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AOL Hacks Subscribers' Computers

Posted by michael on from the he-who-has-the-gold-makes-the-rules dept.

ctwxman writes "If you're running a recent vintage version of Windows, and connecting to the Internet with an IP address reachable from the outside world, you've probably seen them. They're rectangular boxes that pop-up out of the blue with advertising. These aren't pop-up (or pop-under) browser ads but actually a weird misuse of Windows Messenger Service, a mostly useless tool which Microsoft has left on by default! Though similarly named, this isn't at all related to Microsoft's IM product. You can't block these pop-ups by shutting down ports, because Windows Messenger Service shares some ports with other useful services. The best way to stop the pop-ups requires the user to readjust some internal Windows settings. As you might imagine, many users are reticent to do that. Now, AOL has come up with another solution. They're going into subscribers' machines, without asking and making the adjustments themselves! Though the short term result will probably be good, there are all sorts of implications when your ISP just reaches out and decides how your PC should be configured without your knowledge." The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act makes this clearly illegal; if this were a 17-year-old instead of AOL, the FBI would be investigating.

10 of 558 comments (clear)

  1. fp? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    fp

  2. In Soviet Russia ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    In Soviet Russia, Subscribers hack YOU.

  3. It was only a matter of time.. by Gortbusters.org · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    until this happened. I mean, I remember back in 97 (?) getting advertisements and other crap in ICQ. Naturally, people are going to find all sort of creative ways to send you advertising... whether it's a legitimate use of software or a kink in the system.

    I for one am glad I run linux, and thanks to MS latest update to messenger, I can't even use it. WOOT!

    --
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    Free your mind.
  4. cheese by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    cheese and pie

  5. Can we get a variation finally? by HarveyBirdman · · Score: -1, Offtopic
    How about, in post-Soviet Russia, Beowulf clusters hack you!

    There. That's TOTALLY different.

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    --- Ban humanity.
  6. Re:A0L is L337 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    MOD PARENT UP

  7. Re:Some people by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Yeah, sure you do. Just like I am the President of the United States.

  8. Re:Some people by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    You do seem stupid enough... I wouldn't be surprised

  9. Re:Solution by phreaqhopp · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    "-Joe If we're all god's children, what's so special about Jesus? - Jimmy Carr" Answer: We are not part of the Holy Trinity. That is what makes Jesus so special. Are you going to volunteer to get nailed to a cross to give humanity a chance to enter the kingdom of God?

  10. Re:This is good for the average AOL user by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    have i ever taken the time to say i love you, i will now, i love you. lolololol