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

[MetalheadGautham]

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

ofcourse it is. You can trust nobody. Neither M$ nor apple. Neither Yahoo nor Google. Neither Indian Govt nor US Govt. You are on your own in this ugly world.

 

[Faun]

^^let the metaaaaaaaal kill'em all
Hey did you check out the video in youtube videos section for you ?

 

[FilledVoid]

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?

Unfortunately again you didnt pay for the product you paid for the usage fees which comes with stipulations. And as I said before yes they can say since you agreed to the terms they are entitled to the information. Do they extort your information absolutely not. Its the same reason why the Document Format wars started in the first place. For an Open Standard where a company couldn't lock it down.

As far as the level of credit maintained. Is there even a single case against Microsoft where it extracted information which does not pertain to their OS? Could anyone even prove this? If anyone could someone would have already.

Privacy is a joke people. If you believe that you are all that anonymous on the Net or in your little home. Hah you are pulling a fast one over yourself.

 

[iMav]

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.

So does that mean if you have a small user base, you can store and use user information. but, if you are bigger company you cannot? Doesn't make sense to me.

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?

Are you talking about members here? besides I don't care. If Google can give my info to any govt. official, MS is nothing as compared to that.

 

[MetalheadGautham]

So does that mean if you have a small user base, you can store and use user information. but, if you are bigger company you cannot? Doesn't make sense to me.


Are you talking about members here? besides I don't care. If Google can give my info to any govt. official, MS is nothing as compared to that.

I hope this makes sense to you:

There is no point in justifying stealing saying that everyone else does the same. Similarly, there is no point justifying leeching away personal data saying that everyone does the same

 

[infra_red_dude]

So does that mean if you have a small user base, you can store and use user information. but, if you are bigger company you cannot? Doesn't make sense to me.

No, I'm saying that a company on which so many users are dependent should be more responsible as the users will seldom haf a choice.

Are you talking about members here? besides I don't care. If Google can give my info to any govt. official, MS is nothing as compared to that.

Exactly! So now you can say goodbye to gmail and switch over to Hotmail.. can't you? Can you do that in the case of Windows? Will your windows dependent software run on any other platform?

 

[FilledVoid]

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 ?

How do you think they plan to track you down if you use a local wallas pirated copy? Again WHAT IS THIS PRIVATE SENSITIVE DATA they so call collect? Do you have some kind of source of that information. Please link your source.

 

[praka123]

In general ,if you dont have private datas which are critical DOES NOT mean world everywhere they dont have (no offense!).
privacy is so important companies corporations and individuals if you want to know.

how about someone leeching the private data of some window$ user who is preparing a .doc file which contains his research?(a small example).

 

[infra_red_dude]

Unfortunately again you didnt pay for the product you paid for the usage fees which comes with stipulations. And as I said before yes they can say since you agreed to the terms they are entitled to the information. Do they extort your information absolutely not. Its the same reason why the Document Format wars started in the first place. For an Open Standard where a company couldn't lock it down.

As far as the level of credit maintained. Is there even a single case against Microsoft where it extracted information which does not pertain to their OS? Could anyone even prove this? If anyone could someone would have already.

Privacy is a joke people. If you believe that you are all that anonymous on the Net or in your little home. Hah you are pulling a fast one over yourself.

The point here is that when the whole world is dependent on you, you should be a bit more responsible. Thats all.

Tomorrow, if MS (or any other company) edits the EULA and includes something like: Windows will send all your passwords to MS servers as part of "enhancing user experience" program.. Will your company, heavily dependent on windows agree to it? Do they haf a choice? They can't force their 100% windows-dependent client base to shift. Will the company not shut down? The number of corporates dependent on Windows is huge.. too huge!

And about privacy and the internet... I haf only thing to say: I know AntiVirus' will not gimme 100% protection. But I'm better off with an AV than without! The damage is surely far less.

 

[FilledVoid]

how about someone leeching the private data of some window$ user who is preparing a .doc file which contains his research?(a small example).

I personally will file a lawsuit if anyone can prove this right here now. And no I'm not joking. Show me a case with enough proof to show that some of your docs were leeched by Microsoft then Yes I will personally file multiple charges on Microsoft.

 

[praka123]

How can you find that they leeched?AFAIK window$ got so many things which are not OPEN to others(rootkits? which communicates with a central server?)

 

[MetalheadGautham]

The point here is that when the whole world is dependent on you, you should be a bit more responsible. Thats all.

Tomorrow, if MS (or any other company) edits the EULA and includes something like: Windows will send all your passwords to MS servers as part of "enhancing user experience" program.. Will your company, heavily dependent on windows agree to it? Do they haf a choice? They can't force their 100% windows-dependent client base to shift. Will the company not shut down? The number of corporates dependent on Windows is huge.. too huge!

And about privacy and the internet... I haf only thing to say: I know AntiVirus' will not gimme 100% protection. But I'm better off with an AV than without! The damage is surely far less.

+1. Rightly said. This reminds me of the old AT&T issue when they were forced to split. Though it was for a different reason, the situation is the same. When you have total control, act wisely.

 

[FilledVoid]

The point here is that when the whole world is dependent on you, you should be a bit more responsible. Thats all.

Don't you think you are assuming that Microsoft is being irresonsible with the data they so callingly collected?

