So,

my personal opinion:

The connections mentions in the paper are not sending datas to spyware servers or something else.

Some connections going to Steam dircetly to present the service and the other "NGZ-Datacenter" is a provider from streaming videos and online gaming.

There is no real evidence that Steam is spying you.

Just my 5 Cents, if you know more, let us know.

The 1st part about the file containing hdd info has already been explained on several other sites, and is not anything to do with spyware. (Files deleted on fat32 drives remain in a hidden state, any new files created over them contain the previous files info until it is filled with its own data.)

The other connections will just be for update/anti cheat checking, and the other no-valve-servers will just be loadbalanced/locallized mirrors for steam downloads.

I don't know why people are getting so worked up over this, Valve have generally been a great company when it comes to dealing with thier customers, and I don't think they're going to start screwng them over now just because they are using Steam.

the funniest thing I have read in Steam forum ... a user got steam for his internet cafe .... for CS1.6 ... he got some trouble with it .... he made some screenshots .....was it 6 .... 1 was a real windows error ... the other were things like .... Warning: you will need 350MB for the game .... erm a very SERIOUS bug ...
and instead of testing Steam on one PC no he installed it on all deleted CS1.5 and now he got hella work to switch back to 1.5 because of those really serious and unfixable bugs :lol:

Well, it's true, when CS v1.6 comes to stores, you will be required to pay a $9.95 USD subscription fee every month to play HL2, CS v1.6 and any other game or mod who's copywritten to VALVe Software, online, if you do not buy the retail.

that site didnt understand anything of what steam's about degger.
1. like chiken said, leaving files on the HDD is common fat32 procedure and steam just assigns that space, it doesnt format it. so if you find the name Kazaa or mp3 YOU apre properbly doing something illigal and shouldt yell to loud about it

2. they moan about the game being pay to play, though the fee covers licences for ALL valve content and games, that means team fortress 2 and Counterstrike 2 too (and the fee is not for playing, its for downloading the stuff). it seams a fair deal if you're going to buy those games anywats, since it takes quite a while to make up for the purchase of 3 full games - plus any addons they might put out. and OFCOURSE you're gonna pay for the game online if you dont buy it retail otherwize they could just warez it to hell. so i guess those who made that site is just some below avg. IQ trolls

http://steampowered.com/forums/showthread....&threadid=18834
Post by Valve about spyware/other issues with steam, it explains the FAT32 thing.