Hidden Information in iTunes Files is Unveiled

According to, The London Times, Apple has included personal details into the music purchased from Apple's program, iTunes.

Web pages that have examined iTunes music files have found that personal information, such as the email address and name of the purchaser of the file, are embedded into the AAC files that Apple depends on to sell songs through iTunes. The personal information is also included in the files sold through iTunes Plus. iTunes Plus is a service released by Apple that allows for a user to legally purchase tracks without digital rights management (DRM), which limited the use of a legally obtained song file.

According to The Electronic Freedom Foundation, an online consumer rights group, large amounts of further information, which is currently unaccounted for, is embedded in the iTunes files. The foundation mentioned that it is a possibility that the tracks contain this information to ensure the purchaser of the file would be found if the track appeared to be illegally distributed. However, this information could be easy to falsify.

One of the first websites to point out that hidden information was being embedded into these tracks, Ars Techina, said, "everyone should be aware that while DRM-free files may lift a lot of restrictions on our personal usage habits, it doesn't mean we can just start sharing the love, so to speak. Sharer beware."

Most iTunes users are unaware that his/her personal information is being stored. Moreover, many music groups are hesitant to permit their music from freely circulating over the Internet.

The discovery of this hidden information is unveiled at a time when fear of being constantly "watched" is making its way to center stage. This discovery appears to be even more ironic, as just recently Google released thousands of street-level picture of American cities. Bloggers were able to discover pictures of people, with visible faces, and monitor his/her activities.

iTunes Plus not only offers DRM-free music, but a higher quality music than the traditional iTunes store has to offer. However, iTunes Plus charges a higher price than iTunes. Customers who opt to purchase his/her music through iTunes Plus do not experience the limitations typical iTunes users do in the portability aspect of the file.