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cdf294:
Hello everyone.

I've been a Mac dweller since Windows 7 for multiple reasons and have just recently started using Windows again occasionally. On the Mac I use Audirvana 3.5 and Emby for my music and video needs. Now that I am using Windows again from time to time, I wanted to find a solution for my Windows audio and video needs. I downloaded the JRiver MC30 on the Windows laptop and have been learning the ins and outs while giving it a 30 day trial before deciding whether to purchase a license. It seems fairly intuitive to use although I can see plenty of ways to get lost in all of the options, should I choose to do so. So far, I am liking the program after using it for only 3 days. I appreciate the fact that it allows everything to happen in one program unlike what I have going on with the Mac. I'm not sure that JRiver will be replacing Audirvana 3.5 for me although I still see some value in possibly adding it to my Mac since I prefer the tagging options for my videos to what I have available in Emby.

I decided to go ahead and download the Mac MC30 option earlier today to see if it might be worth spending a few extra bucks for the multi OS license. Unfortunately, I saw 2 things during and after installation on my Mac that greatly concern me and I would appreciate it if anyone could explain why this software is wanting to do this. One of 2 dialog boxes that popped up on my Mac said the following "Media Center 30" would like to receive keystrokes from any application. The other prompt stated that Media Center 30 wanted to record screenshots. I took a screenshot of the keylogging request and attempted to attach it to this post although it might not work due to this being my first post here. I denied both requests in Mac but Windows has always been a security sieve and I have to believe that Windows allowed these operations to commence even though it would potentially be detrimental to security.

Why does JRiver want to record screenshots and keystrokes (from ANY app) and what exactly is this info used for? Any input would be appreciated because I don't usually allow anything on my system that throws these types of security prompts.

JimH:
There is nothing nefarious going on.  MC doesn't spy on you.

Maybe Apple doesn't like hot-keys:  https://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/Keyboard_Hot-keys

You could try an Internet search:  https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250720391

It's apparently Apple doing it.  You could ask them why.

Awesome Donkey:
If memory serves in macOS Media Center needs the keystrokes permission so media keys within the app will work. Screen recording permission I can't recall which feature it's for but it's benign, maybe it's video or photos related. But those permissions are needed to get Media Center working fully on macOS and it's not for anything nefarious.

Awesome Donkey:
Bob explains the permissions for MC on Mac here: https://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php/topic,134228.0.html


--- Quote ---If you are asked for accessibility permissions you must accept that (it's how MC deals with retina displays).
If you are asked for screen recording permissions, you need to accept that for MC's user interface to operate properly, MC uses that permission to copy from part of it's window to another part of it's window. It's not used for anything else.
If you are asked for input monitoring permissions, you need to accept that IF you intend on using the Mac's media keys (play, stop, volume up and down). Otherwise you don't need that permission.
If you are asked for permissions regarding access to the Documents folder you need to do that for making and restoring backups (unless you change the default backup location).
If you are asked for permissions regarding access to any other drives, folders or devices you need to do that if you have media on them that you want MC to access.
--- End quote ---

Looks like my memory is better than I thought and was right about the input monitoring (keystrokes) permission being for media keys. Screen recording permission is for MC's UI to work correctly, due to how MC handles and draws its own UI stuff.

cdf294:
Thanks for the responses everyone.

I certainly didn't think anything nefarious was going on or the program would have been removed immediately from Windows and never made it through the Mac install. I did look on the internet and saw no reports of this so I wanted to ask here rather than develop my own ideas about what is happening in the background.

I know JRiver has been around for quite a while and due to this, I wasn't so concerned about the potential for spyware that I removed the program but be that as it may, I still felt compelled to ask about it since i've encountered prompts like this before from some lesser known sources. I appreciate everyone putting my mind at ease and providing an explanation without getting hostile towards the new guy.

Cheers..

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