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Windows Update keeps tabs on all system software

  • 03-03-2003 8:34pm
    #1
    theciscokid
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,006 ✭✭✭


    http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/29519.html

    didnt see it posted so...
    Evidence obtained by German hardware site tecChannel suggests a list of software installed on an XP machine is sent to Microsoft when users run Windows Update.

    When patches are downloaded, a few kilobytes of data are sent in the opposite direction over a secure SSL channel.

    Because the data is encrypted a simple packet sniffer can't be used to see what this data contains.

    However tecChannel's tecDUMP utility takes advantage of an undocumented WinInet API, enabling an examination of the data before it becomes encrypted.

    According to tecChannel, the information sent to Microsoft includes details of all the software installed in a machine, not only Microsoft applications.

    The latest version of Windows Update Privacy Statement (which dates from last October) states: "Windows Update must collect a certain amount of configuration information from your computer".

    This configuration information includes OS version number, IE version number and "version numbers of other software for which Windows Update provides updates" along with plug and play ID numbers and regional settings.

    But there's no mention of collecting data on software from other vendors running on a machine. And this software can't be updated using Windows Update. So why is Microsoft collecting this data?

    hmm very worrying :(


Comments

  • #2
    scojones
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,230 ✭✭✭scojones


    They also collect info about your hardware. When you install xp and enter your key, it creates some sort of signature based on the hardware in your machine. It sends this signature along with the key to M$. This prevents any other machine from using your key on their pc (they'll have a different signature). Which brings up the question, what if your pc goes bye bye and you install xp on another machine and want to use that key again?


  • #3
    parasite
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,077 ✭✭✭parasite


    you have to ring microsoft and convince the person on the phone that you're the legitimate owner of XP, and the reason why you're reinstalling, then they might give you an activation key
    basically they presuppose your guilt
    this policy is bound to bite them in the ass, hopefully


  • #4
    monk
    Closed Accounts Posts: 46 ✭monk


    Hi,
    The activation on XP will allow 3 or 5 hardware changes before the key will no longer activate. It uses the combination of the hardware on your pc to create a unique ID for your pc. So if you change your hard drive/video card you should be able to re-install XP.
    Otherwise you'll need an OEM key which de-activates all activation :), the same applies for the Office XP applications
    Monk


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