Microsoft Adds Risky System-Wide Undelete to Vista

douder writes "Windows Vista will have a new 'previous versions' feature when it ships next year. According to Ars Technica, the feature is built off of the volume shadow copy technology from Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. Now turned on by default, the service stores the modified versions of a user's documents, even after they are deleted. They also report that you can browse folders from within Explorer to see snapshots of what they contained over time. It can be disabled, but this seems like a privacy concern." From the article: "Some users will find the feature objectionable because it could give the bossman a new way to check up on employees, or perhaps it could be exploited in some nefarious way by some nefarious person. Previous versions of Windows were still susceptible to undelete utilities, of course, but this new functionality makes browsing quite, quite simple. On the other hand, it should be noted that 'Previous Versions' does not store its data in the files themselves. That is, unlike Microsoft Office's 'track changes,' files protected with 'Previous Versions' will not carry their documentary history with them."

Comments

I trust Microsoft completely.

[Anonymous Coward]

Dear aunt, let's set so double the killer delete select all...

Re:I trust Microsoft completely.

[Anonymous Coward]

Why, no honey, I have no idea what 4on1.mpg is. (Damn, thought I deleted that...)

Typo?

[TubeSteak]

On our test system in the lab we were able to browse the "Documents" folder through Explorer as it appeared several days ago, making note of what had and had not changed. This means that Joe User won't necessarily escape his new overloads merely by deleting his "Dangerous Thoughts" folder or using a "wipe" utility to overwrite the file. It is also not possible to delete the files from within Explorer when viewing archived data.

Don't they mean Overlords?

/I for one welcome the Previous Versions of our new Overlords.

Re:Could really use that right about now...

[CrazyJim1]

Ever hear someone think they deleted or crashed the internet? I have.

Re:Could really use that right about now...

[LiquidCoooled]

There is a great extension for firefox called Nuke Anything which allows you to remove sections from pages.
My missus had a great time deleting all the geeky stuff from slashdot.

You should have seen her face drop though when I told her she had actually removed it from the internet.

Re:This is only a good thing

[nmb3000]

Amazing that a Good Thing gets turned into a big-brother or privacy issue just because it's Microsoft.

This just in... It appears there is a nefarious "feature" in several versions of Windows which can allow a nefarious person to nefariously see all those files you thought you deleted. It's called the "Recycle Bin" and many people are sure that it's the NSA ('N' for Nefarious?) that's behind the addition of the feature.

Re:reason number 452

[walnutmon]

Yes, an additional feature that COULD be used by some evil genius who has your computer anyway to see some of the files you deleted is a good reason not to upgrade. I agree!

Sure, some people don't buy into this, they say things like "but it can easily be disabled, and your casual computer users would only benefit from this kind of feature". These people are obviously missing the large scale point. Microsoft has been making windows for a long time, and every time they do it, they add more features. If we keep buying new versions of windows, inevitably they will continue to add features untill all they can add is BAD, DANGEROUS, EXPLOITABLE SECURITY HOLES!

If you buy Vista, within years they will have features that send your porn to your parents. Send your AIM conversations to your boss. They will probably have a start option "Open Computer To Random Hacker".

Microsoft is obviously adding this feature because all of their engineers are evil. They have been for years! You and I will not stand for this. I am sending my 50 page word document, which proves my case to congress... it is right in this folder... hm.... where the fuck did I put it?! FUCK! I deleted it!!! If only I could recover my deleted file, I COULD END VISTA AND ITS PLAGUE OF EVIL FEATURES FOR GOOD!!!

Re:This is only a good thing

[spagetti_code]

This was an awesome feature in VMS,
and a privacy concern in Vista.

You guys **really** don't like MS do you?
(I must be new here)

You get an F.

[Ayanami Rei]

I'm sorry. You're allowed 5 punctuation errors and capitalization mistakes per post submitted to this website.
You are quite over that limited, and your spelling is atrocious. Please, leave and don't come back. Thanks.

Re:This is only a good thing

[MobileTatsu-NJG]

"You guys **really** don't like MS do you?"

Try imagining Slashdot's response to Apple announcing this feature. The one guy who claims 'privacy concern' gets modded down as Troll. Heh.

So it wasn't a conspiracy after all.

[game kid]

Actually, I'd be more worried about what can be discovered in a lawsuit - the raw ruminations of some employee could be very damaging - whether or not they were correct. This makes it harder to destroy working papers.

In other news, Kenneth Lay's heart attack confirmed by new autopsy, found to be caused by shock from leaked secret Microsoft "undelete-feature" memo.

Re:This is only a good thing

[Quintios]

I miss my VAX. :cry:

DCL pwns.

Re:This is a great feature

[geminidomino]

Oh my gods... somewhere an angel just shot an English teacher in the face.

Re:It can be disabled, right?

[Millenniumman]

My company only accepts resumes on paper in binary.

Congratulations!!!

[Ayanami Rei]

You found the hidden spelling mistake!
You can stay.

Re:More MS Headlines Gone Bad

[Tim C]

Not an MS one, but in the same vein...

Gates Foundation Cures Cancer, AIDS, World Hunger
        -becomes-
Gates Causes Population Crisis, Dooms World