[LINK] Vista - the data gatherer

[Antony Barry]

Begin forwarded message:
> .
> From: "Caspar Bowden \(private e-mail\)" <cb at qualia.co.uk>
> Date: 4 July 2007 9:04:41 PM
> To: "'Roger Clarke'" <Roger.Clarke at xamax.com.au>, <link at anu.edu.au>
> Subject: RE: [LINK] Vista - the data gatherer
>
>
> I'd be interested in your detailed comments on
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/privacy/vistartm.mspx
> and
> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx? 
> FamilyID=e6a35441-918f-4022-
> b973-e7fc0d1d2917&DisplayLang=en
>
> I think what these illustrate is that Microsoft has developed Vista  
> with a
> systematic review of the privacy impact of data flows from the  
> machine, and
> that considerable care has gone into making distinctions between  
> opt-ins and
> opt-outs, and the degree of prominent notice given, which is more  
> often than
> not coupled to first use of the specific feature. The hard  
> question, on
> which I'd be very grateful for suggestions, is how to design a lay- 
> person
> usable interface to bring these under more informed and interactive  
> control.
> There are legitimate reasons for all of these flows documented -  
> it's not as
> simple as saying "switch everything off".
>
> Caspar
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Roger Clarke [mailto:Roger.Clarke at xamax.com.au]
> Sent: 03 July 2007 04:50
> To: link at anu.edu.au
> Subject: Re: [LINK] Vista - the data gatherer
>
> At 10:21 +0800 3/7/07, Bernard Robertson-Dunn wrote:
>> Isn't harvest a nice unchallenging word? - a bit like rendition.
>> I have to use Microsoft products because my employer and clients use
>> it, but this really puts me off Vista.
>> Is this the same for all versions?
>> What do the versions that corporates and governments run do?
>> Is Microsoft starting to put bigger bullets into its foot?
>
> Surely the outgoing data-streams are reliably recognisable.
>
> And hence blockable.
>
> And hence surely someone's already written a tool to block them?
>
> Or do all of the world's rebels work under OS other than MS's, and
> hence don't write such tools?
>
>
>> Forget about the WGA! 20+ Windows Vista Features and Services
>> Harvest User Data for Microsoft - From your machine!
>> Marius Oiaga,
>> Technology News Editor
>> Softpedia
>> http://news.softpedia.com/news/Forget-about-the-WGA-20-Windows- 
>> Vista-Featur
> es-and-Services-Harvest-User-Data-for-Microsoft-58752.shtml
>>
>> Are you using Windows Vista? Then you might as well know that the
>> licensed operating system installed on your machine is harvesting a
>> healthy volume of information for Microsoft. In this context, a
>> program such as the Windows Genuine Advantage is the last of your
>> concerns. In fact, in excess of 20 Windows Vista features and
>> services are hard at work collecting and transmitting your personal
>> data to the Redmond company.
>>
>> Microsoft makes no secret about the fact that Windows Vista is
>> gathering information. End users have little to say, and no real
>> choice in the matter. The company does provide both a Windows Vista
>> Privacy Statement and references within the End User License
>> Agreement for the operating system. Combined, the resources paint
>> the big picture over the extent of Microsoft's end user data harvest
>> via Vista.
>>
>> <snip>
>>
>> --
>> Regards
>> brd
>>
>> Bernard Robertson-Dunn
>> Sydney Australia
>> brd at iimetro.com.au
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Link mailing list
>> Link at mailman.anu.edu.au
>> http://mailman.anu.edu.au/mailman/listinfo/link
>
> -- 
> Roger Clarke                  http://www.anu.edu.au/people/ 
> Roger.Clarke/
>
> Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd      78 Sidaway St, Chapman ACT 2611  
> AUSTRALIA
>                     Tel: +61 2 6288 1472, and 6288 6916
> mailto:Roger.Clarke at xamax.com.au                http:// 
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>
> Visiting Professor in Info Science & Eng  Australian National  
> University
> Visiting Professor in the eCommerce Program      University of Hong  
> Kong
> Visiting Professor in the Cyberspace Law & Policy Centre      Uni  
> of NSW
>
>
>