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| Thread ID: 85136 | 2007-11-30 23:36:00 | Warning about using Yahoo xtra to send/receive PDFs | robbyp (2751) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 616802 | 2007-11-30 23:36:00 | There have been heaps of problems with Yahoo Xtras new bubble email system (www.stuff.co.nz), however the news story below has me very concerned. www.nzherald.co.nz It implies that Yahoo who xtra pay to supply their email systems, will be accessing and scanning the PDF documents in emails for keywords and inserting their own adverts into it, directly modifying the document without the authors permission. Surely there is a law in NZ to stop this happening. Another reason I suppose not to use Xtras Yahoo email systems, and use NZ hosted email systems. |
robbyp (2751) | ||
| 616803 | 2007-12-01 00:04:00 | Robby, if you read the article carefully, you will see that they will not be modifying the document: The adverts would not appear on PDF documents that were printed out, but could be programmed to appear differently each time the file was opened . That said, I am glad I don't rely on Yahoo! services (and use Foxit as an Abobe replacement) and can see yet another excellent reason for customers to dump Xtra, if Xtra adopt the technology/'service' . There's nothing in the article to suggest that this will happen . . . The article is about the deal between Yahoo! and Adobe . The article also says: It could also mean that e-books for electronic readers could be offered free to users . All well and good if: 1 . your ebook format is PDF (there are numerous different formats) 2 . if you would feel happy having ads distracting you from reading your PDF-format ebook 3 . if you're reading a 'racy' passage in your ebook, you'll have to be careful where you read them - looks like the ads are content-relevant!! :D |
johcar (6283) | ||
| 616804 | 2007-12-01 00:49:00 | if Xtra adopt the technology/'service' . There's nothing in the article to suggest that this will happen . . . The article is about the deal between Yahoo! and Adobe . Thats a good point you have there johcar . |
stu161204 (123) | ||
| 616805 | 2007-12-01 01:26:00 | This is a system to allow publishers of PDF documents to insert adverts in to PDF documents that will use Yahoo's advertising service to deliver ads relevant to the content. Nowhere in that article does it suggest that these will be embedded in anybody's PDFs without their explicit consent. | TGoddard (7263) | ||
| 616806 | 2007-12-01 01:53:00 | I use produce & use pdf files every day to send documents to printers/ publishers etc. I hope nobody tampers with my work by sticking adverts etc all over them when I have paid $100's for non demo programs!! Isn't there a law against tampering with mail?....including private email |
fnphoto (2434) | ||
| 616807 | 2007-12-01 02:03:00 | hm.......i remember reading the 'terms and conditions' when I had to re-sign up for that dumbass yahooxtra crap ........they pretty much give themselves all rights to EVERYthing you send........ | drcspy (146) | ||
| 616808 | 2007-12-01 08:22:00 | Robby, if you read the article carefully, you will see that they will not be modifying the document: The article is about the deal between Yahoo! and Adobe . I have re-read the article, and to me it still implies that Yahoo could read the document, and based on keywords in the document, they can insert their own advertising . This would then appear in the PDF, so to me this implies that they are modifying it, by inserting their own content . OK, so the ads may not appear when you print it out, however many people read the PDF on their computer screens and don't print it out . Xtra have contracted out their email to Yahoo, so what yahoo chooses to do, xtra probably don't have much choice but to go with it . Xtra already doesn't have much control over their email systems when things go wrong, as it is no longer based in NZ, and they have to rely on their overseas suppliers when the bubble ruptures from time to time . Also if they are able to add advertsing, I suspect it wouldn't be impossible for hackers to work out a way to insert spam into the PDF, or even viruses . I hope this is an idea that Adobe will drop, as I have spent a lot of money on Adobe software over the years and that isn't something I thought they would stoop to . |
robbyp (2751) | ||
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