What happens when someone uses your iTunes on an old computer?
Asked by
Zaku (
30571
)
February 16th, 2015
Person A has an iTunes account and sets it up on a computer, with bunches of music files backed up from their iPod.
Then Person A gives the computer to Person B without thinking of the iTunes installation.
Eventually Person B or Person C, D, or E runs into the iTunes on the old computer, and plays songs and possibly rates them.
Meanwhile Person A is still using their iPod and has set up iTunes for their same account on a new computer.
Does the use of their iTunes music on the old computer affect Person A’s use of iTunes in any way? For example, will Apple think they are violating some contract about sharing music with others? Will Person A see “activity” or ratings that were actually done by people B C D E on their old computer? Anything else?
Observing members:
0
Composing members:
0
9 Answers
That’s a risk you run if you don’t either tell your computer to forget all its passwords or if you don’t change your passwords when you give away your computer. Of course, if you allow the new owner to have access to your account, they can make changes to the account. Any changes you can make, they can make as well.
The same goes for any other account you allow them to have access to.
So those are all things that can happen in this case with iTunes? Contract violation, history pollution, and ratings pollution?
Well, why not? It’s like sharing your account with another person. iTunes doesn’t know it isn’t you making the changes. But all you have to do to stop it is change your password. That’s internet security 101. Is there anyone who doesn’t know they need to change their passwords when they hand their computer over to someone else?
I’m not sure, but I think iTunes and several other similar programs log you out and require you to log in every now and then. I seem to have to log in every week or so.
@keobooks That might depend on your browser settings, and when you clear caches and delete your history. But you’re right, it might also be an iTunes thing. I wouldn’t trust it to keep me safe from hacking in the situation the OP describes, though.
@dappled_leaves It’s an iTunes thing since iTunes is browser independent. I am pretty sure that iTunes will ask Person B to log in the first time they connect because that person’s IP address will differ from yours.
@Zaku Thank you for posing this hypothetical situation. It reminds me that I should check iTunes EULA sometime soon to see if it contains any info about transferring ownership to someone else. It is something i had never thought about until now.
I am mainly curious, but I have seen this on some computers-with-history, and from what I saw, for Person D, it seems to open up, show and play music without asking for any login.
I still don’t feel like this question has actually been answered by anyone. @dappled_leaves I wasn’t trying to argue about whether it should or should not do this, and you say it’s a risk but I was trying to get confirmation of what actually happens on Person A’s end.
@Zaku Well, it sounds like you are the only person here with personal experience of this scenario. Why do you require confirmation from another person with the same experience? Do you not believe what you saw?
@dappled_leaves I only have experience with the “person B, C, D” situation, and am wondering if/how it affects person A’s experience, which is what I have always been asking about, and which I still don’t know.
Answer this question 
This question is in the General Section. Responses must be helpful and on-topic.
Composing members:
0
