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Windows Tracks CDs & DVDs You Watch

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the you-just-can't-make-this-stuff-up dept.

lcypher writes "The AP is reporting that there is spyware within Windows Media Player 8(which ships with XP), which records the song titles and DVD titles that a user listens to or views in WMP8. Microsoft execs claim no marketing use right now, but they won't rule it out. " This looks like less of a big deal than the article makes it out to be, but it definitely could be used for evil.

9 of 418 comments (clear)

  1. Pr0n by 68030 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Turns out they are just tracking all the pron
    file names so they can track them down on
    kazaa easier.

    Those lazy bastards. (:

  2. eak... by mlk · · Score: 2, Funny

    time to add
    whatever.the.hell.mediaplayer.uses 127.0.0.1
    in the hosts file, and maybe a quick webpage to return
    Mlk and a vacume cleaner
    the spam-email from that could be veryyy intresting :)

    --
    Wow, I should not post when knackered.
  3. I plan to submit a /. story soon: by Stepto · · Score: 2, Funny

    Microsoft uses secret IE tools known as "HISTORY", "CACHE" and user's "IP ADDRESS" TO TRACK EVERYTHING YOU SEE ON THE INTERNET.

    I bet it gets 500+ comments.

    S.

    --
    http://www.stepto.com

  4. Billy Boy by Loki_1929 · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm thinking Bill Gates is just trying to get a nice fat list of popular DVDs so he can run and download them from DALnet.

    <BillGates> Gee fellas, could you please help me download good pornographic films?
    <@Antel> lol, get out of here you l0ser
    <BillGates> But wait, I'm really desperate here. I gotta OC-48 and a 12TB IBM RAID storage tower.
    *** Antel sets mode +b BGates@microsoft.com
    *** BillGates was kicked from #pr0n by Antel (get lost you geek!)

    --
    -- "Government is the great fiction through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else."
  5. Re:Playing right now: by npietraniec · · Score: 2, Funny

    Someone should make a "patch" that transmits "fuck you microsoft" 100 times for every video you play ;)

  6. Re:Microsoft's use isn't the issue... by gazbo · · Score: 2, Funny
    Just for innocently checking out that warez movie link...or borrowing a DVD that happened to be ripped
    It's a sad day when we can't break the law without fear of reprise.
  7. And they're using this for... by bero-rh · · Score: 4, Funny


    From: Microsoft Legal Department
    To: Valued Customer
    Subject: Windows Media Player Usage Report

    Hello,
    we have noticed you have played back pirated episodes
    of Star Trek Enterprise downloaded from the net.

    This is a violation of federal law.

    We charge you $10,000 for this information; if we do not receive this amount of money, your registration information (as well as the information you used to register on any websites, as tracked by Internet Explorer) will be forwarded to the MPAA.

    --
    This message is provided under the terms outlined at http://www.bero.org/terms.html
  8. Re:marketing data? by stinkydog · · Score: 5, Funny

    What kind of marketing data are they going to get from "user 3453845 watches the hell out of 'tina3.wmv'"?

    You laugh now but soon, all your popups will be for Jergens, Vasoline and inflatable girlfriends.

    SD

    --
    âoeWho knew something as harmless as willful ignorance could end up having real consequences?â
  9. Re:unique id by mark_lybarger · · Score: 3, Funny

    what unique user id? is this derived from the os install key? if so, i'd say it's not that unique :).