____/ ml2mst on Sunday 01 July 2007 06:12 : \____
> [ Rex Ballard ] wrote:
>> On Jun 30, 10:01 pm, ml2mst <ml2...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>> Forget about the WGA! 20+ Windows Vista Features and Services Harvest
>>> User Data for Microsoft - From your machine!
>>> <quote>
>>>
>>> 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.
>>> </quote>
>>
>> This is not news to this news group. When Microsoft first released
>> their
>> EULA, I pointed out that Microsoft could collect any information it
>> wanted to,
>> from your computer.
Well, it *used* to be your computer. The hardware is yours, but it functions
according to same secret code that you bought a licence to rent.
> O, well, yes; I remember I saw kernel32 of Win98 phoning home (asking
> permission to connect) after I installed the Seygate Presonal Firewall.
> When I discussed it with people who call them self security experts,
> they told me it was a /false positive/. My only reaction was "Yeah,
> right" :-)
This was probably the first instance where 'phone home' was identified. I
wonder if they keep lively datacentres at Redmond with over a decade of log
files. All these processes are secretive in nature, so there's probably no
disposal/retention policy either. Knowing that the US government has enough
authority and power to collect data from search engines, this makes you think,
doesn't it? It knows a helluva lot about many computers all around the world
and IP addresses (from search engines) can be matched against all this data
which Microsoft collects from half a billion PCs. Think of CCTV and people's
wrist watch. Nobody has the evidence in its entirety, but the Republicans (who
seem to be keen on Windows, based on their candidates' choice of servers) can
put all the pieces together and spy on many individuals around the world.
>> It's very carefully worded to appear harmless, but the reality is
>> quite different.
>
> Agreed ;-)
>
>> Some of the information Microsoft is capable of collecting:
>>
>> All software installed on the computer including registration IDs and
>> serial numbers.for:
>>
>> Windows
>> All Microsoft Software
>> All third party software.
>> All OSS software.
>> Any document that might be related to resgistration.
>> Microsoft Passportt information (you send to Microsoft
>> voluntarily).
>>
>> Hardware configuration
>> CPU serial number
>> Hard drive serial number
>> Hard drive partitioning (can detect Linux partitions).
>> Graphics cards
>> Network cards, including MAC and IP addresses.
>> Attached devices such as USB drives and serial numbers.
>>
>> Remember that some information such as CPU Serial number, Hard Drive,
>> and Network Mac Address may also be sent for Passport, MSN, MSNBC,
>> MSDN, and Microsoft.com sites, along with a persistant cookie.
Joel Spolsky once wrote about cross-site cookie swapping, which is a 'distry'
thing to do. Your financial details can be used to determine how much you will
be willing to pay when you book a flight. This intelligence can be used
against the consumer and benefit the corporations.
> And what if it's a second hand machine and you replace some of the
> hardware, than your software probably is considered illegal?
>
> I've heard that you have to reactive (or something the like) again,
> great [sigh].
If you are lucky. I recently read about a guy who changed his graphics card and
then got locked out of Windows. Why? Activiation. It was requested that he
should buy another Vista licence.
>> Neither data set by itself is enough to identify you, but its' a
>> trivial matter
>> to use data mining techniques to create the linkages.
>
>>>
>>> Uhm, paying $800+ for a piece of spyware? Must be kidding...
>>
>> Worse. Paying $800+ for a piece of spyware AND a destrictive Trojan
>> Horse.
>> The EULA also grants permission to Microsoft to disable your computer
>> and
>> nullify your license if they believe that you have violated the terms
>> of the
>> license. Once the license is nullified, you have to purchase a new
>> "Full Edition"
>> at MSRP or near retail price.
>
> Interesting, I never knew they would go that far. But Mikysoft may keep
> their slopware and EULA. I fully gave up on them.
>
> Each time I have to help somebody who ran into trouble with their
> Winbox, I feel great, realizing, I made the right choice, even before
> eXPee was released...
Let them have cakes.
--
~~ Best of wishes
Roy S. Schestowitz | Oracle: Linux adoption to accelerate
http://Schestowitz.com | RHAT Linux | PGP-Key: 0x74572E8E
08:05:03 up 14 days, 13:33, 4 users, load average: 2.13, 1.98, 1.90
http://iuron.com - Open Source knowledge engine project
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