What is the problem I have with what MS is doing?

Oh man! Ad-blocking software has been detected! :'(

This website is run by the community, for the community... and it needs advertisements in order to keep running. Blocking our ads means your killing our stats!
Please disable your ad-block, or become a premium member to hide all advertisements and this notice.

Well, we seem to be comparing apples and oranges here. In respect to WGA, Microsoft is assuring that the OS you are licensed is fully functional, with the latest of updates. Since an OS is mostly dynamic, why shouldn't we let M$ support their product -- it's their creation, so why should we have a say in how they administer their updates? C'mon, the tail shouldn't wag the dog. What's wrong with this:

Each item collected seems necessary for OS updating, as well as any other M$ software in need of service. This, IMHO, is *not* spyware. Still don't like it? Run linux -- I do, but only because Windows is so darn $$$. Once again, nobody is forcing anyone to use Windows -- it's a choice.

I'll no longer be defending Microsoft, particularly since I don't believe 100% in DRM, to which M$ has thrown their hat in. Mostly, I am merely spawning debate from the other side, and I believe DRM does a lot of things right, but too many things wrong. I've read all the links, Freddy, and the alarmists remind me of the ACLU 'preserving our rights'. Yeah, right. The EFF isn't too far from that parallel, but I agree they are watchdogging a decent cause. DRM is a huge issue, and I was more defending the working body of Microsoft (people), and not the decisions made by the executives. However, the other companies are just as large as M$, and the blame does not rely solely on them.

As for the theory that Microsoft (helped) draft legislation, I really couldn't find any definitive proof that it actually went down that way. They may have been brought in as a consult, that would be the way politicians handle it. Therein lies the flaw -- assuming that M$ had that much influence in the bill, since the actual passing lies in the votes of our elected officials. Again, M$ may be pulling strings, but our representatives are to blame for not doing their jobs in protecting their constituents. Hmmm... maybe I'm just tired of M$ being the scapegoat for everything. Alas, I hold no serious allegiance to them, so I'll let the argument (in respect to DRM and the bill) lie.

 

Oh man! Ad-blocking software has been detected! :'(

This website is run by the community, for the community... and it needs advertisements in order to keep running. Blocking our ads means your killing our stats!
Please disable your ad-block, or become a premium member to hide all advertisements and this notice.

Fortch,

I understand that you're not a huge fan of MS. However, you are relying on MS's word for what they are doing. Isn't that pretty much allowing the fox to guard the hen house as they do not have a reputation for telling the entire story about what they do?

If you will go to the Groklaw article I posted the link to you will see that MS is not being truthful in their statement that you quoted about what they are gathering. IOW's the statement is a lie as any half truth is not truth.

Look at what one of Oklahoma's legislators said about the bill in Oklahoma:

That ought to make anyone fear for the continuance of their civil rights in this country as the only thing you have to do to sign them away is desire to update your MS operating system....

I just built a system for a friend of mine and activated it. The WGA tool was packaged with two other tools including the new Windows installer. If I wanted my friend to be able to ever be able to access security updates I had to install this horrendous software. There was no way to opt out of it. The ironic part of them making me do this was that not two minutes before they had acknowledged the OS was legit as I had just activated it....

Fortunately he had me make this a dual boot computer so hopefully he, his wife, and their daughter will spend the time to get good enough at Debian that they will not have to use XP for very long.

 

From fortch's quote..

Hmmm, lets see - they have your IP address logged and they have a GUID which is globally unique to your computer and yet they say it doesn't contain any information that can be used to identify you - Hell-oww

 

It's pretty amazing at how these press releases are filled with outright lies isn't it? The hubris of it all is pretty incredible.

 

The way I look at it, is this.
If I have a credit card, my credit card company knows what I spend and where I spend it. They know that I spent the weekend in Paris and that once a month I get an unusual some of money out of a cashpoint.

I have no idea what they do with that information. Would they shop me to the police if I used my credit card on a kiddie porn site?

But somewhere buried in the smallprint it probably tells me what they do and don't do with it. But do I believe them?

My choice is to have/not have a credit card.
If I choose to have one, I choose to agree with their terms.

 

That's kind of my point, too, Johnny.

Freddy, like I said, the license agreement is what I agree to. It's my choice to run windows, and I know the risk. I don't rely on websites to distrust M$, they have done nothing directly (yet) with any information they have. Being certified, they have more info on me than the Global ID digs up. I'm more skeptical on blindly following any whistleblower than just practicing safe, smart computing, on an OS that I choose. If M$ ever oversteps the boundaries I lay down, then *.*Linux will be my primary OS.

