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)