WordPress 2.3 Does Not Spy On Users [UPDATED]

Marilyn Miller writes "Popular open-source blogging engine WordPress has been upgraded to 2.3 — with some unexpected nasties in the mix. As of version 2.3, WordPress now periodically (every 12 hours) sends personally identifying information (blog name & URI) to the mothership, along with an alarming amount of information including $_SERVER dumps, a list of installed plugins, and your current PHP/MySQL settings. Most unfortunately, it does not provide any way of disabling this functionality, and WordPress does not have any privacy policy protecting this information. In a thread about the issue, lead developer Matt Mullenweg defends his actions and staunchly refuses to add an opt-in interface, telling users to 'fork WordPress' if they aren't willing to put up with this behavior." Update: 09/25 17:52 GMT by KD : This article is misleading enough to be called "just wrong." Matt Mullenweg writes: "As mentioned in our release announcement, the update notification sends your blog URL, plugins, and version info when it checks api.wordpress.org for new and compatible updates. It does not include $_SERVER dumps, or any settings beyond version numbers (for checking compatibility), or your blog name, or your credit card number. We do provide a way of disabling this feature; in fact I link to one of the plugins in the release announcement and in my original response to Morty's thread."

Suggestion

[Anonymous Coward]

He can go fork himself.

Re:Surprised/

[gclef]

Crow isn't very nutritious.

This thread would be longer...

[My name is Bucket]

...But people are busy checking their posts from the "Sony DRM" thread last month to make sure they don't look like hypocrites.

I nominate the fork name to be:

[jbeaupre]

PrivatePress

Obligatory ISR joke

[Anonymous Coward]

In Soviet Russia, WordPress forks YOU!

Don't worry

[m4g02]

As a rule spying on users shouldn't be a security concern as long as the person/corporation spying is honest, just and only concerned on improving their software and the user experience...

So... As a rule spying on users is always a security concern =P (name it WordPress or Windows Update).

Re:Surprised?

[Joebert]

Gives new meaning to the term Web Monkey.

That product is doomed

[multipartmixed]

Can you imagine the water cooler conversation about Pyblosxom? How the hell are they supposed to go back and google about it? That'd be like trying to google for the symbol that represents the artist formerly known as Prince.

I mean, really, WTF. They might as well have named it slakdfjalskdjflaskjdf!