As for the legislation, I've already stated my point earlier. I've tried to keep these issues separate, since I don't like DRM or the OK bill. Every major company has a team of lawyers and lobbyists that do their dirty work, and most don't interact enough with what their teams are affecting. The problem is money, and the bottom line -- to which the lawyers *and* bean counters are focused on. Shameful, really.

 

That's fine. It's your decision on how to view these matters.

I just don't see the logic in how you can keep the MS license and the OK law separate. The first leads to the enforcement of the contents of the second, and the contents of second says your rights under the Bill of Rights are null and void if you operate a MS computer. The ideas are tied together so tightly they are inseperable.

All I can say is MS has a very accurate read on the value that people today place on their privacy and freedom. The public is willing to sign them away for nothing more than a computer. Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Winston Churchill, and all those who have sacrificed their lives to create and/or preserve the liberties that have existed in the western world must be turning over in their graves.

 

M$ and ASL Council have got together to write a Computer Spyware Protection Act. To protect the user from phishing, trojans and other illegal software.

Once you have installed the new M$ OS and CLICKED ON THE I ACCEPT button, you are then agreeing to invite various companies & M$ to access and see what you have, an example of Kazaa as p2p network file share.

They then check with companies to see if this software is legal, if not it is well within the right to delete the software or inform the authorities.

However in sections 4 and 5 of the SP Act It prohibits them from taking things such as basic as your home address, your first name, your first initial in combination with your last name, your passwords, any personal identification numbers you have, any biometric information, any Social Security, tax IDs, drivers licenses, account balances, overdraft histories.

without the user’s permission.

The goal of this is not to allow any company to go through and scan your computer. However, if they are, it has to be for a specific purpose. If you don’t want them doing that, don’t agree to (the user’s agreement).

There we are plain and simple you don't agree to the above don't use the software use linux.

The choice is yours!!!!

 

Here are sections 4 and 5 of the Computer Spyware Protection Act.

Sounds pretty good doesn't it? However, it's already illegal to break into some one else's computer.

Now take a look at Section 6 of the Computer Spyware Protection Act.

It just released any of the corporations spying on the users from obeying the law contained in Sections 4 and 5. In otherwords they are released to rootkit your computer, put keystroke loggers on it, whatever they jolly well please, and if you remove any of them you are criminally liable....

Wake up and smell the "roses" people. This "Computer Spyware Protection Act" will not stop malicious behavior. It will only legalize it for the major corporations....

 

Yikes, I said I wouldn't reply, but here goes -- I can't stand to stay out of an informative debate

I had read over that, and thought the exact same thing -- 4 and 5 look great, yet 6 sent shivers down my spine. I think there's good news, however:

-- Gov. Brad Henry

Unfortunately, SB324 has nothing to do with the subject, and even HB2083 seems to change to something about construction bonds? One would think there is only 1 HB2083 in 2006, right? I'd love to noodle this one, but I've got workers hammering like nuts in my kitchen above my head (or are they *in* my head?). More to come.... later.

 

Ok Freddy!

However, it's not just M$ that you have to worry about is it!

It also refers to ther other members of the ASL council and do you know who they are? Yes I know who they are before you ask.

I think what we need to ask here is what can we do about it!

Bugger all comes to mind.

That's why I'm learning Linux I've just started to have a look at SuSE 10.1. - nice skins!

ASL committe - Symantec, Computer Associates, Internet Security Systems, Hewlett-Packard, McAfee, Cyber Security Industrial Alliance, Trend Micro.

Any suggestions people, come on now there's some bright sparks here, who haven't made a comment yet!

Monkey

 

What to do about is a very good question. For me right now, it is waking people up to the fact that their privacy rights are going to be violated big time by the coming DRM software, hardware, and legislation.

The goal of this is to eventually limit all competition as the next logical step after making it illegal to even try to stop the corporations from spying on every computer on the internet is to say that DRM just hasn't gone far enough because it hasn't stopped all malware, spyware, and file sharing. The next step will be to eliminate any non-proprietary software as it will be claimed that all the malware, spyware, and file sharing is being done on non-MS, non-DRM systems. So, there goes Linux and all non-DRM OS's. Everyone will then be forced to use a DRM'ed OS and software by force of law.

I think public awareness of this issue is a must. I spread the word to as many people as I know. You would be surprised at how many casual computer users who do not do any file sharing or use any pirated software are incensed that this is what is coming. Public pressure is the only thing that can stop this, and it may already be too late as this plan is already in motion. The only thing we can do raise as much awareness as possible and hit the politicians in your area as hard as possible on this issue. Let them know their voters are against this and if they vote these things into law, they will be voted out of office. That is the only language they will understand.