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Comment by 8ig8 | Hacker News Reader

Metrics is an interesting package. It reports usage stats to Google Analytics, referenced by a hash of the machine's MAC address:

http://atom.io/packages/metrics

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Good catch. I really shouldn't have any more of a problem with a desktop app tracking me than I do a web app but for some reason I do. I guess because I can always use Disconnect in the browser and I can't with Atom. I guess the fact that it is open about it is a positive thing, though.

It sounds like you can disable Metrics in the settings.

Some apps ask on install if you agree to share usage data. I can't say how Atom handles it, but it sounds like you're in unless you modify the config.

BTW, I'm less concerned and more just surprised to see Google Analytics used like this. I guess it really is the blurring of the lines between desktop and browser-based apps.

Maybe this GA usage is not unique, but it's new to me.

> it sounds like you're in unless you modify the config.

You are, though it's mentioned on the very first screen that pops up when you open the app: https://github.com/atom/welcome/blob/master/lib/welcome.md

I think that's fair for a beta app where they really need the data to tighten things up. It would be nice if metrics became opt-in post-beta, though.

It's unique, and extremely sketchy to be pushing desktop data to Google, without prior explicit user approval.

You can.

Why should I care about a Google key-logger with a bundled text editor? Also, if github were a real player, they would do their own user tracking rather than giving Google their data.

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