Slashdot Mirror
AOL Releases Search Logs of 657,427 Users
An anonymous reader writes "AOL has released the search logs of over 650,000 users for research purposes. This looks like it may become a public relations disaster for AOL, as well as a privacy nightmare for the users involved as Michael Arrington of TechCrunch notes: "AOL has released very private data about its users without their permission. While the AOL username has been changed to a random ID number, the ability to analyze all searches by a single user will often lead people to easily determine who the user is, and what they are up to. The data includes personal names, addresses, social security numbers and everything else someone might type into a search box." This is also being covered on The Paradigm Shift and Oh My News."
fantomas adds " Looks like they've just taken it down but it's still available on The Pirate Bay; not sure why but some of the academic researchers are going crazy musing the ethical aspects of letting the world know who's searching for how to kill their wives ..."
Update: 08/07 21:32 GMT by T : amromousa writes "AOL is now apologizing for the release ..., calling it a "screw-up," which they're upset and angry about."
AOL users! ;)
You insentive clod! The end of the world is a geographic location! Not everyone has been sold on the junk science of the round earth!
Where were you when the voynix came?
I hope that Google will now mark aol.com as an unsafe website to visit.
(So, how many wives are either not going to be home tonight, or are going to fix hubby his very favorite dish?)
I bet the guy works for Rockstar games and is simply researching their next big hit. "Slap the Ho!" Where you put up with yo biotches shit till...
Me too.
I like that how the first sentence of the article says these research logs were posted 10 days ago, yet still somehow it JUST reached the /. front page today :-)
You keep making oblique references to steak and cheese. I do not think that phrase means what you think it means.
(If it's 17556639's favorite dish, maybe his wife is looking forward to death.)
657,437 searches for "how to cancel AOL"
But I thought AOL was the Internet? Now I'm confused..
I just traced all of your searches, I know who you are. You are Kevin Bacon!
FTA:
Mmmmmm. . . Steak and cheese. . .
What?
Well, the thought never occured to me, but I just did it. If that number is publicly accessible on the web, I want to know about it.
:-)
Unfortunately, though, Google thought I was entering a subtraction problem. The answer was -966. Now go theft my ID
I think there is a world market for maybe five personal web logs.
13455621 how to fucking bury someone
13455621 funky gibbon
13455621 chair repairs seattle
13455621 addams family
13455621 OSS cancer
13455621 FUD spreading
You should be logging the ips downloading the file and leak that in a few days...
The Wise adapts himself to the world. The Fool adapts the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the Fool.
I know your SSN.
It's 000-00-0966!
My ZooLoo
Smallville abortion clinic? Did this person get knocked up by Clark Kent?
Thou shalt not begin a subject line or post with the word "Umm".
What's your point? I'm both a third party and willing to offer her sex in a pickup.
Did you just notice a reference to a Will and Grace episode on Slashdot?
So you can laugh all you want to...
...there are a lot of stories and sites that are just supposed to be obviously humorous, not actually to be a DYI guide to the subject in their title.
"A Do-Yourself-In guide"? I thought he was looking for help with murder, not suicide.
I figure by 2030 or so my 6-digit UID will be something to brag about.
This may surprise you but guess how many searches for slashdot or people using slashdot.
Take a look here for the building archive.
Ok fess up.. WHO on here is using slashdot that is an AOL lover. For a long time we have poked jokes at AOLers but it seems they are in our midst.
I use google's package tracking number all the time -- seems like some other people enjoy this, too.
... and so on ...
user-ct-test-collection-01.txt:11218337 http to track the status of this shipment on line please use the following;http www.fedex.com tracking action track&tracknumbers
604041010003308 2006-04-28 18:31:15
This person lives in Stamford, CT and ordered a "SL150T-12 Battery" for Home Delivery (5.0 lbs.) from california. Their barcode got messed up in-transit. Left at front door. Signature Service not requested.
user-ct-test-collection-01.txt:2433634 tracking 9102013196683232299662 2006-03-19 17:33:48
Your item was delivered at 8:54 am on March 24, 2006 in CROWLEY, LA 70526.
user-ct-test-collection-01.txt:5736530 ups tracking number 1z05r57w0299803522 2006-04-12 04:01:29
Delivered on: 04/12/2006 9:59 A.M. Delivered to: SOUTH BELOIT, IL, US Service Type: 2ND DAY AIR
user-ct-test-collection-01.txt:11989465 ups tracking 1z5628500342774976 2006-05-31 17:14:22
Delivered on: 05/31/2006 6:12 P.M. Delivered to: FORT WAYNE, IN, US Service Type: GROUND
user-ct-test-collection-02.txt:2103248 tracking 91025562344468252800 2006-03-02 02:11:13
There is no record of this item.
user-ct-test-collection-02.txt:2371993 tracking 1z7e49v20341755740 2006-05-08 12:22:41
Delivered on: 05/08/2006 10:25 A.M. Delivered to: BOTHELL, WA, US Service Type: GROUND
user-ct-test-collection-02.txt:2749649 usps tracking 9121010521297356081254 2006-04-04 17:11:49
Info has been stored off-line, but USPS will send it to your email
user-ct-test-collection-02.txt:5847446 www.ups.com and enter the tracking number 1z00v4270380899979 2006-03-18 16:53:15
Delivered on: 03/20/2006 2:56 P.M. Delivered to: TEMPLE CITY, CA, US Service Type: GROUND
There were about 120 searches for UPS "1Z..." numbers. I didn't bother parsing for USPS & UPS numbers, but there are plenty of those, too. I'm sure you'd be able to pull some names when the signature service is requested.
HIV Crosses Species Barrier... into Muppets