For all you that did not know already, today is patch Tuesday.
They have been uploaded a few minutes ago, patches that is, so go get em.
Be warned pirates, wga is a newer version.
http://www.update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us
well, 20+ applications from vista reports user data to Microsoft. The link:
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Forget-about-the-WGA-20-Windows-Vista-Features-and-Services-Harvest-User-Data-for-Microsoft-58752.shtml
re: Scary 20+ applications from vista... blah blah meh.
Stop the press. Same type of info gets sent or obtained when running any Microsoft OS since Win95. Most of it isn't an issue - like when you obtain drivers for new hardware from Microsoft, they know what hardware you are installing. Well yeah...
When you connect to Microsoft, they can get your IP address - and the type of browser you are using... OMG
These are examples of user data that the evil Microsoft is harvesting, right under our noses.
And the claim that user data is "harvested and sent to Microsoft" when you use "Device Manager", "Plug and Play" or even "Driver Protection" is just... well... where do they get people to write these articles?
I'll make sure next time I "send an error report" to Microsoft, or run "Windows Update" I don't accidentally type my middle name or mention where my kids attend school or how much money I donate to charity.
preventing people from getting your IP address- use JAP from Snapfiles.com, its super slow for me but it does what it promise. :)
What's even better is that most of the information Softpedia's crying about... gets given by every browser. Don't believe me? Every browser sends out information similar to this:
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.8.1.4) Gecko/20070515 Firefox/2.0.0.4
This is on EVERY page request. Sure, some add-ons/extensions and some proxies will remove this data, but it is more useful than detrimental, and it definitely does not uniquely identify you, so why the paranoia about it? In fact, leaving the language detail in there is highly beneficial to anyone who doesn't speak English, as websites can (and will, e.g. Google) switch their pages to the appropriate language (or redirect you to the appropriate page) without you having to figure out where the language toggle is - or register and log-in to do so, which many people would likely not even bother to do.
alexiussg, if you're really worried about people getting your IP, you're better off to just unplug. Tor will also go faster, by the way, as you can adjust it. JAP seems to be just a big show plus an on/off switch. Not something I'd trust...
Also, using public proxies not only can get you preemptively banned from somewhere, but are completely useless for logging in anywhere as they can (Yes, even with SSL) easily intercept your data: You're giving it to them.
I've read and read and read many conspircy theory's about Mr. Bill. Most are BS. Of course they need data from your pc to assist in the future. When a program closes because of an error, do you know where the report goes? It goes to MS. Then when you update, most likely there is a fix.
I never had a problem with them knowing. Everyone would be scared if they actually knew what the government has been doing and since the Patriot Act, well lets say there isn't much that isn't at someones finger tips.
Don't worry about it alexiussg. You won't be giving anyone anything that you haven't already. Just be safe and thanks for the note.
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