Tomorrow, if MS (or any other company) edits the EULA and includes something like: Windows will send all your passwords to MS servers as part of "enhancing user experience" program.. Will your company, heavily dependent on windows agree to it? Do they haf a choice? They can't force their 100% windows-dependent client base to shift. Will the company not shut down? The number of corporates dependent on Windows is huge.. too huge!

Until they do the above, its just another scenario. Saying that they might leech data and they are leeching data is totally different. Can you show that the above passwords we're used for their own benefit? If so yes they are bloody liable. But otherwise this argument goes into the other fine print of the EULA as the rest of it is.

 

[praka123]

can you live in a warzone saying that shells are not yet been fired on you?
EULA is the same scenario esp with M$.

 

[infra_red_dude]

Don't you think you are assuming that Microsoft is being irresonsible with the data they so callingly collected?


Until they do the above, its just another scenario. Saying that they might leech data and they are leeching data is totally different. Can you show that the above passwords we're used for their own benefit? If so yes they are bloody liable. But otherwise this argument goes into the other fine print of the EULA as the rest of it is.

Can you point otherwise? Can you show me that the data collected by MS is NOT the password? or that MS is NOT selling our mail ids?

Lets say a person is given the keys to a locker with Rs.1 crore. What is the guarantee that he will not steal?!!??!

 

[MetalheadGautham]

can you live in a warzone saying that shells are not yet been fired on you?
EULA is the same scenario esp with M$.

Can you point otherwise? Can you show me that the data collected by MS is NOT the password? or that MS is NOT selling our mail ids?

Lets say a person is given the keys to a locker with Rs.1 crore. What is the guarantee that he will not steal?!!??!

Bang on target.
I too am talking with the better safe than sorry angle.
The actual problem goes a lot deeper. If companies like adobe continue to make software only for operating systems from companies like apple and micro$oft, I am sure the cyber world will be forever insecure. What we need is an open platform. We need stuff like Virtual Appliances from these companies, so that they can save lots of trouble making the same app for different OSes.

 

[FilledVoid]

Can you point otherwise? Can you show me that the data collected by MS is NOT the password? or that MS is NOT selling our mail ids?

Lets say a person is given the keys to a locker with Rs.1 crore. What is the guarantee that he will not steal?!!??!

Since you chose to answer the question with a question. Ill answer to the best of my knowledge. By theory I'm assuming that they don't because no one in this thread or otherwise have actually taken the time to link either the source of the claims or provide actual facts that would prove otherwise. Which makes this look as another Conspiracy theory at best. The odds of them doing that and no one having sued them till now including the Governments of various countries are VERY VERY low.

Lets say a person is given the keys to a locker with Rs.1 crore. What is the guarantee that he will not steal?!!??!

Finally an interesting question. First of all you should be whipped for not giving me those keys . Ok lame jokes aside. The problem here is you actually gave them the keys. Whether the alternatives are there or not is not Microsofts problem is it? Whose fault is it that software companies are lame enough to come up with Windows only crap.

You asked for some level of transparency / responsibility . I am asking you whether or not they have performed to that level? Is there actual factual data to prove otherwise? In other words Im saying since you gave the keys to person already, and the money is still there or at least you can't prove that its missing then is it right to blame the Company for stealing money which wasn't missing in the first place?

[quotye]can you live in a warzone saying that shells are not yet been fired on you?
EULA is the same scenario esp with M$.[/quote]
Excellent example. Can you declare war on a country because they have a tank or an F18?

I'm thinking of staying off this thread because something tells me I would be branded as some kind of Ambassador for MS when the truth is I find the claims about MS stealing personal (confidential) data a bit of a FUD.

 

[infra_red_dude]

You asked for some level of transparency / responsibility . I am asking you whether or not they have performed to that level? Is there actual factual data to prove otherwise? In other words Im saying since you gave the keys to person already, and the money is still there or at least you can't prove that its missing then is it right to blame the Company for stealing money which wasn't missing in the first place?

Exactly..the situation here is like.. you don't haf a choice but to give the keys and then you are never allowed to "look" into the locker. So you never know if the money is still there or not! But end of the day, its your money alright!

 

[MetalheadGautham]

Finally an interesting question. First of all you should be whipped for not giving me those keys . Ok lame jokes aside. The problem here is you actually gave them the keys. Whether the alternatives are there or not is not Microsofts problem is it? Whose fault is it that software companies are lame enough to come up with Windows only crap.

what if you had no choice but to give them the keys ?

You asked for some level of transparency / responsibility . I am asking you whether or not they have performed to that level? Is there actual factual data to prove otherwise? In other words Im saying since you gave the keys to person already, and the money is still there or at least you can't prove that its missing then is it right to blame the Company for stealing money which wasn't missing in the first place?

Data is not money in the sense that it can be copied and reproduced. I know easily when the money is not there anymore, but data is always there. Its the copies of the data I am worried about.

 

[iMav]

People seem to be talking of privacy and accusing a company of "leeching" sensitive data from their research documents, without an aorta of proof of any kind, but are absolutely fine with the EULA of other services/products. So much so, that a company which is known to provide info about individuals to the govt. and thereby killing any hope of privacy (if there is any) is not being blamed for anything at all.