Privacy issue hits Windows Media

vass0922 · January 17th, 2002, 02:09 PM

since 1998

I've always had that option turned off but thats just because I always look through software for that kinda crap. I dont subscribe to any services anyways.

Sorry storm2k, but its issues like this that really start people boiling about MS.

storm2k · January 17th, 2002, 04:22 PM

well to be fair to ms, realplayer does this too... they have some id settings that get xmitted if you're not being careful and turn it off.

Mntsnow · January 17th, 2002, 07:40 PM

btw how is this truly any different from a "standard" cookie that is created from your computer? ....Think about..... It still takes "co-operation" between sites to compile the data and that data only has an ID # not your name.

Whats FAR WORSE in my eyes are cookies that are created when for example, your on a system that has your NAME as your log in ID as the login name is what makes the cookie name! Just take a close look at how my cookies are named on this system I'm currently posting from.

for example

Cookie:mntsnow@tomshardware.com/
Cookie:mntsnow@support.microsoft.com/
Cookie:mntsnow@palm.com/
Cookie:mntsnow@www.xtremepccentral.com/
Cookie:mntsnow@www.techimo.com/

here at home I get "tracked" as Mntsnow but at work I get tracked by my first inital and full last name due to the way the domain admin setup everyone's accounts....Thus at work I dont allow cookies period except for a couple from specific sites such as my bank, mysite and here for example.

MS is NOT the only person/company that is "watching" you and to think so shows a very narrow mind IMHO.

vass0922 · January 17th, 2002, 08:21 PM

MntSnow,

I realize all sites track who you are.
However, this is a way to track you spanning sites, and to make you unique throughout the world

I'm sure there are quite a few LastNameFM@website.com cookies out there. This is exactly why Intel took such a beating when they put in the processor serial numbers. I dont think its right that just because MS hid there's better that it's "ok".

If I'm misunderstanding, then correct me. They label it as some sort of "super cookies", well I dont know about that, but a UNIQUE identifier is different than LastNameFM (M for sometimes middle initial)

Can you imagine how many "SmithJ" there are?

Mntsnow · January 17th, 2002, 09:20 PM

Yes your off just a little bit from what I was trying to point out but over all I think you get my meaning.... I can tell ya there is NOT that many mshimmin's in the world let alone mjshimmin's A even more sinister view would be to put ALL the items together. IP addresses, Cookies, ID#'s and then what will they have

lol for that fact anyone who has a static IP is already screwed truthfully! lol

vass0922 · January 17th, 2002, 10:23 PM

ok ya got me there

my last name is not VERY common, but fairly common...
However, with the other additives and preservatives, yes it could be a bit unique.

However, since I rarely leave this page guess I dont have to worry about then

newbie~wan · January 18th, 2002, 10:33 AM

Get a load of this line of MS BS:

Quote:

Microsoft spokesperson Tonya Klause said Microsoft implemented the ID feature in part to help video-heavy Web sites to sell subscriptions to users. The ID numbers allow Web sites to recognize visitors, so they don’t have to log in each time, she said. Klause said the feature was introduced back in 1998.

Oh, I just hate loggin in so much!!

Thank god MS came to my rescue and implement this "feature".

Oh, but MS came up with an update to turn it off! How nice of them, especially AFTER someone pointed it out. I wonder if they would have done so otherwise.......hmmmmm........

This game will go on forever, MS will keep implementing "features"

that allow people to be tracked, security and privacy advocates will continue to expose them, and MS will keep making more.
Bottom line....MS wins this war. By the time one is revealed, a new one is already implemented and will continue to remain until it is also found, but then another........you get the picture.