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	Rex Ballard - Director of Electronic Distribution
	http://cnj.digex.net/~rballard


On Tue, 3 Sep 1996 Milwnews@aol.com wrote:
> In a message dated 96-09-02 21:43:09 EDT, jabell@earthlink.net (John C.
> Abell) writes:
> 
> << I have never heard this rumor attached to MSN. 
>  
>  At 14:58 8/31/96 -0600, Suzanne Lainson wrote:
>  >When Microsoft set up its network, there were some fears that while a user
>  >was online, Microsoft was crusing his or her hard drive, checking to see
>  >what was on it, whether or not applications were properly registered, and
>  >whether or not the user might be ready for upgrades.
>  > >>
> 
> As I recall, in the install option for Microsoft's online network, users were
> invited to let MS tour their hard drive and send relevant data back -- a
> marketing tool that set off a lot of alarm bells, but as far as I can tell it
> was openly offered as an option.  However, if you want to see what anyone can
> find out about you while you're browsing the net, check
> http://www.anonymizer.com

I had read on another news group (alt.os.linux?) that Microsoft was
creating the "Magic Cookie" to access msn.com using the drive serial
numbers and application serial number of software on the hard drive.

The early versions of explorer appearantly would give "authentication
requests" to msn.com in tandem with requests to IIS servers.

Rumors got larger and larger to the point where some people believe
that Microsoft can get your entire history and htlog information using
"secret codes".

Such capabilities are certainly possible and provide a strong case for
open standards, human readable transactions, and use of source-code
available browsers.  The next "upgrade" to IIS may actualy be a trojan
horse that gives your competitors your "hot prospect list", or identifies
new vendors to fortune 50 corporations (very interesting if you are
looking to buy stock in a vendor company).

> Regards,
> 
> Dominique Paul Noth
> Milwnews@aol.com
> Dom's Domain: Media Sites and Strategies
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From rballard@cnj.digex.net Tue Sep 24 03:05:22 1996
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