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Microsoft WinXP Update spies on other PC software
The Inquirer ^ | Tuesday 25 February 2003 | Inquirer Staff

Posted on 02/26/2003 8:46:56 AM PST by Knitebane

Software components reported to Vole Central

By INQUIRER staff: Tuesday 25 February 2003, 14:21

A REPORT ON a German site claims that Microsoft extracts more information from a person's PC when the update Windows facility is used running the WinXP operating system.

According to tecCHANNEL, it has deciphered which data is transferred to Microsoft Central whenever you connect to its update web site.

The site's tecDUMP utility intercepts messages which were deciphered in the course of an exchange with Microsoft.

And, the site claims, the information can pass on to Microsoft a list of all of the software installed on an individual's computer, including software manufactured by other manufacturers.

According to tecCHANNEL, this information is more extensive than is necessary for the purpose. The site said Microsoft has not yet replied in detail to its concerns about passing sensitive data.

The story starts here. µ


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: computers; operatingsystems; privacy; spyware; update; windows
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To: MineralMan
>>>How does a company update your system without knowing what is currently installed on that system?

Easy the PC downloads the latest list and compares it with what is installed on the PC. The PC then downloads what it needs. No one needs to know anything else about your pc except the updates for program xxx were downloaded. The updates can then check to see if the installed software is legit and not update if it isn't. ms needs to know nothing about your PC or you.

Penguin works this way. You download a list of the latest, compare with your installed, decide what you want to update. Download updates. World is in your hands, not ms.

Some penguin updating subscriptions can work similar to ms, but don't have to. If you have access to the ftp directory (paid for a password) where the files are, you just download what you want/need.

snooker
21 posted on 02/26/2003 9:35:39 AM PST by snooker
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To: Siegfried
It's been about six months now and I still haven't got Linux fully working on my old Pentium I, but I'm sure I'll be able to iron out all the installation glitches pretty soon.

I like Linux and use Redhat 8 on one of my machines at home but this sentence sums up why Linux is still mostly used by computer geeks: it's hard to configure. Every release gets much, much better but I still wouldn't recommend Linux to the average home user.

22 posted on 02/26/2003 9:37:41 AM PST by DallasMike
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To: holymoly
I still run WIN982E so I think I'm Ok. The few times an MS update tries to launch, I intercede and cancel it.

I've been thinking if this MS tack continues, I will invest the time to change over to LINUX. Saw a Lindows system the other day and it has all the functionality and feel of my present computer. Tempting.
23 posted on 02/26/2003 9:38:12 AM PST by Hostage
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To: Knitebane
I suspect extracting info on installed programs is part of M$'s efforts to develop information on which segments of the software market to attack next. Like they are with Media Player and built-in CD burning and their MovieMaker util.

They can look at just the games you've installed and develop info on which games they should develop for particular market segments.
24 posted on 02/26/2003 9:38:34 AM PST by George W. Bush
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To: DallasMike
So in one sense, Redhat "spies" on my system configuration just as Microsoft "spies" on my Windows 2000 configuration.

Wrong. You spy on your system, just like MS spies on your Windows system. You set it up--not RH. However, on Windows, Microsoft set up the spyware.

There is a huge difference there.

25 posted on 02/26/2003 9:42:08 AM PST by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
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To: DallasMike
Also, I have my Linux box (Redhat 8.0) set up so that it can automatically sense any new software patches and upgrades when I run in root mode. So in one sense, Redhat "spies" on my system configuration just as Microsoft "spies" on my Windows 2000 configuration.

Nope. RedHat's RHN service running on your PC downloads a list of all available updates from RedHat's servers, then your system decides what to install.

26 posted on 02/26/2003 9:46:10 AM PST by Knitebane
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To: Hodar
No, this is the stuff of Urban Legends. Everyone knows of a neighbor's cousin's ex-roommate's son-in-law's friend's ex-classmate that says that he received a threatening letter from MS. The rules of illegal search without a warrant still apply.

Not quite

27 posted on 02/26/2003 9:49:08 AM PST by Knitebane
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To: Siegfried
When it gets to be that it fires up right away is when people will start using it. I have too many other things to spend my time on then to fidle with an OS, when Windows XP does everything I ask of it.

