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Examining Microsoft Update
eggsovereasy writes "The Inquirer is reporting that a group in Germany has deciphered the information sent to Microsoft during an update using Windows Update and says that information on all software installed on your computer is sent, even that which is not Microsoft's own software." The original article is, unfortunately, pay-per-view. Update: 02/26 18:19 GMT by T : ionyka points to this "related article from ITWorld that deals with Microsoft's transferring of information through Windows Media Player. When you open up Media Player it sends information back to Microsoft like what movies you play, what songs you listen to and where they come from."
Just got this in the mail, you may want to pass along to tell 'em what you think....?
d @Domain.com
You can have a significant impact on what Microsoft does in the near future by filling out a brief survey.
Microsoft wants to tailor its efforts to address the issues that challenge you every day. To do that, we need your input. Our highest priority is to understand your needs better, and that's why we selected you to receive this survey.
The Gartner Group has conducted extensive research on mid-sized companies across the country and published what they believe are the top priorities for the near future. This is valuable, but we need to know if it reflects your plans. Microsoft wants to give you the tools you really need.
Microsoft will be happy to thank you for taking this survey by entering your name in a drawing for one of 25 brand new copies of Office XP Standard Edition.*
Please click here to input your survey response.
Link is here (update your email in the link): http://reply.mst1.com/link.asp?L=100167&E=email_i
*Limit 1 per customer. Valid only for the original recipient of this email. Response must be received by March 25, 2003.
Enjoy!
"This isn't a study in computer science, its a study in human behavior"
Microsoft needs to collect this information for driver updates and other *useful* updates.
Only last night I tried to install a wirless USB interface onto a laptop and didn't have the drivers so I headed onto windowsupdate.microsoft.com with the USB adapter dangling out the back and bam! there was a driver there ready for me to download. Excellent.
Fast. Easy computing. That's why I pay for my software...
...waitaminute. Isn't this supposed to be a site for news? How is this news? We've known for a long time M$ would pull something like this, it's f**king par-for-the-course for Gates and Company, and it's getting posted like it's some sort of interesting new development?
Water's wet, the sky's blue, and Microsoft's a monopoly that doesn't give a shit about the rights of the end-user. None of this is news.
blog |
5. ????
6. Profit!!!
troll
So the service which updates your software needs to know what what software you've got. Big deal. Come back to me when you've *any* evidence that microsoft are abusing this information in any way at all.
Sig is taking a break!
Nice suggestion, so why don't YOU start working on it? Ideas are like assholes... yadda yadda
Get off your ass and write it, instead of offering suggestions like the hundreds of other sheep who do, and never get anything done.
I agree... and the hardware list could actually be a good thing. Microsoft could compile databases of who uses what hardware, so they know the percentages of people who use certain brands. It seems like this information would be extremely useful in knowing what types of machines to test Beta software on in the future.
9 times out of 10 the Windows update driver just screws things up.
Not only is it not that big a deal, privacy-wise, but it is nice that they provide third party driver updates for this hardware over windowsupdate.
Finkployd
People still use modems?
I don't do this for karma, I do it for cash. It's much better.
Don't cry, this is much of the same.
It's "lazy" admins that are the bane of the 'net; code red, lion, nimda, slammer, etc.
As for lazy users, well, you're the ones partly responsible for crap like melissa and the one worm that mails random documents to random email addresses.
Go, you!
Normally I abstain from making posts on Slashdot, but seeing that a few of us are going to be laid off due to various reasons, I decided to take a risk and discuss a few things.
First of all, we have been collecting this data since Windows Update was introduced with Windows 98. However, since Windows 95, we have been collecting such information via the online registration program we included. Although, in the first version, we only collected information about certain programs, it was changed to all programs when a higher-up official asked us to implement it in.
In the next service pack for XP, we will adding a module that will enable us to see what you do with certain Microsoft programs.
I'll be honest and fair here, we're not interested in piraters or the like. All we're interested in are the products you use and how you use them.
Feel free to throw any questions at me.
Hey thanks I didn't know the Win Update site had changed.
It used to be the way I described, perhaps that tells you how long it has been since I'd been there.
I quit using it and started using services like Cnets Catch Up, the Corporate download site and Tech Net.
I don't think you were modded down I think you were responding to me.
Yes I was uninformed as I hadn't used it in years.
Yes it is the default choice which others perhaps might overlook.
Now If they know I have Nero Burning Rom on my machine they ought to start offering that as an update choice so I don't have to keep up with it myself.
Signed Muddle who is to damned lazy to remember or type in my Passwd.