Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Domains

Domain: phoenixnet.com

Stories and comments across the archive that link to phoenixnet.com.

Comments · 5

  1. Re:Add on boot up by aenea · · Score: 1 · on Salon Goes For Annoying Jump-Through Ads

    Phoenix tried the "advertising in your bios" thing. It didn't work out. PhoenixNet

  2. A review of the technology by Animats · · Score: 2 · on Phoenix BIOS Phones Home?
    There's a review available on LostCircuits. It's very bad. Items:
    • "Internet Explorer settings are mercilessly overwritten so that the default startup page is PhoenixNet with a customized taskbar similar to the practices employed by some porn sites. All shortcuts lead to CNET or their online shopping mall..."
    • "even uninstalling PhoenixNet will not remove all the desktop shortcuts and browser default settings."
    • "every access of MySimon caused the system to hard crash."
    • "Including this utility in its present form is the worst of all cardinal sins a mainboard manufacturer can commit and whoever came up with this glorious idea to get kickbacks from CNET should be put in front of a firing squad."

    And new, more intrusive features are coming. Here's PhoenixNet's pitch to resellers:

    • "PhoenixNet can identify and reach users any time they are online. Regular market reports generated by PhoenixNet on users -- and the products they use -- can help you deliver more effective products, services and promotions to your customers."
    • "Soon, PhoenixNet will have the capability to identify users' PC needs (such as a full or failing disk drive), alerting you to a potential up-selling opportunity specifically to that user. Also, if you offer on-site technical support for your local customers, PhoenixNet will be able to integrate your contact information into our Tech Support Portal's list of tech support providers."
    • "Our services will soon be available to users of Microsoft Windows Millenium and Windows 2000."

    This needs to be publicized in the mainstream media. It's far worse than the Intel Pentium III serial number fiasco.

    It also needs to become well-known to corporate IT managers, who aren't going to want those things on employee desktops and won't like all those unauthorized outgoing connections.

  3. Motherboard vendors using this by Animats · · Score: 2 · on Phoenix BIOS Phones Home?
    Here's the list of vendors to avoid. Note that Phoenix is the maker of the "AWARD BIOS", so that's the name to look for.
    "Here is a list of the system board makers that are PhoenixNet-enabled. "
    • ABIT
    • ACORP
    • AOpen
    • ASUSTEK
    • A-Trend
    • BIOSTAR
    • Chaintech
    • ELITEGROUP
    • EPoX
    • Gigabyte
    • Iwill
    • JETWAY
    • Lucky Star
    • MicroStar International
    • Shuttle
    • Soltek
    • SOYO
    • Tekram
    • Taiwan Commate

    Ask for them by name, and just say no.

  4. Re:BIOS spying on you by Tipsy+McStagger · · Score: 1 · on Phoenix BIOS Phones Home?

    check out the list of mobo makers who will use the system here. Award are on there as are most others

  5. BIOS spying on you by revin · · Score: 5 · on Phoenix BIOS Phones Home?

    http://home.phoenixnet.com/privacy/pcusers.html
    This is bios level spying and advertising, even from Phoenix's partners. I think most users will not even know it is installed (by default). The only way to get rid of it is flashing your bios, which is quite a dangerous operation for the common user