Received this a while back. Thought I'd post it as an FYI for
anybody interested.
...Bob
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Forwarded by: "Beth" <EL2/BALLISON>
Forwarded to: bsmith
Date forwarded: Fri, 18 Aug 1995 08:13:30 +1200 EST
Date sent: Mon, 14 Aug 1995 11:18:39 -0500
To: Beth <[log in to unmask]>
From: [log in to unmask] (Michel Izygon x31958) (by way
of [log in to unmask]
(David D. Merritt))
Subject: win95 (Big Brother or Big Joke ??)
>From [log in to unmask] Fri Aug 11 15:21:00 1995
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From: Lawrence Law <[log in to unmask]>
To: Multiple recipients of list <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Warning: Security Issue with Windows 95
X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0 -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas
Status: R
I recommend against buying MS Windows 95 FOR ANY PURPOSE until
someone other than MS itself verifies that Windows 95 will not and
cannot transmit LDDS/Worldcom data back to MS. We risk compromising
sensitive proprietary data, at the very least.
- law
Date: 30 Jun 1995 07:47:48 U
From: "Paul Saffo" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Warning on Using Win95
>From PLS_MCI_MAIL FWD>>Warning on Using Win95
Date: 6/26/95 8:44 PM
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Warning on Using Win95 [Update on RISKS-17.13 item]
Believe it or not, this is not Net humor but serious. It would otherwise
be outstanding satire!
Subject: Windows 95 Warning on comp.risks [RISKS-17.13], in Information Week
Microsoft officials confirm that beta versions of Windows 95 include a small
viral routine called Registration Wizard. It interrogates every system on a
network gathering intelligence on what software is being run on which
machine. It then creates a complete listing of both Microsoft's and
competitors' products by machine, which it reports to Microsoft when
customers sign up for Microsoft's Network Services, due for launch
later this year.
"In Short" column, page 88, _Information Week_ magazine, May 22,1995
The implications of this action, and the attitude of Microsoft to
plan such action, beggars the imagination.
An update on this. A friend of mine got hold of the beta test CD of
Win95, and set up a packet sniffer between his serial port and the
modem. When you try out the free demo time on The Microsoft Network,
it transmits your entire directory structure in background.
This means that they have a list of every directory (and, potentially
every file) on your machine. It would not be difficult to have
something like a FileRequest from your system to theirs, without you
knowing about it. This way they could get ahold of any juicy routines
you've written yourself and claim them as their own if you don't have
them copyrighted.
Needless to say, I'm rather annoyed about this. So spread the word as
far and wide as possible: Steer clear of Windows 95. =
There's nothing to say that this "feature" will be removed in the
final release.
[GML addition: Prodigy was accused of doing something similar several
years ago. In that case it was not nearly as threatening due to: 1) it
was = limited to a single PC, 2) Prodigy couldn't do much with the info
(i.e. they could not pursue you for copyright infringement, nor were they
trying to expand into so many businesses the way Microsoft is).]
Bob Smith, Computer Guy [log in to unmask]
Kent State University or
East Liverpool Campus [log in to unmask]
(216) 385-3805 FAX: (216)385-3757
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