What does "call home" mean?

[aimeeandbeatles]

From what I understand, it's not usually a good thing, but what exactly does it mean? I know its to do with internet access, so I think it means to send information to the software developer, but I'm not quite sure

thanks.

 

[Mulholland]

I'm not positive but I believe when you ping your ISP in IP config that is referred to as 'phoning home'. Correct me If I'm wrong. Also Aimee, you should make a thread for all of these computer related questions not worth their own thread.

 

[Turner]

Phoning home means a piece of software installed on your machine (legally or not. That is to say, a game you install or some virus/piece of software) contacts the creating site and gets new instructions. Usually it's meant in a bad way, where a piece of spyware/adware/virus downloads more to your machine, but it can also refer to programs sending 'usage data' for 'improvements' back to the software manufacturer.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

thank you

 

[Genocidicbunny]

There was a thing a while back about how XP phoned home to Microsoft. Basically, it sent some info about your system back to Microsoft.

Usually, phoning home is said with a negative connotation. As I have seen it used, it means a program contacts its creator without your knowledge. This can be real problematic even with legal programs due to the nature of the data they might send. ( I for one, do mind if Microsoft finds out what my system specs are. )

 

[Bigfoot3814]

E.T. ... Phone home...