XP Search Assistant silently connects to Microsoft

[DaveSimmons]

According to The Register when you use MS Search Assistant for local searches it connects to MS to download files, and when you do a net search it fowards info about the search to MS. They claim they've "no longer" logging your IP address.

 

[Skel]

Well, with the camera they have all over my office, they no longer need to log my IP..

 

[JellyBaby]

XP also secretly goes out to match your PCs clock with an atomic clock out on the net. The ramifications of this are staggering. We all have the right to set our clocks ourselves and not be burden with the convenience of having it done for us.

 

[Lucky]

well i wish it would set my clock on XP. Must be broken or something because its off by about 3 and a half hours.

 

[loup garou]

<< well i wish it would set my clock on XP. Must be broken or something because its off by about 3 and a half hours. >>


Double click clock, internet time tab.

 

[shurato]

Well run a firewall and then you won't have that problem. I run tiny firewall on my xp box and i just prevent my search assistant from trying to make an outbound connection much like i deny media player from making a connection also.

 

[Geekbabe]

<< Well run a firewall and then you won't have that problem. I run tiny firewall on my xp box and i just prevent my search assistant from trying to make an outbound connection much like i deny media player from making a connection also. >>



Really, besides anybody who thinks MS products haven't been phoning home like ET for a long time now is deluding themselves

 

[XZeroII]

GOOD LORD!!! You're joking right? I used the search feature once. I'm screwed now. I've gotta leave town, change phone numbers, cancel credit cards, change my name because Microsoft sent some info about a SEARCH I DID!! AHHHHAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

 

[GermyBoy]

<< GOOD LORD!!! You're joking right? I used the search feature once. I'm screwed now. I've gotta leave town, change phone numbers, cancel credit cards, change my name because Microsoft sent some info about a SEARCH I DID!! AHHHHAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH >>



Jeez man, did you search for kiddie porn or something?
AH! You must've searched for Metallica.mp3. HAHA, you're really gonna get screwed for that one!

 

[DaveSimmons]

<< GOOD LORD!!! You're joking right? I used the search feature once. I'm screwed now. I've gotta leave town, >>

Well, you ignore them collecting what DVDs you play and what searches you make, then what else will they collect and send? And what else are they already collecting now that just hasn't been caught? And how certain can you be about their "no personally identifiable information" claim since they've been caught "accidentally" sending such info before?

Gotta go, the black helicopters are landing outside....

 

[Angrymarshmello]

<<

<< GOOD LORD!!! You're joking right? I used the search feature once. I'm screwed now. I've gotta leave town, >>

Well, you ignore them collecting what DVDs you play and what searches you make, then what else will they collect and send? And what else are they already collecting now that just hasn't been caught? And how certain can you be about their "no personally identifiable information" claim since they've been caught "accidentally" sending such info before?

Gotta go, the black helicopters are landing outside.... >>



Big brother has been doing that for years now. What makes you think it's only MS that's doing it?

 

[DigDug]

Its shocking how little people care about their privacy, or understand the implication of such nonchalance. You all wanted to be corralled like cattle, don't you?

 

[Lucky]

<<

<< well i wish it would set my clock on XP. Must be broken or something because its off by about 3 and a half hours. >>


Double click clock, internet time tab. >>




its still off by an hour.

 

[joohang]

<< its still off by an hour. >>


Daylight Saving Time?