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Netscape Pays $100,000 To Settle Privacy Issue
crazyhorse44 writes ""The New York Attorney General's office said on Friday Netscape would pay $100,000 as part of a settlement of complaints about a feature used by the unit of America Online to track what users downloaded online. Netscape, once the browser pioneer that has fallen second to Microsoft Corp.'s Internet Explorer in recent years, would also delete all URLs and related data it has obtained through its SmartDownload browser software and undergo privacy audits, the Attorney General's office said. The settlement comes after a two-year probe, begun in 2002, into Netscape's collection and retention of information that identified files downloaded by users, which contradicted its statement to consumers that none of the information was saved." Story at Wired."
So they basically know that most of their internet users download pr0n and mp3s. Is this news? An invasion of privacy? Maybe, but you could write this in a text file:
User (212.23.32.19) downloaded pamela_boobs.jpg at 3:30PM.
And chances are, you would be close to the truth, just out of sheer random pr0n coincidence.
In all seriousness though, good job to all the people who don't let evil AOL get ahead in this world!
See what people are downloading?
"The settlement comes after a two-year probe, begun in 2002"
The settlement comes after a two-year probe, begun in 2002
I didn't know we already were in 2004.
must've fallen asleep.
I should take more caffein.
Trolling using another account since 2005.
this must be the lowest settlement in recent history? is this already the end of the 2nd dotcom boom?
As an old Netscape fan, I can only say: "Disappointed!!" Since they are one of MS:s most prominent historical "enemies", I really thought they could be trusted.
Here was the first Linux www browser worth that name, that wasn't perfect but it was working, that became more and more bloated and unstable, while at the same time Microsoft decided to give away IE for free, effectively killing off Netscape. Then Netscape sold out to AOL like a cheap whore and the browser has now become a giant marketing turd.
The happy end of the story ? Netscape released the source code of the browser, enabling the Mozilla project to begin. Thanks guys !
"A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
Read obliterated, wiped out of existence.
Best euphemism I've seen in a while :)
(Disclaimer: I use nothing but mozilla)
Those monopolistic bastards and Micro$haft have gone too far for the last time. We all know how since they have bought two-thirds of the US Govt. and DOJ that they can now do anything. I mean 100,000$ settlement? What is that? This company is worth billions. I will never use IE again...
Wait... Netscape... My head... OWIEEEEE... *BOOM*
There is nothing wrong with being gay. It's getting caught where the trouble lies.
so who is going to benefit from this pathetic 100k ? the CEO earns that a month
more signs that American buisness is more corrupt than anyone could believe
If Microsoft can't find a legal reason, they find a software component to stick it to you! Just because they also stopped developing IE for Windows, doesn't mean it wasn't a direct blow to Apple and direct "yeah ...well up yours, we just won't call it IE anymore and continue to integrate it" to the justice department/netscape case. They also have apparently slid in more and more DRM into WMA and made more and more deals to use the crappy video codec from Windows Media Player by being able to threten Real.
Yell & scream & rant & rave... it's no use... you need a shaaaave ~ Bugs Bunny
They already have acquired the 'privilege' to license IE for 'free' from Microsoft. Seriously, I wonder how long it will be until AOL kills off the division completely. I doubt they will actively invest in it anymore anyway, lest they harm their warm relationship with Microsoft. It will die the slow death of MacIE.
The settlement was reached based on a fine of $10000 for every user of the netscape software.
Wait! You aren't supposed to _read_ anything before posting.
Even if you read, don't _think_ !! Just consume, don't criticize...
If you keep throwing chairs, one day you'll break windows....
Mozilla lends $100,000,000 to AOL to keep Netscape alive. Despite trying to get back in the news with a dead products after the IE steamroll, and competition from Opera and AOL-sponsored Mozilla, Netscape is failing miserably.
Such 'settlements' are illusory and just PR stunts.
Wired News? Or Wierd news?
If you keep throwing chairs, one day you'll break windows....
First off, to whom is the settlement money being paid? Should it not be the dumb smart-downloaders who shuld be getting compensated?
.Next to Rich, Smart is the most commonly used MS propoganda word. Seeing there are many dumb users of SMART features, who's gonna settle their privacy issues?
Secondly, this opens up a thought - how about Passport (in)Security violations, Smart Update to IE, Smart Tags, etc.
Just wondering - is Netscape tring to say it's still alive?
If you keep throwing chairs, one day you'll break windows....
That sure sounds better than the $13 settlement for CD's. Where can I apply to get the money?
