*OT*
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Microsoft invades your privacy
(March 17, 1999 12:00 a.m. EST)
Just when you think Microsoft could not be any more stupid, it is discovered the company has hidden a code in Windows 98 and in Office documents.
The company, of course, has expressed surprise that the number, called a "Globally Unique Identifier," was included in registration information sent to Microsoft and that it is included in every Microsoft Office document you've created.
Privacy advocates have gone ballistic since the discovery, saying Microsoft (and others) now have a way of electronically tracking where files originated, sort of a digital fingerprint. And if the number is included in Web "cookie" files, it could be possible to track where users have gone on the Web.
This "bug" affects everyone with a network card installed in their machine for sure; it may also affect users who have installed an Internet connection using Microsoft's Dial-Up Networking or users of America Online.
Microsoft says it will post on its Web site a tool to remove the code from the Windows 98 registry and from Office documents. In this summer's "Service Release" for Windows 98, the company promises to re-engineer the software to no longer report the number during registration.
If you want to see how the company did the deed - or if your number is being embedded, here's how to check.
In Windows 98, hit START, the hit RUN, then type "winipcfg" without the quote marks. That runs your network identification program. That shows the various GUID numbers of your network cards. Write them down, especially the one for any Ethernet cards you may have.
Then open Notepad (under PROGRAM FILES then ACCESSORIES). Now open any Microsoft Word and Excel file using Notepad. You will get a lot of garble.
Hit SEARCH on the top row and find the term "guid" without the quotes. There you will find your computer's ID embedded in the file.
Maybe I've been listening to President Clinton's deposition too much, but it's hard to believe Microsoft's position that no one in the company knew this number was being transmitted into their databases and embedded into Office documents. Say what you will about Microsoft, but these are smart people.
I'll keep you advised when the patches are released.
But the bottom line is, let's hope Microsoft has learned something from this. Arrogance, especially when it comes to personal privacy, is not appealing.
|
