Vista - WGA 20+ Apps Harvesting the Users Data - Where is Privacy ?

[The_Devil_Himself]

I seriously don't understand whats the rant about. You have a choice. Either use Vista and accept the EULA which explicitly says.

you see it isn't as simple as it seems.Windows has a near monopoly in the OS field,and some people HAVE to use it,in such a case its the responsibility of the company to be as transparent as possible,and consumers fking demand transparency cus they are paying hard cash! don't you think? Its not like 'don't like the eula?,dont use vista',is it? The main concern is the interests of consumers cus they are what drive the whole industry.You know about european courts leving heavy fine on MS which seems outrageous when you first read them but they aren't,courts there are more public-centric unlike US and even our country where everything is governed by corporate interests.

and don't you think sending\receiving data even after I explicitly stated not to do that is violation of my privacy(Like I said I don't give a sh!t how anonymous it is) no matter what the eula said.

Sheesh if you are so paranoid about the CIA files on your computer then don't install it already.

hehe,nice point,I am least bit concerned about it cus if they ever analyse my data all they gonna get is millions of p0rn links.And some people even send their web searching data to companies which works for marketing companies and pay the users back(you listening amitava,) which again raises the question-why should MS(or even google for that matter) receive data free of cost which can be used commercially while other companies are ready to pay for that?

 

[FilledVoid]

you see it isn't as simple as it seems.

Yeah its quite simple.

Windows has a near monopoly in the OS field,and some people HAVE to use it,in such a case its the responsibility of the company to be as transparent as possible,and consumers fking demand transparency cus they are paying hard cash!

If you didn't understand you never paid for the software you only paid to use the software accroding to the terms listed in the EULA.

don't you think? Its not like 'don't like the eula?,dont use vista',is it?

Yes it eventually comes down to this.

The main concern is the interests of consumers cus they are what drive the whole industry.

As a consumer you are entitled to the freedom of choice to choose whatever platform you want. If you choose Microsoft then they will do whatever they want thats fair play according to the EULA. If you feel the EULA sucks then the answer is VERY SIMPLE. Don't use it. I'm not even going to quote the alternatives since I don't intend on making this a platform war again.

You know about european courts leving heavy fine on MS which seems outrageous when you first read them but they aren't,courts there are more public-centric unlike US and even our country where everything is governed by corporate interests.

Who ever said they weren't fair? Did you see the European courts suing Microsoft over the collection of data. Let me know when you find that. If you ever do. If the above was such a criminal offense may I ask why you haven't seen any Law Suits against the collection of data ? You possibly don't think that suddenly this forum came up with one huge discovery about this right?

hehe,nice point,I am least bit concerned about it cus if they ever analyse my data all they gonna get is millions of p0rn links.And some people even send their web searching data to companies which works for marketing companies and pay the users back(you listening amitava,) which again raises the question-why should MS(or even google for that matter) receive data free of cost which can be used commercially while other companies are ready to pay for that?

To which the above explanation still holds true. You don't like that then don't use it. Oh wait thats right you can't even think about changing. If you didn't notice Microsoft is not a non-profit organization there to facilitate your "p0rn0graphic" experience on the Web.

 

[amitava82]

Whats this anonymous and privacy crap? Did you forget the vary basic fact that "as soon as you connect to internet, you are no longer anonymous"? Here is a little story. He was my class mate from Bangalore. So, companies like Google, Microsoft don't need to send your information to identify you. You are already identified when you decided to connect to internet.

 

[praka123]

already posted.Vi$ta is made with the help of NSA guys of US military.now how can you claim your privacy? when monarch(M$) is ruling? there is more.Vi$ta is promoting DRM(digital restrictions management).

no wonder vista flopped.

 

[kumarmohit]

you expect that people trust Microsoft MORE than the Indian Government, where a slight issue can cause havoc in the country due to which it needs to act responsible ? The government is an entity formed by we the people of India. Its basically existing and doing things the way it does because of us. Microsoft on the other hand is a monopolistic and unethical USA based software company.

By no means do I trust the foreign company more than Indian govt. But then Microsoft has not (As of Yet - And I have boldfaced it) had a case where it single me out if I used their certain service to say something negative about a "Donna" on a social networking site. I can not trust Google. They landed a guy in jail more like made it possible for GoI to put him in jail.

@Praka, That post would have made the point without the links as well.

 

[hullap]

already posted.Vi$ta is made with the help of NSA guys of US military.now how can you claim your privacy? when monarch(M$) is ruling? there is more.Vi$ta is promoting DRM(digital restrictions management).

no wonder vista flopped.

u are just starting the war again
im disappointed

 

[kalpik]

already posted.Vi$ta is made with the help of NSA guys of US military.now how can you claim your privacy? when monarch(M$) is ruling? there is more.Vi$ta is promoting DRM(digital restrictions management).

no wonder vista flopped.