Given the number of Netscape users these days, that should be about $25,000 each :-)
When I am king, you will be first against the wall.
Wh knows what other stuff AOL/TW might be doing when nobody is looking...
Do you even lift?
These aren't the 'roids you're looking for.
I wonder if anyone else RTFA... My guess is not many people who care about it are still using this version of the browser anyway.
-]Phreak Out[-
Yeah Netscape released the source code, but it sucked so much the Mozilla team had to start over. It took them years to release the first version of Mozilla, and now the Mozilla suit is too bloated and slow, they have to trim down the code and work on Firebird. At the same time AOL made a deal to use IE for the next few years. I don't know it is happy end or not, but it seems to be going nowhere.
So now I use Internet Explorer, which ironically is more stable and respecting of privacy, not to mention that it seems to work with many more web sites.
Try not. Do or do not, there is no try.
-- Dr. Spock, stardate 2822-3.
So much spyware, so little time.
Come again ? What base do you have on your claim?
Did you really think Netscape 6 could be more stable than Mozilla? Netscape 6 was simply an older version of Mozilla plus some AOL junk.
My guess is not many people are still using ANY version of the browser anyway.
Since when is what files you download private? I mean is it, or is it not legal for me to post the access_log for my website publicly?
Tom
Someday, I'll have a real sig.
I have ad-aware installed.
It scans my system each time I boot it up.
Ad-Aware identified a key owned by Internet Explorer.
A seach on google for "Alexa spyware ad-aware" will turn up relevant information to this.
It's shipped FROM MICROSOFT WITH THE BROWSER.
I'd show you the key but ad-aware removed it.
The key is for something called Alexa.
It's used according to the information on the web to track all your searches and every page you load.
It's tied to a default file in your %windir%\web folder I belive.
Someone made avaiable a replacement file to put in there.
If you delete the Alexa key under ie's regkey settings the browser WILL NOT WORK because of default file in the web folder. Simply opening IE after removing the key and IE dies, your desktop dies and ie keeps wanting to restart.
I experienced this with ie 5.5 sp2 and ie6 sp1 which is what I believe microshit currently has available for download.
Replace the file in the web folder and ie is magically cured.
Ouch! Georgi Guninski must be feeling a little hard done by; he resolved a number of privacy problems for Netscape, but probably only got $1000 a pop.
PGP KeyId: 0x08D63965
Of course some information on the web will tell you there's nothing wrong with it and that it's harmless. But so will anyone else who may benefit from it being on your's, mine, and everyone else's system.
t m
If I find ANYTHING that can introduce ANY doubt (which is VERY EASY) then it's gone.
I'll reinstall the whole damned thing if I have to just to get rid of it.
To be clear. Deleting the key without replacing the file makes IE for fucking NUTS!!!
Just running iexplore from the run dialog generates problems and your desktop becomes unstable. Someone on the web claimed ie 5.5 sp2 doesn't have it. Bullshit! I installed ie 5.5 sp2 first because the ie which comes with win98se (ie 5.5 I believe) has it. Ad-aware found it.
I seached the web and found the replacement file I mentioned to you. IE still had trouble. So I upgraded to 6.0 sp1 and Alexa came back.
Ie 6.0 sp1 was no more stable than ie 5.5 or ie 5.5sp2 was. I tried to go back to ie 5.5sp2 by telling ie 6.0 to remove it self.
Oh sorry. Can't do that. I'm going to die now.
A better search than what I gave for google is "+Alexa +spyware +ie +explorer"
First link at the top should be the one I came across. Here is the url.
http://members.blue.net.au/felgall/brsie9.h
you believe everything AOL spokesmen tell you? if so I have a BETTER THAN EVER AOL 8.0 CD for you.
. SLASHDOT: Home of the vicious nerd.
The NY AG should visit http://www.fuckmicrosoft.com and learn about how MS has been the master of snoop.
Yeh, and IE doesn't track anything, interesting that they went after Netscape, but they would never go after these cookie people, IE/M$, or any of those other pieces of crap that cause our computers to crash.
Thanks DOJ for protecting our privacy!
Hmmm... Technology... anyone have a match?
so AOL invades it's user's privacy and Netscape has fallen to IE (et al)...
in other news: the world is round
Jeremy Logan's Website.
The problem here was that NS contradicted their own privacy promises, I'm not sure what you mean by "other violations. Violations of what? I would wager that Microsoft is not violating any privacy promises with Passport, Smart*, or Windows Update for that matter, because they've constructed their licenses to allow them to do whatever they want. Where are the privacy issues there? Surely you can't be thinking of US law or anything, since there is no mention of information privacy in the Constitution or anywhere else.
