XP, Phone Home 299
Randomeyes writes: "The Register reports that Windows XP has functionality built-in to the Search Companion module that allows Microsoft to log users internet searches. Information collected includes user IP address, search term and related information. A cookie is also set. 'TrustUnWorthy Computing' anyone?" Tanveer1979 writes: though, that "the bright side is that it doesn't send anything to internet, it only downloads files, and compares the files on your computer with the files on server. And I guess a little effort is needed for the malicious to program it to send your data to web."
It remembers your IP address (Score:1, Informative)
The individual search engines have been able to collect this data for years, of course. But this covers all the search engines toge. And most of us don't trust Microsoft as much as we trust Google.
Slashdot editors please read the article !!! (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Please explain (Score:5, Informative)
Yes, but Bash, Netscape etc. doesn't trasmit that dat back to an 800lb gorrila, my friend.
Preach on, brother! Erm, oh wait...
Hmmm, a unique identification number, eh? So forget logging your IP address with your search (which Microsoft and the other search engines claim not to do), forget gathering demographic data (which the XP Search Assistant also doesn't do), but Netscape is actually using a unique ID numbers to tie searches to specific individual users.
Wanna try again? ;)
Host file. (Score:3, Informative)
Re:What a non story! A waste of space! (Score:3, Informative)
It's only when you do an internet search that it sends your search terms.
It even says "For now it appears that there's nothing here for users to worry about." - and this is The Register talking!
When you do an internet search, it sends your search terms (so it can do the search!). This is hardly an invasion of privacy... If you really want privacy - don't connect your computer to a public network.
Nick...
Re:In places where Internet is still expensive (Score:4, Informative)
Where are you from to generalise like that? ISDN is very popular here, where DSL is not available at all, and regular phone lines suck.
IMHO, internet integration is a good thing. I like the net integration with KDE for instance. However, the type of "internet integration" Microsoft practices is not normally to the benefit of the user. This doesn't invalidate the whole concept though.
Only if Internet is not expensive (my whole point).
Better get a flat rate connection then. Per-minute connections are good for low-level users, the type that check their email once every couple of days etc.
I don't live in Europe. I am giving Europe as an example. I live in Morocco. There is NO SUCH THING as a flat rate connection buddy. That's why it costs me $2/hour whatever I do, unless I can kick down $400/month for a 64kbps leased line. Yes, that's four hundred bucks.
Re:In places where Internet is still expensive (Score:2, Informative)
In many countries, flat rates are just during off-peak hours; for instance, mine starts at 18:00. Now that every single application or operating system component feels entitled to call home whenever it wants to, having an external modem you can physically switch off in tenths of seconds really pays off.
XP has a host of these in the EULA to name a few.. (Score:2, Informative)
Netstat your machine every once in a while and check out what state various ports are in (i do it habitually)