wtf: CoverScout 3 tries to connect to cia.gov ???

[rcristofrf]

Hi,

I recently bought CoverScout 3 via MacHeist bundle and were just using it, when LittleSnitch came up with the following alarm (see screenshot).

It seems, that CoverScout 3 tried to connect to cia.gov - wtf???

Am I the only one or has someone else also seen this behaviour?

I have also sent a request to Equinux Inc., the makers of CoverScout, for a statement about this topic.

As a customer and activist for a human rights organization, which deals with privacy issues, I am deeply concerned about this.

Viele Grüße/Best regards,
Ricardo Cristof Remmert-Fontes

Mobile: +49-170-2487266
E-Mail: rcrf [at] aktion-fsa [.] de

 

[rcristofrf]

CoverScout does not directly connect to cia.gov, but Google may do

Ok, I've got a reply from Equinux:

Von: CoverScout Support <coverscout [at] equinux [.] com>
Datum: 25. März 2010 13:50:06 MEZ
An: Remmert-Fontes Ricardo Cristof <rcrf [at] aktion-fsa [.] de>
Betreff: Re: [Ticket#1087568] CoverScout 3 tried to connect to cia.gov ?

Ticket#: 1087568

Hallo Remmert-Fontes Ricardo Cristof,

keine Sorge, wir senden keine Daten zur CIA oder NSA oder sonstigen
Regierungsbehörden. Beim Suchen nach Covern benutzen wir u.A. eine Google
Websuche. Bei der google Suche kann es natürlich sein, dass auch Bilder auf
cia.gov durchsucht werden. Zwar sehr unwahrscheinlich, aber offensichtlich ist es
so.

Wenn Sie die Suche auf z.B. Amazon.de einschränken möchten, können Sie das in den
CoverScout Einstellungen festlegen.

Freundliche Grüße,
*name*

Roughly translated:
"don't worry: we are not sending data to CIA nor NSA nor other governmental organisations. When searching for cover artwork, we are using, among others, Google websearch. When using Google, it may happen, that also pictures from cia.gov are searched. Pretty unlikely, but obviously it can happen.

If you want to restrict the search e.g. only using Amazon.de, you can determine this in the CoverScout preferences."

So, my worries against CoverScout are settled, but my concerns against Google again have been confirmed.

Best regards,
Ricardo Cristof