I doubt anyone read the article (or knows who wrote it).
..., it just registered to handle downloads as can getright among others) that let you resume downloads.
b _0 3.html
the SmartDownload in question was a standalone application (not a web browser, not navigator,
the other good thing about it was that because it was a standalone application it would survive in the event that netscape crashed.
fwiw the feature was from 2000. my guess is that the two years were the investigation from the complaint in 2000 to the beginning of whatever in 2002.
the article seems to be from reuters, so i think they're to blame for the numbers (not wired and not slashdot).
http://www.oag.state.ny.us/press/2003/jun/jun13
I do wonder how much info IE stores, but since I hardly ever use it I could really care less. I do think that since about 90% of the planet uses IE / Windows, it should be of a concern to someone.
Only 'flamers' flame!
Does slashdot hate my posts?
I was wondering why this story seemed so familiar. Then I remembered: I already read it on Wired three days ago...
First off any company who employs deceptive practices to gather information (no matter how useless) should have to pay for it 100k sounds like a good start.
That said I would like to address one of your other points:
How's every single detail of my life going to help them make a better game? Does my street, house number and phone number really help their design process?
Actually it does. One of the most important aspects of design is knowing who your designing for, and geographic influences are often significant. The company in question might want your data for some kind of ugly database but that's beside my point as well.
One of the scariest moments in business is after you have a successful product and some surplus cash, and want to know what to do with it. Two things come to mind, advertise and improve your product. For both of them it is critical to know your target audience. If you're selling new hip looking mp3 players and your registration cards come back and you find that their being bought up by 9-13 year old girls living in hawaii, then advertise on Sabrina, offer neon-colors, consider a water-resistant unit. If they're being purchased by 25-35 year old men living in Seattle, Chicago and Philly, then advertise on Frasier, offer leather and wood-like finishes, and consider a Palm-Direct transfer feature. Making these decisions properly will often make or break your company, and any information that can help has value.
In the OpenSource community the need to have something drives us to create it. We are therefore very often part of our target audience, and if not, we receive bug mail from them that makes it very clear exactly what they are doing with it.
Consumer Product development and marketing models are very different from ours, but they exist because they work. So have a Coke(r) and a smile.
The coolest form of this data gathering I found was on some little electronic tool (power screwdriver I think). They offered a one year warranty by default and an extra year if you filled out their silly little card, with the added bonus that doing so meant you could misplace the receipt and still get it repaired free of charge for two years.
Ya, I think the Illuminati is behind it too.
Manipulate the moderator system! Mod someone as "overrated" today.
If you're the pioneer of something, and then your market share slips, how does that revoke your "pioneership"? Either you were the first to do something, or you weren't.
That is nothing compared to the benefits and ease of use you can gain from using New AOL Version 2321238. Download it today!
It's all right there in your cache, cookie and history folders! You can even delete it if you are concerned using the command line, built in tools or third party tools.
/. while working in an unwarrented MS conspiracy theory at the same time. :(
It's all visible and controlable and none of it has been used to harvest user info by Microsoft.
As ususal someone else does something truly evil and they get a "eh" from
Sadly par for the course.
Contrary to popular belief, coding is not all free blow-jobs and beer. Those things cost MONEY!
Uh, if you actually read that page you linked to, it seems to indicate that the ad-aware program is probably mis-detecting it, and it probably isn't spyware.
Their collecting your information often doesn't have anything to do with you or their product. Just having that information is valuable to marketing companies or spammers. A database of 100,000 verified identities with demographic data is incredibly valuable in the modern marketing world. Therefore if a company can get you to give them that information for free they will as another revenue stream. I would suspect that when they come up with the idea the concept of privacy and respecting the customer is completly overlooked. Not out of any intentional disrespect of their customers but rather out of a myopic focus on cash.
If you read my previous post however you would know that I'm more inclinded to discard information that paints anyone who has engaged in ANY privacy invasion of ANY KIND and make the paranoid move. =)
And if YOU bothered to follow ten or more of the links following it you would see if not the only one who feels this way.
So take that and uhh.... =)
How does one get a "two year investigation" from something that "began in 2002", when it is only the middle of 2003? Even if it was begun Jan 1st, 2002, that still puts it at less than 1.5yrs. Gotta love they way they teach math these days.
-bZj
.sig