Warning: iTunes DRM-Free Songs Contain Account Information

Reportedly, every DRM-free iTunes download will contain your personal information that can end up in the wrong hands, if you're not careful. Slashdot recently posted a reader's comment, revealing that the situation was indeed serious.

“Apple's iTunes Plus files are DRM-free, but sharing the files on P2P networks may be an extremely bad idea,” r2k writes. Pointing out to a CNet report, the user notes that “The account information and email address of the iTunes account holder is hidden inside each and every DRM-free download.” He went on to check whether or not it was true, and found that he couldn't access the information using an ID3 tag editor. However, “Using Notepad I found my email address stored inside the audio file itself,” he says.

The CNet report warns that “Your account information is stored in every file.” The post reveals that, “Although iTunes Plus files feature no copy protection, files downloaded still contain the email address you have registered with iTunes. So, although files can physically be shared with, and played by, friends and family, any of your purchases that end up on file-sharing networks, for example, can be traced back to you.”

An easy way to check your own tunes for personal information is to find an iTunes Plus file on your computer and open it with a text editor, the source says. Seemingly, Windows Notepad works best. The editor will reveal track information in a format you're not likely to be able to read. However, among the strange characters, your e-mail address (or whatever address you used to make an iTunes Store account) is also likely to be found around there. Just use the Find function and see if it's brought up. Try it out, and drop us a line mentioning your findings.