Prakash, this is my SINCERE request to you. PLEASE stop posting various links and stop with all the name defaming! And what's with the "I hate M$" user title? Cant we behave like responsible human beings here? Fine! You hate microsoft, good for you! Dont use microsoft products! But at least please dont abuse their name! To be honest, i myself dont like MS products, but you never see me unnecessarily bad mouthing MS!

PLEASE STOP THIS. You are a senior member, i really dont like it when you get banned for such childish behaviour!

 

[praka123]

I can consider stopping.but first ,make sure imav and gxsourav too

 

[kalpik]

If you have any problems with any post of their's, please report them, rather than adding more fuel to the fire. I assure you that we moderators will take care of any unnecessary/abusive/provocative posts

 

[iMav]

People need to realize a simple fact, once using technology & internet, your privacy is no more. If you are so paranoid about privacy the you need to stop using cell phones as the SMS messages &phone calls you make aren't as private as you think. You need to stop using emails, cause neither are they private for the company. Blackberry stores all emails on their servers and has access to them, your mail can be sold for a price, a govt. can read your mails. We all know what happened to Adnan Patrlawala.

If you can be arrested for posting a simple hate message from a cyber cafe, what privacy are you talking about? And as filled-void pointed out any links to where MS has (mis)-used information gathered under EULA.

Google Desktop EULA terms: (Point #5)

Information collected by Google may be stored and processed in the United States or any other country in which Google Inc. or its agents maintain facilities. By using Google Desktop you consent to any such transfer of information outside of your country.

GMail's EULA: (Point #7)

You do, however, agree that Google may monitor, edit or disclose your personal information, including the content of your emails, if required to do so in order to comply with any valid legal process or governmental request (such as a search warrant, subpoena, statute, or court order), or as otherwise provided in these Terms of Use and the Gmail Privacy Policy. Personal information collected by Google may be stored and processed in the United States or any other country in which Google Inc. or its agents maintain facilities. By using Gmail, you consent to any such transfer of information outside of your country.

OS X Leopard EULA: (PDF Document) (Point #4)

You agree that Apple and its subsidiaries may collect and use technical and related information, including but not limited to technical
information about your computer, system and application software, and peripherals, that is gathered periodically to facilitate the provision of software updates, product
support and other services to you (if any) related to the Apple Software, and to verify compliance with the terms of this Licit is in a form that does not personally identify you, to improve our products or to provide services or technologies to you.

Yahoo! Policy: (Point #4)

You understand that through your use of the Service you consent to the collection and use (as set forth in the Privacy Policy) of this information, including the transfer of this information to the United States and/or other countries for storage, processing and use by Yahoo! and its affiliates.

The list can go on and on and on. Please understand that it is NOT only Microsoft. People here have a tendency to always go anti-MS for anything. Thread starter, what do you have to say about the above quoted EULAs? Why is that you have not posted ever since? Why do I smell something fishy about the thread starter?

 

[kumarmohit]

the thing is that true privacy is a compete joke.

offtopic : iMav itni reasearch karni hai to meri master's thesis ke liye bhi thodi kar de yaar!

 

[Faun]

Any open source mail service...lolz.

 

[infra_red_dude]

already posted.Vi$ta is made with the help of NSA guys of US military.now how can you claim your privacy? when monarch(M$) is ruling? there is more.Vi$ta is promoting DRM(digital restrictions management).

no wonder vista flopped.

Post reported for crap links... Sincere request to mods to snip off the links...

 

[praka123]

I think EULA's necessarily are privacy stealing.you wont be using many Operating systems(pss pss ...khidkiyan) if you ever read their EULA's.

only licenses I have seen which are sane are Open Source Licenses like GPLv2/3 etc

 

[infra_red_dude]

People need to realize a simple fact, once using technology & internet, your privacy is no more. If you are so paranoid about privacy the you need to stop using cell phones as the SMS messages &phone calls you make aren't as private as you think. You need to stop using emails, cause neither are they private for the company. Blackberry stores all emails on their servers and has access to them, your mail can be sold for a price, a govt. can read your mails. We all know what happened to Adnan Patrlawala.

If you can be arrested for posting a simple hate message from a cyber cafe, what privacy are you talking about? And as filled-void pointed out any links to where MS has (mis)-used information gathered under EULA.

Google Desktop EULA terms: (Point #5)



GMail's EULA: (Point #7)


OS X Leopard EULA: (PDF Document) (Point #4)


Yahoo! Policy: (Point #4)



The list can go on and on and on. Please understand that it is NOT only Microsoft. People here have a tendency to always go anti-MS for anything. Thread starter, what do you have to say about the above quoted EULAs? Why is that you have not posted ever since? Why do I smell something fishy about the thread starter?

