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?

Technical analyses of data collection, telemetry, cloud systems, and network dependencies in games and clients.
Documentation of third-party service integrations and data processing workflows.
Guides and reference materials for configuring privacy tools, network controls, and host-based filtering.
Discussion of transparency standards, data protection regulations, and industry practices.
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] 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.

25 April - ペンギン | 1 Comments

The past few weeks and months have been unusually packed. Here is a short overview of what has been happening in the background.

The focus has recently been on several software projects for Windows and Linux, running in parallel.

The most public of these is the GI-SteamCleaner, which has now reached version 2.5.0 with a stable feature set. The GI-SDR-Analyzer (reading and blocking Steam Datagram Relay connections) and the GI-WishList Cleaner (cleaning up the Steam wishlist) require no updates at this time.

Further tools are in development, with more details to follow at the right time. Among them is a web project for encrypted communication. Work also continues in parallel on the project site (extensive background work) and on several articles that will be published over time.

Some room in the calendar has opened up again. With that, the focus shifts gradually back to the core content of this group: game tests and reviews will resume in the near future.

You’ll find an overview of current projects and work in the linked What's next topic.

[DE]

Die letzten Wochen und Monate waren ungewöhnlich vollgepackt. Deshalb kurz, was im Hintergrund passiert ist.

Der Schwerpunkt lag derzeit bei mehreren parallel laufenden Softwareprojekten für Windows und Linux.

Das öffentlichste davon ist der GI-SteamCleaner, der mittlerweile bei Version 2.5.0 angekommen ist und damit einen stabilen Funktionsstand erreicht hat. Der GI-SDR-Analyzer (Auslesen und Blockieren von Steam Datagram Relay Verbindungen) sowie der GI-WishList Cleaner (Bereinigung der Steam Wunschliste) benötigen in ihrer aktuellen Form keine weiteren Updates.

Weitere Tools befinden sich in Entwicklung, zu denen es zu gegebener Zeit Genaueres geben wird, darunter ein Webprojekt für verschlüsselte Kommunikation. Parallel laufen die Arbeiten an der Projektseite (umfangreiche Hintergrundarbeiten), sowie an mehreren Artikeln weiter, die nach und nach veröffentlicht werden.

Aktuell ist wieder etwas Freiraum im Kalender. Damit verschiebt sich der Fokus schrittweise zurück auf den eigentlichen Kerninhalt der Gruppe: Es geht demnächst weiter mit weiteren Spieletests und Reviews.

Eine Übersicht der akuellen Projekte und Arbeiten findet ihr zukünftig im verlinkten What's next Thema.

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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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ペンギン

26 Mar @ 7:15am

In that case you would have to decode a lot. Data sample: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3692554375

It would not be surprising if more was to come in that regard. Right now the whole world is in deep trouble because of the tech elite and the Trump system. If it happens, we will be forced to deal with it either way, and with the government agenda we can scream spyware all we want, they just laugh about it.

White ⁧⁧Wolf

26 Mar @ 3:15am

Also, I wonder if there's a way to see what 'files' a program is looking at... maybe something like process explorer/monitor? I personally lack the experience with that but maybe you've used it before.

White ⁧⁧Wolf

26 Mar @ 3:10am

Three dozen log files with over 10,000 lines, from Duel Links alone? Wow, didn't expect that. I'm just really curious if anything has changed and how bad the situation is right now.

As for the definition of spyware, there seem to be several - even in just one search result, so I don't blame them. I would imagine most online games at this point could be considered spyware when you consider the following definitions(directly from search engine result):
1) Software that secretly gathers information about a person or organization.

2) Any malicious software that is designed to take partial or full control of a computer's operation without the knowledge of its user.

3) Programs that surreptitiously monitor and report the actions of a computer user.

4) Computer software that obtains information from a user's computer without the user's knowledge or consent.

White ⁧⁧Wolf

26 Mar @ 3:10am

I can't find it either, nor on the official news page, though they only seem to list the main updates/additions(same on Steam hub). It could very well be legit but just not well documented - only available in-game and for a limited time. I never actually really checked them while playing.

Not sure about the 'source review' but I do see this one:
https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198254888195/recommended/601510
Someone with 750 hours on their account that was worried enough by it to stop playing. Other than that I can't find any analysis or anything.

If you'd be up for it, another favourite of mine and many others that also recently spoke of adding some sort of 'anti-cheat' that you may be interested in looking into is Old School RuneScape. That'd very likely be much simpler to analyse.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1343370/Old_School_RuneScape/

ペンギン

25 Mar @ 8:56am

Addition:

The screenshot linked on Imgur: https://imgur.com/Ea1K8fk

shows February 17, 2026. I couldn't find this entry in the in-game news Notifications, Maintenance and Issues). Either they deleted the entry, or it never existed in the first place. Would say its a fake

Check the spacing of the date display in the graphic and in the game.

ペンギン

25 Mar @ 8:37am

Hmm, just finished my first duels against NPCs and claimed my rewards. Now I have to download a 7 GB update. Of course, that counts as playtime.If there's anything else to add regarding age, it will come up after that.

Unfortunately, the Imgur graphic doesn't mention these "certain countries" either. I also didn't see any settings that would let users select a new region themselves if for example, they made a mistake.

As for the mentioned "article" in the forum, if there's no evidence i would ignore it. Steam forums aren't a reliable source for facts. Which "review" is being cited as the source? A lot of people are crying "spyware" but they apparently don't even know what that term actually means.

Review:
I won't make any promises since it's a lot.

Currently have about three dozen log files (would be even more), with over 10,000 lines in the current analysis. Summarizing with relevant data and additional info isn't easy, especially with Steam's character limit.

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