me!?!?!?

*Don't bother TPing me, I know where you are!!!!

*I see you typing, what makes you think you can IM me all of the sudden?!?!?!?!

--Which eventually leads to....

*Why did you just unfriend me right now!?!?!?!

--Hoooo boy. What's next? (=_=)

**yawn** I'd rather not live in fear of the people around me. (=_=)y

You misunderstand me. I'm not saying someone is a perv for looking at profiles. That's just what my particular object calls it. People like it, and they like the term perv.