I'm not paying for Google/Yahoo services. I haf a choice. With MS I am paying for a license to use it. 90% of the desktop users use this OS. They haf no choice. So thats where the distinction lies. You just can't say I don't agree to the EULA, I won't use it. Its not as easy to do it as it sounds.

When anyone is a major player in the market they need to maintain a certain level of transparency to uphold their credibility. Why do you think people point to MS everytime something happens?

 

[iMav]

I'm not paying for Google/Yahoo services. I haf a choice. With MS I am paying for a license to use it. 90% of the desktop users use this OS. They haf no choice. So thats where the distinction lies. You just can't say I don't agree to the EULA, I won't use it. Its not as easy to do it as it sounds.

Infra, this comment from coming from you, is rather surprising, for the simple reason that you have very conveniently skipped the point I was making! I shall not be repeating the same thing again and again. Who says you don't have a choice. MS is NOT a charitable organization & is neither a NGO. So aren't Google or Yahoo or Blackberry.

Anyways I could not post the EULA of Blackberry here it is:

BlackBerry Internet Service End User Agreement

BY SUBMITTING PERSONAL INFORMATION TO RIM PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT, INCLUDING WITHOUT
LIMITATION YOUR NAME, ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, YOU CONSENT TO THE COLLECTION, PROCESSING,
TRANSMISSION, USE, RETENTION AND DISCLOSURE OF SUCH INFORMATION BY RIM AND ITS AFFILIATED
COMPANIES IN CANADA AND/OR THE UNITED STATES FOR ANY PURPOSES SET OUT IN RIM’S PRIVACY POLICY. IF
THIS LINK IS BROKEN, THE PRIVACY POLICY IS ALSO PROVIDED ON THE BIS WEBSITE. IN ADDITION, IF YOU USE
THE BIS TO ACCESS AND SEND E-MAIL FROM THIRD PARTY SERVICE PROVIDERS SUCH AS AMERICA ONLINE OR
YAHOO!, (“THIRD PARTY SERVICES”), YOU AUTHORIZE RIM TO USE AND STORE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION
RELATING TO THE THIRD PARTY SERVICES FOR SO LONG AS RIM DEEMS NECESSARY (BUT NOT LONGER THAN AS
PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW), INCLUDING USER NAME, PASSWORD AND E-MAILS, FOR THE LIMITED PURPOSE
OF PROVIDING E-MAIL FROM THE THIRD PARTY SERVICE PROVIDER TO YOU ON THE BIS SERVICE.

When anyone is a major player in the market they need to maintain a certain level of transparency to uphold their credibility. Why do you think people point to MS every time something happens?

It's the simplest question ever! MS is an easy target! I posted OS X EULA, no one has any qualms what-soever about it. But, MS!

 

[krates]

^^^ +1 dude good research

 

[MetalheadGautham]

@iMav: who ever said M$ is the easy target ? They are the biggest fish in this ugly game, thats all.

And you still don't get the point. In some places, you need to collect data because it is required. But with M$ Window$ vi$ta it is different. There is ABSOLUTELY NO GOOD ENOUGH REASON to collect such sensitive private data. When distros can live without sending private data, why can't micro$oft ?

 

[praka123]

^so true.but it is a ugly world you know.

 

[infra_red_dude]

Infra, this comment from coming from you, is rather surprising, for the simple reason that you have very conveniently skipped the point I was making! I shall not be repeating the same thing again and again. Who says you don't have a choice. MS is NOT a charitable organization & is neither a NGO. So aren't Google or Yahoo or Blackberry.

You missed what I pointed out. I shall quote your siggy: Its an MS world! Temme frankly, how many of us can "afford" not to use Windows? So when such a huge userbase is out there using your products, you should maintain transparency to a certain extent.

As for google/yahoo.. do you think its like 90% use gmail, 5% yahoomail and 5% hotmail? Thats not the case.. I hope you got my point.

It's the simplest question ever! MS is an easy target! I posted OS X EULA, no one has any qualms what-soever about it. But, MS!

While there is no denying the fact that MS is an easy target and that critics can never be satisfied no matter what, you do haf a moral responsiblity towards your consumers.

I agree whatever you said about OS X EULA. End of the day its all about the market share..

As with Blackberry, I fully agree with metalhead.. its your choice to haf your data stored in their servers. Concerned about privacy? Don't use the service. You can't simply say this for Windows. Its a microsoft world

One more question: Would it bother to you this much if the same case had been with Hotmail? For a moment lets just forget the word Vista in the original article and instead replace it with Hotmail.. would it haf made this big news? IMHO, NO. People would just pass it by and say.. wtf.. who cares? I'll use yahoo/gmail/aol/whatever mail. See the difference?