Hi everyone -- I just found FreeFileSync (yes, I know, why did it take so long?!), and I want to donate, it looks great! Just what I was hoping for! However, I want to make sure I understand the telemetry, privacy, and number of computers I can use with my donation version for home computers...
I have read the privacy policy and imprint, and I've also searched through the forum. Please confirm if I understand the issues correctly:
1 - As for telemetry and privacy, my understanding is that by donating, the FFS dev will record the transaction id, my email, my name, and the donation amount. This will not be made available to third parties.
2 - From there, FFS creates an account tracker of some kind that associates my email and name and donation with all the computers I use it with, correct? This will be visible to me on an "About" page, right? Again, this will not be made available to third parties, but if I share this link with friends, then people will know this info about me?
3 - Each computer will contact the FFS server periodically with a "machine-ID" (generated in part by the MAC address) to verify license, and track the usage.
4 - I am wondering how often it pings the FFS server though with this info? And what other info does it "track"? And also, I am offline many times, so will this limit my use of the program?
5 - I am wondering how many personal computers I can install the donation version on -- I believe it is unlimited from what I read in the forum, but I want to confirm that... these are computers in my home, not for a corporation, etc.
6 - I also understand that FFS periodically checks the FFS servers for updates. Can I disable this?
7 - I also understand FFS can email notifications but those go through FFS own SMTP servers, they are not customizable at this time. (I would love custom SMTP servers BTW, if the dev is reading this!)
8 - What other info or telemetry is created and sent? Looking through the forum, the only things I can see for sure are the license/machine-ID verification, update checks, and email notifications.... is there anything else?
9 - Can I disable the auto-update? I like to manually update.
10 - What other privacy issues should I be aware of? I do not want any other kind of data sent to the web at all!
11 - I understand updates are free for the future with the donation version, it is no longer time-limited based on donation amount.
12 - Do you have a recommended amount I should donate?
13 - Does the business edition send more or less data (other than company name and VAT)? Maybe I would go with that version if there is less data sent.
14 - Since the software dev appears to be in Hamburg, Germany (according to imprint), does that mean the info that is stored by him is compliant with GDPR standards?
Thank you for your help, and congrats to the dev for the impressive software. Can't believe it took me so long to find it!
Before I donate - just making sure on telemetry, privacy issues, and number of computers
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- Joined: 10 Dec 2024
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- Joined: 10 Dec 2024
Hi guys - it's been a few weeks and no one jumped in with any thoughts, so I thought I'd ping the thread and see if there are any takers on this general topic?
I do realize my OP was a bit too long! Apologies for that! But I'm genuinely interested in FFS and want to donate, but it's not 100% clear to me about the above questions re: privacy and telemetry. I have of course read the privacy policy and imprint, and searched through the forum for more details.
So in order to summarize my questions into one larger question, it would be to confirm about the privacy of FFS in general, and if anyone could please take a moment to explain in more detail what kind of telemetry and tracking FFS really collects, and how often does it connect to the external network to share/log this information, and why is any of that necessary?
If someone wants to go into more detail re: my previous very long post above, that would be wonderful too! I'm sure I'm not the only one who would be interested in more detail about these issues!
Cheers!
I do realize my OP was a bit too long! Apologies for that! But I'm genuinely interested in FFS and want to donate, but it's not 100% clear to me about the above questions re: privacy and telemetry. I have of course read the privacy policy and imprint, and searched through the forum for more details.
So in order to summarize my questions into one larger question, it would be to confirm about the privacy of FFS in general, and if anyone could please take a moment to explain in more detail what kind of telemetry and tracking FFS really collects, and how often does it connect to the external network to share/log this information, and why is any of that necessary?
If someone wants to go into more detail re: my previous very long post above, that would be wonderful too! I'm sure I'm not the only one who would be interested in more detail about these issues!
Cheers!
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- Joined: 22 Aug 2012
You were right. The lenght of and amount of questions in your initial post discouraged me to react before.
I have no clue about the exact info that FFS exchanges with the server, but:
1) through 3):
That also how I understand it.
6) + 9)
I don't think you can disable the regular check for availability of updates.
The automatic and manual check for updates opens a window that informs you about the availability of updates (if any) and allows you to (manually) click Auto-update, visit you FFS home page and manually download the update from there or to Cancel. I am not aware of an Auto-update option that does not require the user to click a button.
7)
Instead of using the (donation version) built-in E-mail option via the FFS server, you can define your own post-sync command/script ("Run a command" at the bottom-right corner of the Synchronization Settings (F8) ). There you can launch your own script that would send E-mail through your preferred mail-server.
I have no clue about the exact info that FFS exchanges with the server, but:
1) through 3):
That also how I understand it.
6) + 9)
I don't think you can disable the regular check for availability of updates.
The automatic and manual check for updates opens a window that informs you about the availability of updates (if any) and allows you to (manually) click Auto-update, visit you FFS home page and manually download the update from there or to Cancel. I am not aware of an Auto-update option that does not require the user to click a button.
7)
Instead of using the (donation version) built-in E-mail option via the FFS server, you can define your own post-sync command/script ("Run a command" at the bottom-right corner of the Synchronization Settings (F8) ). There you can launch your own script that would send E-mail through your preferred mail-server.
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- Joined: 10 Dec 2024
Thank you @Plerry! I really appreciate you taking the time to respond.
And apologies again to those coming to this thread and seeing the long OP! (I should have started the thread with just one or two questions and asked follow-up questions later.)
I guess the most important follow up question now (perhaps to the developer or someone who has inspected the source code) is what other data/telemetry does FFS send to the server, and how often? Any other insights are welcome!
Cheers!
And apologies again to those coming to this thread and seeing the long OP! (I should have started the thread with just one or two questions and asked follow-up questions later.)
I guess the most important follow up question now (perhaps to the developer or someone who has inspected the source code) is what other data/telemetry does FFS send to the server, and how often? Any other insights are welcome!
Cheers!
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- Joined: 3 Apr 2025
Sadly, no replay. :((
- Posts: 6
- Joined: 10 Dec 2024
Indeed, no reply. In my case, I am sad to say I gave up. I even looked at the sourcecode briefly but realized I didn't have enough time to go through it sufficiently to answer my own questions. So I just gave up about this stuff, and I don't use FFS at this point. I'm NOT saying anything bad about it or the developer, it's probably all fine, enough people trust it. I just thought there would be more curiosity about this issue for some reason, and I thought the developer would want to take the time to share details and thoughts, but I guess not.
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- Joined: 1 Oct 2018
After donation you will receive a email with a link to the page to download the donation edition, there is no account of any kind other than that link, all you have to do is keep that email safe.
The download page of donation edition have a section to see how many devices was installed with the license issued, the license key file would be alongside with the donation edition installer in a zip file, after installing, the license information is kept in Registered.dat located in the folder \FreeFileSync\Resources.
As far as I know there are no online activation system, other than uploading your username, software version, OS type, device model and device name to the license server on starting the software, there would be a remove restriction of about a month upon install to a new device, after that you can remove the device from the download page.
The download page of donation edition have a section to see how many devices was installed with the license issued, the license key file would be alongside with the donation edition installer in a zip file, after installing, the license information is kept in Registered.dat located in the folder \FreeFileSync\Resources.
As far as I know there are no online activation system, other than uploading your username, software version, OS type, device model and device name to the license server on starting the software, there would be a remove restriction of about a month upon install to a new device, after that you can remove the device from the download page.
