XP, Phone Home

Randomeyes writes: "The Register reports that Windows XP has functionality built-in to the Search Companion module that allows Microsoft to log users internet searches. Information collected includes user IP address, search term and related information. A cookie is also set. 'TrustUnWorthy Computing' anyone?" Tanveer1979 writes: though, that "the bright side is that it doesn't send anything to internet, it only downloads files, and compares the files on your computer with the files on server. And I guess a little effort is needed for the malicious to program it to send your data to web."

Comments

Re:Please explain

[Zico]

Yes, but Bash, Netscape etc. doesn't trasmit that dat back to an 800lb gorrila, my friend.

Preach on, brother! Erm, oh wait...

Newsbytes: Netscape Navigator Browser Snoops On Web Searches

"According to a network traffic analysis performed by Newsbytes, Netscape is capturing Navigator 6 users' search terms, along with their Internet protocol (IP) address, the date Navigator was installed and a unique identification number."

Hmmm, a unique identification number, eh? So forget logging your IP address with your search (which Microsoft and the other search engines claim not to do), forget gathering demographic data (which the XP Search Assistant also doesn't do), but Netscape is actually using a unique ID numbers to tie searches to specific individual users.

Wanna try again? ;)