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Penguin Domination 🐧 Anti-Spyware
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Penguin Domination 🐧 Anti-Spyware
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ABOUT Penguin Domination 🐧

Spyware in games? No thanks!

This group focuses on the technical examination of software behavior in games and related platforms. Evaluations include the use of telemetry, analytics services, cloud storage systems, always-online requirements, and third-party integrations. Particular attention is paid to how data is collected, stored, processed, transmitted and how this affects functionality in offline or restricted network environments.

The reviews refer to established transparency and data protection standards, including the GDPR. All findings are based on observable network activity, client-side behavior, documented infrastructure components and publicly available technical evidence.

Review Criteria and Corrections
No assessments are made regarding entertainment value, gameplay experience or personal preference. The focus is on verifiable technical characteristics and their practical implications for users and developers.

Developers may provide technical documentation or clarification. Verified corrections and transparent implementation details are incorporated into the database and review summaries.

What does the group provide?
  1. Technical analyses of data collection, telemetry, cloud systems, and network dependencies in games and clients.
  2. Documentation of third-party service integrations and data processing workflows.
  3. Guides and reference materials for configuring privacy tools, network controls, and host-based filtering.
  4. Discussion of transparency standards, data protection regulations, and industry practices.
  5. Resources to support informed decisions regarding software behavior and data flows.

Key Resources / Repository
Project Website[www.gameindustry.eu]
Additional documentation, steam tools, guides, reviews, hosts lists, database and technical reference

GitHub Repository[github.com]
Hosts files mirror
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POPULAR DISCUSSIONS
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RECENT ANNOUNCEMENTS
[EN|DE] Raccoin - GameAnalytics removed | entfernt
19 May - ペンギン | 5 Comments

The developers of RACCOIN: Coin Pusher Roguelike have actually responded to the criticism: patch 1.0.24 removes GameAnalytics and the associated AWS telemetry. As stated in the Steam thread, analytics are disabled "for now" while the team works on a future, fully compliant solution.

Updated review. The original version is available via the group archive.

At least a step in the right direction. I will keep an eye on any future changes. The relevant entries on the project page have also been updated.


[DE]

Die Entwickler von RACCOIN: Coin Pusher Roguelike haben tatsächlich auf die Kritik reagiert: Patch 1.0.24 entfernt GameAnalytics und die zugehörige AWS-Telemetrie aus dem Spiel. Laut Aussage im Steam-Thread ist die Analytik "vorerst" deaktiviert, während das Team an einer künftigen, datenschutzkonformen Lösung arbeitet.

Aktualisiertes Review. Die ursprüngliche Fassung ist über das Gruppenarchiv erreichbar.

Immerhin ein Schritt in die richtige Richtung. Ich werde künftige Änderungen weiter im Auge behalten. Relevante Einträge auf der Projektseite wurden ebenfalls aktualisiert.

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[EN|DE] Steam Captive Portal changed / geändert (Update 2)
29 April - ペンギン | 2 Comments

Valve has switched their Captive Portal Endpoint. Those who haven't updated their hosts file or DNS filter are currently allowing telemetry to flow back to Valve again.

What’s Changed
Old Address:
test.steampowered.com
New Address:
steamconnecttest.com
The request opens a forced client connection when the Steam client starts, during ongoing client operation and when selected Unreal Engine titles launch. It's replacing, among other things, Epic Games' old Datarouter telemetry. This is combined with forced IPv6 queries that run in the same step.

What Users Should Do Now
Update hosts file, set new entry:
0.0.0.0 steamconnecttest.com
Pi-hole, AdGuard Home, NextDNS, OPNsense, or own resolver: Reload filter list so that Akamai Edge IPs are also captured, including areas
New IPv4:
2.20.12.103 2.20.12.102 or 2.20.12.102/31
Old IPv4:
23.200.3.0/24 23.216.77.0/24 23.32.238.0/24 23.46.156.0/24 23.53.40.0/24 23.53.41.0/24 23.55.163.0/24

GI-SteamCleaner, Website / Hosts data
If everything goes according to plan, an update of the data on the project page for SteamCleaner, the company catalog / product search and the filter lists will be released by May 1st. Quite a bit needs to be changed.

I'll update the announcement with the current date/post, a notice on the website and a status update via Steam.


