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Thread ID: 41422	2004-01-10 23:21:00	A non snooping OS from Microsquash	Tobas (224)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
206550	2004-01-10 23:21:00	I would be interested to know what Op Sys's there were from Microsoft whereby registration was not an absolute requirement and where they did not give themselves the OK to snoop around and check out your computer and software :-( While we have nothing to hide, nevertheless I object to being forced to register or letting them look around our machines. We run Windows ME and while there are reports on just how bad it is, it does everything we want of it and to top it off it is the only op sys we use in conjunction with a business. :-) We have never registered any of the software, but does anyone know if they gave themselves permission to check us out? Would like to try Linux ? but reading the posts requiring help on this Op Sys, we thing we had better leave it alone for the present :-)	Tobas (224)
206551	2004-01-10 23:41:00	Tobas, I run Windows XP. I have never registered any Microsoft software. Nor does Microsoft "snoop" around my system. If you're worried about it, install a decent firewall. It would take an enormous effort for Microsoft to be able to snoop around on people's machines, and even if they could, what could they do with it? You'd notice if they tried to open files etc, as your internet connection would grind to a halt, yet you'd see a lot of activity. Any besides, why would they bother? If they found something they didn't like, they wouldn't be able to do anything about it anyway. They wouldn't be allowed to, and besides, how would they know who you are or where you live? You'd need to have that information stored somewhere on your PC, and on top of that, they'd need to know where you've stored it (have you told them? I haven't). Don't be so paranoid - Microsoft aren't going to go around snooping on your PC. I'd be more worried about people sending my a virus or a trojan, or a hacker trying to gain access (which I'm still not worried about, as I've got a decent firewall, and besides, why would they bother?) Mike.	Mike (15)
206552	2004-01-10 23:46:00	> I run Windows XP. I have never registered any > Microsoft software. Did you "product activate" Windows XP?	whiskeytangofoxtrot (438)
206553	2004-01-10 23:49:00	> Did you "product activate" Windows XP? No. Mike.	Mike (15)
206554	2004-01-10 23:51:00	So I'd imagine your version of Windows XP is an "acquired" less than legal copy, as Windows XP requires activation or it stops operating.	whiskeytangofoxtrot (438)
206555	2004-01-10 23:57:00	> So I'd imagine your version of Windows XP is an > "acquired" less than legal copy, as Windows XP > requires activation or it stops operating. Be careful before you accuse people of "less than legal" activities. I own my copy of Windows XP quite legitimately, there is nothing "less than legal" about it. The Windows XP I have installed on my machine does not require activation. That said, you can activate Windows XP without being connected to the internet. Phone Microsoft. No personal information needs to be given to them (as far as I'm aware - I've never done it, I've just been told), but they give you the activation key, you type it in, and you're away, activated, and no connection to Microsoft took place. Mike.	Mike (15)
206556	2004-01-11 00:07:00	I'm also running a Legal copy that didn't Require activation (MS Select copy that my companies paid for) . I agree with mike if your so worried, Phone activate and install a Software Firewall to control what apps get out to the web	Marshell (3757)
206557	2004-01-11 00:35:00	Don't you people understand? Microsoft are Microsoft... They are coders, it's their software and NO-ONE can know exactly what they put in it. Remember Windows 95? It asked you if you wanted to send Microsoft a list of all the programs installed. Even if you clicked no, it still went. Although now they probably don't ask. Who knows how sneaky they are beneath this gluggy GUI? They could have coded in a backdoor to Windows that has an unpickable lock on it so you have to have the right key to get in - and no software firewall could detect it. They could have built in a system that cordons off a certain amount of bandwidth for their tube so what we think 5 kB/s is now could actually be faster because they coded in a thing to hide the cordoned off bandwidth. You think the security holes are accidents? I saw a funny take on Microsoft in a James Bond movie. The baddie said "Yes, the softwares got security holes all through it... they'll be downloading patches for years," or something to that effect. Maybe itcould be the same at Microsoft... we have to download the patches and then they can track us. Its all conspiracy theories I know... but what I'm trying to say is that unless you are the Cheif Microsoft Programmer you don't know what THE hell goes into THEIR software. But people use it anyway for lack of an easier way out...	hamstar (4)
206558	2004-01-11 00:37:00	If linux and M$ came together with the GUI designers of Mac, and made an OS... it sales would skyrocket benefitting all! But M$ and Mac are snobs so it'll never happen...	hamstar (4)
206559	2004-01-11 00:41:00	> Its all conspiracy theories I know... but what I'm > trying to say is that unless you are the Cheif > Microsoft Programmer you don't know what THE hell > goes into THEIR software. So what? That could be said about any piece of software. It doesn't mean it actually happens (it's quite unlikely). Mike.	Mike (15)
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