MS Wants To Identify All Web Surfers

Moochman writes "New Scientist reports on a technology Microsoft is developing to identify users based on their browsing habits. Quote: 'The software could get its raw information from a number of sources, including a new type of 'cookie' program that records the pages visited. Alternatively, it could use your PC's own cache of web pages, or proxy servers could maintain records of sites visited. So far it can only guess gender and age with any accuracy,' but the aim is to be able to identify name, occupation and location as well. On a related note, The Inquirer reports on Microsoft's plans to widen the use of its identity-verification technology CardSpace, which is built into Windows Vista and available as an add-on to XP. It's being envisioned as an identity solution for the entire internet: says Kim Cameron, pioneer of the technology, 'We feel it has to solve all use cases.' (Aha, so the anonymous use cases, too, eh?) One might ask, with all of this user-ID information on hand, how long will it be until the Feds come knocking on Microsoft's door asking for help? They already have."

Comments

You Will Be Assimilated, Resistance is Futile

[Enrique1218]

Man, the slashdot icon for Microsoft gets modded +1 insightful. I shall be henceforth known as 100 Of 255 of subjunction 83 of unimatrix 72 in quadrant 9. Must, the individual identity suffer more to the corporate bottom line. I, for one, don't really welcome our new corporate overlords. Read the sig for further enlightenment.