Hi there! If I buy a computer on Amazon from a trusted brand like Apple or Lenovo, will they keep my name and address and connect that information to the serial numbers of the computer's parts? I'm especially worried about this when I visit various websites that track serial numbers from my PC while browsing or when using gaming platforms like Steam. Would it be wiser to purchase it from a physical store using cash, or a second-hand computer from ebay instead?

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[–] MajorHavoc@programming.dev 8 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (2 children)

If I buy a computer on Amazon from a trusted brand like Apple or Lenovo, will they keep my name and address and connect that information to the serial numbers of the computer's parts?

Most retailers don't do this - (edit: specifically they don't correlate a laptop hardware ID like the MAC address with the purchaser. Not because they can't, but because they don't need to. They know most users will log into something that tracks them minutes after they get home. That said yeah, they keep a record of the serial number. But the serial number isn't particularly useful for tracking your online use of the device.)

I'm very wary that Amazon has the most motive and ability to do this (correlate your network chip MAC to your real name) and probably wouldn't tell us if they did start, until long after. Followed by Google in a close second.

That said, a Chromebook accomplishes every kind of tracking the moment I sign into the mandatory Google account, anyway.

Same with any Windows laptop and Microsoft, today.

Edit 2: Lots of devices support rotating network MAC addresses, now, anyway, at least on Android and Linux. If you're concerned, it's worth looking into and setting up, as well.

Would it be wiser to purchase it from a physical store using cash, or a second-hand computer from ebay instead?

Yes.

[–] Chakravanti@monero.town 3 points 3 weeks ago

You're foolishly optimistic. I guarantee you that that shit most certainly is done. Doubt of tracking is trust into shit you truly can't know.

Tell you what though, I'll give you 50/50 on parasitic Corp vampires doing the same the way you talk about it but Amazon, FBInc. and eBay are both definately doing it. That's not even a gamble either.

I wonder if you can't tell who/what is definitely doing the metatracker of all. For reference, that ain't that narcissistic jackass; that's actual word use referring although I wouldn't have any difficulty considering them to be unified in all objectives, but I'd be all snarky and say he's really the Public Agent. Like the way he claims to be a journalist with awkward shoddy "charisma" (as-in, thorough lack thereof).

If you just truly can't think if it, I'll help you out and tell you to ask Edward. He knows.

[–] Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe 3 points 3 weeks ago

EVERY vendor does this, I can't imagine why you'd think otherwise.

I can go to a vendor I bought one piece of hardware from 20 years ago, and just give them my name, phone number, anything, and they can find my orders.

My local community theater has a record of me buying tickets from them, one time, 15 years ago.