ONLINE SPYING

[David Farber <farber@central.cis.upenn.edu>]

>From Edupage:
>>
>>     ONLINE SPYING
>>     While you're connected to your favorite Web page, it's also connected
>>     to you, and could be copying all sorts of information off your hard
>>     drive, say industry experts. In fact, it happened last year when
>>     Central Point Software used registration software developed by
>>     Pipeline Communications, and inadvertently also gathered descriptions
>>     of the users' systems -- the type of microprocessor, the version of
>>     DOS and Windows, the type of display and mouse, and the amount of free
>>     space available on the hard drive. Customers squawked, and Central
>>     Point had Pipeline change the software. However, Pipeline reports that
>>     at least one of its clients is using the scanning feature now -- but
>>     only after getting the owner's permission. The lesson? "If you can't
>>     trust it, don't connect to it." (Forbes 2/13/95 p.186)
>