Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Online Document Search Reveals Secrets

Posted by simoniker on from the when-is-delete-not-delete? dept.

An anonymous reader writes "New Scientist is reporting that many documents published online may unintentionally reveal sensitive corporate or personal information, according to a US computer researcher. Simon Byers, at AT&T's research laboratory in the US, was able to unearth hidden information from many thousands of Microsoft Word documents posted online using a few freely available software tools and some basic programming techniques." Update: 08/16 19:06 GMT by H : The story is originally from Crypto-gram, not New Scientist.

2 of 271 comments (clear)

  1. Re:in html by Feyr · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    i know, i just don't care to provide clickable links.

    beside, i DID get first post didn't i? :)

  2. infrastructure data? by at_kernel_99 · · Score: 2, Offtopic

    An accomplished searcher can learn much about the world we live in, as slashdot reported some time ago.

    An interesting reminder, to be sure, given yesterday's blackout.

    Makes a guy wonder just how much is still available regarding key electrical and telephone infrastructure. Emergency power capabilities of broadcasters (radio, television, mobile phone). Gas lines, in the parts of the country that have them. Water systems. There's likely a bunch of data out there, ready to be mined.