DE
Valve hat den im Hintergrund aktiven Captive Portal Endpoint umgestellt. Wer seine Hosts Datei oder den DNS Filter noch nicht aktualisiert hat, lässt damit derzeit wieder Telemetrie an Valve zu.

Was sich geändert hat
Alte Adresse:
test.steampowered.com
Neue Adresse:
steamconnecttest.com
Der Request öffnet eine erzwungene Clientverbindung beim Start von Steam, während des laufenden Clientbetriebs, sowie zum Start ausgewählter Unreal Engine Titel und ersetzt dort unter anderem die alte Datarouter Telemetrie von Epic Games. Verbunden ist das mit erzwungenen IPv6 Abfragen, die im selben Schritt mitlaufen, an denen sich aber bisher noch nichts geändert hat.

Was Anwender jetzt tun sollten
Hosts Datei aktualisieren, neuen Eintrag setzen:
0.0.0.0 steamconnecttest.com
Pi-hole, AdGuard Home, NextDNS, OPNsense oder eigener Resolver: Filterliste neu laden, damit auch die Akamai Edge IPs erfasst werden, also Bereiche

IPv4 neu:
2.20.12.103 2.20.12.102 oder 2.20.12.102/31

IPv4 alt:
23.200.3.0/24 23.216.77.0/24 23.32.238.0/24 23.46.156.0/24 23.53.40.0/24 23.53.41.0/24 23.55.163.0/24

SteamCleaner, Webseite/Hosts
Wenn alles klappt, erfolgt eine Aktualisierung der Daten auf der Projektseite für den SteamCleaner, dem Firmenkatalog / Produktsuche, sowie den Filterlisten bis zum 1.ten Mai. Es muss einiges angepasst werden...

Werde die Ankündung dann mit aktuellem Datum/Beitrag ergänzen, eine Mitteilung auf der Webseite und eine Statusmeldung über Steam posten.

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STEAM CURATOR
Penguin Domination 🐧 reviews
"Analyze software behavior, data handling, telemetry, cloud dependencies, network requirements, offline functionality. Technical assessments, not gameplay reviews."
Here are a few recent reviews by Penguin Domination 🐧
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376 Comments
ペンギン
6 Jun @ 3:06pm 
Gothic 1 Remake

Connection overview and description / Verbindungsübersicht und Beschreibung:

EN: https://gameindustry.eu/en/search/?suchbegriff=Gothic+1+Remake
DE: https://gameindustry.eu/de/search/?suchbegriff=Gothic+1+Remake
ペンギン
5 Jun @ 4:32pm 
Revised Depth by Ammobox Studios Sdn. Bhd.

Review Steam:
https://steamcommunity.com/id/pen-chan/recommended/274940/

More detailed version (EN/DE):
https://gameindustry.eu/reviews/depth/

This time, both versions are almost identical and since a lot of things didn’t work at all... the details are kept to a minimum.
ペンギン
1 Jun @ 6:06pm 
I have summarized the Captive portal addresses identified so far on the project page, both in the corresponding company catalog entry and in the technical section.

As Valve Corporation uses CDN servers, the IP addresses and corresponding endpoints may differ depending on the user's geographic location. If you identify any additional endpoints, please post them here or send them to me via group/private chat and I will update the list accordingly.

Sources:
https://gameindustry.eu/katalog/valve-corporation/captive-portal/
https://gameindustry.eu/tech/steam-captive-portal/
ペンギン
29 May @ 3:45am 
New reviews will resume after the upcoming release of the Steam BBCode Editor side project. Also have another project underway that should make my analysis work easier and it will be used for the first time in the upcoming reviews.

Otherwise, there is currently not much else to report. The Subnautica 2 review has been updated to reflect the current state and the Raccoin developers need to be given more time. At the very least, they appear to be more technically competent and transparent than Unknown Worlds Entertainment.
ペンギン
15 May @ 10:59am 
Since there are still more " EXCONN" members and followers who were surprised that the Steam group and associated repositories were deleted, here is the statement again: The creator has stepped back and is focusing on other things in life. Unfortunately, n0x’s statement was removed here by himself, so the context is missing.
ペンギン
14 May @ 2:38pm 
Revised Subnautica by Unknown Worlds Entertainment, Inc. as well

Review Steam:
https://steamcommunity.com/id/pen-chan/recommended/264710/

More detailed version (EN/DE):
https://gameindustry.eu/reviews/subnautica/

An early access test for Subnautica 2 will follow in the near future (soon™)
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