Microsoft Vista Harvesting Personal Information

[AndrewJ]

LINK

Originally Posted by AndrewJ Is A God

Are you using Windows Vista? Then you might as well know that the licensed operating system installed on your machine is harvesting a healthy volume of information for Microsoft. In this context, a program such as the Windows Genuine Advantage is the last of your concerns. In fact, in excess of 20 Windows Vista features and services are hard at work collecting and transmitting your personal data to the Redmond company.

[Paul]

Funny, the name of the author in the linked article seems to have corrupted in your quote

[andygrif]

Originally Posted by AndrewJ

LINK

[/COLOR]

What are you trying to hide?

[Stuart]

Having had a quick read through that article, I'd be inclined to regard it as paranoid..

I really can't see what use Microsoft would put the information they get (according to that article) to apart from the uses they advertise (hardware ID for drivers etc).

Sure, they *could* track you via your IP, but without the help of the ISP involved, they'd have to rely on Geolocation services (which, as a quick search around the forums may prove, are unreliable). ISPs are unlikely to co-operate without some sort of court order, and, even then they would need to involve the police. Microsoft would be unlikely to obtain a court order without more evidence than can be provided by doing this.

I am no expert, but I believe they'd also run the risk of being accused of entrapment as well.

Put simply, it's not worth their while harvesting data in the way suggest by the article. It would require an awful lot of effort, and an awful lot of money for very little return. The worst they would be likely to do to the average person is to prevent him or her from acessing updates, which they already do..

[AndrewJ]

I agree it's OTT to get paranoid about it all, but it does come as a shocker just how much information is sent to Microsoft without the user really being told 100% whats going on.

I doubt you will find any information at your local PCworld store about it.

[7@m3 G33k]

Originally Posted by Stuart C

Having had a quick read through that article, I'd be inclined to regard it as paranoid..
<snip>

I think we ignore this kind of thing at our peril. Why should we just allow mega-corporations (or the state for that matter) routinely collect large amounts of data about us? This kind of thing should be an opt-in, we don't even get an opt-out! Oh yeah...you can not agree to the EULA. That's a great opt-out!

I'm sure that M$ are not tracking our every move (though there is a bloke on the other side of the street wearing a mac...not a Mac obviously...with the collar turned up and looking through my window...see I do have windows...that looks suspiciously like Steve Ballmer... ) but I expect they are thinking: "Hey our storage is cheap - let's fill it up with all sorts of data about our customers, it might come in handy for something in the future!" Whatever that handy thing might be - marketing, copyright enforcement, etc. - why should our only opt-out be to not use their software?

You don't have to be paranoid to not trust the likes of M$ with this kind of thing. It's just plain wrong.

[AndrewJ]

I was about to move to Windows Vista as my main OS...I'm sticking with Xp for now

[slowcoach]

As part of Russia's application to join the WTO they have been obliged to bring in laws requiring all software installed on a computer to be accompanied by a stored copy of the licence, even freeware is not exempt.
The law is enforced by what is equivalent to our Trading Standards Officers, very harsh penalties result for any infringement.
As a result more people and businesses are moving to Linux, simply because they cannot afford to replace all their pirated software with paid for copies.
Take care out there, the net is closing in......

[7@m3 G33k]

Originally Posted by slowcoach

As part of Russia's application to join the WTO they have been obliged to bring in laws requiring all software installed on a computer to be accompanied by a stored copy of the licence, even freeware is not exempt.
The law is enforced by what is equivalent to our Trading Standards Officers, very harsh penalties result for any infringement.
As a result more people and businesses are moving to Linux, simply because they cannot afford to replace all their pirated software with paid for copies.
Take care out there, the net is closing in......

And who said that the WTO were the running dogs of international monopoly capitalism? Oh...I just did!

[xpod]

As part of Russia's application to join the WTO they have been obliged to bring in laws requiring all software installed on a computer to be accompanied by a stored copy of the licence, even freeware is not exempt.
The law is enforced by what is equivalent to our Trading Standards Officers, very harsh penalties result for any infringement.
As a result more people and businesses are moving to Linux, simply because they cannot afford to replace all their pirated software with paid for copies.
Take care out there, the net is closing in......

I`ve heard those Gulags are a bit rough

EDIT:...lol
http://www.microsoft-watch.com/conte...n_schools.html

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by 7@m3 G33k

I think we ignore this kind of thing at our peril. Why should we just allow mega-corporations (or the state for that matter) routinely collect large amounts of data about us? This kind of thing should be an opt-in, we don't even get an opt-out! Oh yeah...you can not agree to the EULA. That's a great opt-out!

There's also Linux. Oh, and avoid Google, 'cause they store a huge amount of info on you..

I'm sure that M$ are not tracking our every move (though there is a bloke on the other side of the street wearing a mac...not a Mac obviously...with the collar turned up and looking through my window...see I do have windows...that looks suspiciously like Steve Ballmer... )

Wearing a Mac... Interesting concept. This guy, was he leaping around like a fool and chanting "Developers Developers Developers"?

[MrJDGaF]

I should imagine it's for the CIA, I hear they're quite cosy with M$.

[Hugh]

Originally Posted by MrJDGaF

I should imagine it's for the CIA, I hear they're quite cosy with M$.

They don't need to be - N$A has e4echo-ch3l0n.... (not putting the word in, obviously)..........

[Gareth]

Originally Posted by Stuart C

Wearing a Mac... Interesting concept. This guy, was he leaping around like a fool and chanting "Developers Developers Developers"?

...and sweating profusely? And were there any chairs close by?

---------- Post added at 17:14 ---------- Previous post was at 17:13 ----------

Originally Posted by foreverwar

They don't need to be - N$A has e4echo-ch3l0n.... (not putting the word in, obviously)..........

What word...? Echelon...?