General Discussions

**ibbo** · 06-12-2006, 11:33 AM

Another one of those eyebrow raising articles that reside on slashdot.

http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?s...60608002958907

So whats the problem some of you are asking!!!!!

Thats simple, no-one can state exactly what is been sent to MS when you boot into windows. Indeed it appears that MS had officaly relased its own spyware and added it to your automatic updates so it installs itself.

Sounds familiar in an email attatchment kind of way does it not. HOWEVER if I read correclty there be no uninstall for this, so once its there for all you know every keystroke will be recorded by MS.

Does this sound reasonable to you? Just because you purchased (or not) a liscense for windows does this then mean MS can spy on you and provide false information to you over this software that is spying.

Seriously MS is leaning towards evil.

Ibbo

**ExpressoDan** · 06-12-2006, 02:19 PM

The thing that really gets me about that "Windows Genuine" crap is that it say... we want you to be aware if you've been tricked into buying Microsoft products that are not legitimate... BULL they don’t care about you... then it says, we'll walk you through how to get a genuine copy.

I downloaded the stupid thing as a part of my monthly updates. I know my copy is legit and I didn’t have anything to worry about. So my issue is that they are assuming EVERYONE is a thieve because after I downloaded it... nothing happened. It doesn’t say anything. So they act like they care and once they have verified your legal... they don’t care????

**ADAM Web Design** · 06-12-2006, 02:44 PM

I don't really have a problem with it, personally.

I have a few choices when it comes to that sort of thing:

1) Don't buy a copy of Windows (or pirate one).

2) Don't download and install the tool.

3) Don't use the PC to access the Internet directly.

While none of these are "optimal", the point is that there are alternatives. If it were a monopolistic situation, it would bug me, but for now it doesn't. As long as it doesn't phone home about who I am or what I'm doing, I really don't give that much of a ****.

**Minaki** · 06-13-2006, 04:30 AM

Quote:

so once its there for all you know every keystroke will be recorded by MS

That's just scaremongering. There is absolutely nothing to suggest that Windows is logging keystokes and sending them to Microsoft.

**ibbo** · 06-13-2006, 05:22 AM

Is it minaki,

The article clearly shows that this addon is installed under the guise of an update. It makes no mention to tell you what it is untill you have it already.

So now that they have completely blown ethics out of the windows by decieving you already how can you now be sure that they dont record every key stroke.

Because they say they don't?

Um

Of course many people would not care less and this is exactly why these things happen.

Ibbo

**Christopher** · 06-13-2006, 11:56 AM

Well simply recording your network traffic will yield what information is actually sent back to MS (and there are thousands of people reverse-engineering MS stuff), so they won't be doing anything totally crazy

**stOx** · 06-13-2006, 01:55 PM

This may have been the thing i got an EULA pop up to agree to about a month ago..
I thought it was strange that MS had an EULA on thier updates, so i read it, and didn't install it..

Tip of the day: Always read your EULAs...

**ExpressoDan** · 06-13-2006, 04:05 PM

Here's another interesting article provided by CNET
http://news.com.com/2300-1029_3-6083...3230&subj=news