I'll be glad to switch if and when it gets as easy as windows with all the applications I need.
28 posted on 02/26/2003 9:52:32 AM PST by The FRugitive
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To: Knitebane
Most Windows games run perfectly fine under Wine.

Will you please cite a few examples of games that you, personally, have run perfectly fine or seen running perfectly fine with Wine? Thanks.

29 posted on 02/26/2003 9:52:56 AM PST by ArrogantBustard (Gathering needed info to abandon MSloth)
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To: Knitebane
...Other than StarCraft and Diablo II...
30 posted on 02/26/2003 9:54:42 AM PST by ArrogantBustard (Gathering needed info to abandon MSloth)
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To: Hodar
I couldn't imagine a scenario like that occurring, but I have very little experience as a PC owner. Thanks for the advice.
31 posted on 02/26/2003 9:59:58 AM PST by stanz
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To: DallasMike
it's hard to configure.

Having used RedHat since 4.2, I can understand where this idea that Linux is hard to install has come from.

But having recently upgraded to RedHat 8.0, I'm surprised that people are still saying it.

My machine has an IDE hard drive and CDROM, an nVidia video card, a Hauppage WinTV card, an old BusLogic SCSI card with an external Yamaha CDR and a cheap SoundBlaster PCI sound card.

The standard install detected all of my hardware. In order to use my video card's advanced capabilities, I had to install two RPMs (rpm -ivh nvidia*) and edit two lines in a config file.

I've recently installed WinXP on a client's desktop. It was a much more tedious process than a RedHat 8.0 install.

32 posted on 02/26/2003 10:00:56 AM PST by Knitebane
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To: Knitebane
Previous versions of WindowsUpdate explicity stated that no information was being sent to Microsoft. That little disclaimer is no longer used.
33 posted on 02/26/2003 10:04:31 AM PST by Texas_Jarhead
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To: ArrogantBustard
Let's see...

Wing Commander IV, Half-Life, Unreal Tournament, Civilization Call to Power, MiG 29 Fulcrum, Silent Service II, WarCraft, The Sims, the latest Mechwarrior....

Those I have either played myself under Wine or seen them played under Wine.

For a better list of games that run under Wine, try Wine HQ and check out their application database.

34 posted on 02/26/2003 10:06:09 AM PST by Knitebane
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To: Knitebane
Win2K SP3 includes a EULA that authorizes Microsoft to install any software they wish on your PC as well as delete any software that they find objectionable.

Not only that, but you have to agree that it's OK for the updates to arbitrarily break any application. "DOS isn't done until Lotus won't run" used to be a scandal--now it's a way of life that you must agree to if you want bug fixes for your MS OS.

35 posted on 02/26/2003 10:06:44 AM PST by jejones
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To: ArrogantBustard
I'm not a gamer myself, so the best I could do is point you at the Transgaming web site. A quick look at their home page turns up Warcraft III, Grand Theft Auto 3, Civilization III, and Black and White. (Note that Transgaming's version of WINE is a commercial product.)
36 posted on 02/26/2003 10:40:41 AM PST by jejones
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To: jejones
Bummer... Command & Conquer games seem to be somewhat of a problem...
37 posted on 02/26/2003 10:54:19 AM PST by ArrogantBustard
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To: Hodar
"The rules of illegal search without a warrant still apply."

Only to government & police agenencies.
38 posted on 02/26/2003 12:19:10 PM PST by holymoly
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To: Knitebane
Nope. RedHat's RHN service running on your PC downloads a list of all available updates from RedHat's servers, then your system decides what to install.

That's exactly what Microsoft's service does!

39 posted on 02/26/2003 1:44:51 PM PST by DallasMike
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To: Knitebane
The standard install detected all of my hardware. In order to use my video card's advanced capabilities, I had to install two RPMs (rpm -ivh nvidia*) and edit two lines in a config file.

That's easy for you and easy for me, but most users wouldn't have a clue as to how to do such a thing. I anticipate that within 2 years RedHat and the other major Linux installations will be easier to configure than Microsoft and that Microsoft will be adopting Linux solutions to their own problems. We've already seen that tact taken with the .NET programming languages which, if used correctly, can eliminate DLL Hell caused by COM registry issues. IMHO, COM was designed by a demon.

40 posted on 02/26/2003 1:50:14 PM PST by DallasMike
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