Author: Martin Steigerwald Date: To: dng Subject: Re: [DNG] new freedesktop "standard": /etc/machine-id
Jaromil - 10.03.19, 14:03: > > > but first things first: do we want /etc/machine-id? and how?
> >
> > In my view it falls in the completely unnessesary or the potentially
> > dangerous group.
> >
> > I don't want it.
>
> while I'm still catching up with reading all the thread, I think you
> make a concise and straight to the point argument with which I
> wholeheartedly agree. Thanks, to you and all others providing insights
> on this issue.
>
> I also don't want it and I think having such a machine-id is not just
> a technical, but also a political decision, as you pointed out.
>
> for the record, my /etc/machine-id follows:
>
> "d34dc0d3d34dc0d3d34dc0d3d34dc0d3"
I felt uneasy about the machine-id several times as well. It remembers
me of the IMEI of mobile devices.
After browsing through thread and internet references I am still not
clear what it is used for. Every privacy policy in EU needs to state
that purpose, especially for uniquely identifying data.
It never came to my conclusion that I can just change the id. Now did.
Probably would be good for a lot of people setting it to the same value
:). As when everyone comes up with an own machine id chances are that it
is still unique. Another way would be to randomize it on every boot or
every few hours.