Subject: Re: Microsoft, wizard and piracy: A calm analysis From: bdasun@ibl.bm (The Bermuda Sun Ltd.) Date: Mon, 12 Jun 1995 17:04:07 -0800

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Based on this thread about Microsoft, I did some follow up for my weekly
computer column for my newspaper the Bermuda Sun.
I'd like to know if anyone can futher deciper if Microsoft isn't telling
all, or is the new, or have they been a victim? The column follows below.
Ahmed

]Are digital cops
hiding in your PC?
Just when Microsoft's much touted Windows 95 is on the verge of
finally being released, the program has been hit by another
controversy.
Windows 95 is Microsoft's attempt to improve on its current
Windows, the graphical user interface for IBM-type PC machines that
mimics the easy-to-use Macintosh operating system.
Windows in effect hides the operation system of the PC, called DOS,
that many found difficult to use.
According to Microsoft the new Windows will integrate DOS instead
of just hiding it. Customers will no longer have to purchase DOS as a
separate package.
Angry critics on the Internet claim that Windows 95 contains  a
program that reports back to Microsoft the contents of a computer's
hard disk drive, including any pirated software, when the user goes
on-line.
Not true says the company, as it attempts to fight what it says is a
false claim made in a trade magazine last month.
The reams of discussion on the Internet about the issue have given
rise to much anger and even paranoia over the apparent invasion of
privacy.
"Officially, it (the program) would be used for billing. Unofficially,
remember that love-note you wrote to your girl-friend... it will show
up on your boss's E-mail if you make trouble. You don't even have to
upset Microsoft. Bill Gates (Microsoft's chairman) has friends on both
sides of the congressional aisle."
This from a person subscribed to an E-mail newsgroup holding
intelligent discussion on the future of on-line publications.
Mike Jones, president of local Microsoft distributor Software Traders
Ltd., was unaware of the controversy.
He has been in possession of a test version of Windows 95 since
November, and said that as far as he knows such an invasive
program doesn't exist.
He expects Windows 95 to be ready for release in August, for under
$200.
"It's still not as easy as Macintosh," he said. "But as far as the user
interface and the ease of use, it has come a long way."
Patti Pierson, of Microsoft's public relations firm Waggener Edstrom,
in Portland, Oregon, denies that the company is attempting to invade
computer users' privacy.
She said that the false claim arose from an article in the May 22
issue of "Information Week", a U.S. trade magazine.
The magazine claimed that Registration Wizard, a program that
comes bundled with Windows 95 for on-line registration of the
software, contains a means for Microsoft to investigate a customer's
hard drive.
"Subsequently there were several posts on-line regarding
Registration Wizard and it kind of snowballed into a lot of confusion,"
she said.
Ms. Pierson said buyers can send in the registration by mail if they
want. But they have the option of completing the form on the
computer then sending it via modem.
"Registration Wizard is just an on-line version of the paper
registration card that you get in any package of software," she said.
"It is simply a one way transaction - not something that Microsoft
can look back at a customer's hard drive at all.  ....What they are
asked for is essentially the same thing that they are asked to provide
on a paper registration card - name, company,  address and
telephone number.
"Customers are then presented with the option of providing
information about the system configuration. At that time user is
asked if they want to send the information to Microsoft and they
physically have to click 'yes', and it's done.
However, she continued, "they are also presented with an addition
option about what applications are running on their system, and they
physically click yes and then it's done."
According to a Microsoft press release that Ms. Pierson sent the
Bermuda Sun, Registration Wizard "queries the system registry of the
local computer" for information on the processor type, amount of
RAM, hard disk space, peripherals (such as CD-ROM drive), and
application programs.
This is presumably the "invasive" feature critics were complaining
about. Some of them suspect Microsoft of using Registration Wizard
to gather information on its competitor's software.
"Contrary to reports, the on-line registration feature does not query
serial numbers or product registration information designed to fight
software piracy," the release continues. "It  also does not query
computers on the local or wide-area network."
What the controversy highlights is that it is possible to program
software to do exactly what the U.S. trade magazine alleged, and
Microsoft denies.
Perhaps a little paranoia over invasion of privacy is justified - if
only to keep companies aware that many of their customers are not
unwitting dupes.


>
>When I registered my Mac fax software a year or so ago (it came bundled
>with my Supra 14.4 modem), it had an option to fax your system contents as
>well. It was a checkbox that was otherwise unexplained. If you didn't do a
>page preview, you wouldn't know that it was sending a listing of the entire
>contents of your system folder to the folks who wrote FaxSTF.
>
>This isn't new. But it is becoming an issue since the company doing is
>Microsoft.
>



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