Microsoft to add "Black Box" to Windows.

[Praxis]

Original ZDNet article
Slashdot version

"According to ZDNet, Microsoft plans to add the software equivalent of a 'black box' flight recorder to Windows. According to the article, 'The tool will build on the existing Watson error-reporting tool in Windows but will provide Microsoft with much deeper information, including what programs were running at the time of the error and even the contents of documents that were being created.'"

Yep, so now MS gets even MORE information about us. My favorite /. comment:

"Think of it as a flight data recorder, so that any time there's a problem, that 'black box' is there helping us work together and diagnose what's going on," Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates

Except the blackbox on a jet won't (unless I'm woefully uninformed more than usual) tell what you were doing in your own seat when the plane went down.

"occupant of 17A was eating peanuts, doing inflight magazine crossword and had dirty underwear"

[Melchior]

It is obviously a massive privacy violation, and everyone that says that Microsoft "isn't that bad" should think about how many times they attacked their privacy.
I, for one, when Longhorn will be finally out, will be watching from the relative safety of my mac.

[General Zod]

ookay. i see i won't be using any windows systems newer than XP for a good long while.

[Melchior]

In addition, now that i think about it, it will surely exploitable by crackers in at least an hundred of different ways, and there will be lots of ineffective security patches for it.
And probably it will also drain resources.

[RedImperator]

Can't wait to get my iBook.

[Praxis]

ookay. i see i won't be using any windows systems newer than XP for a good long while.

No kidding. This + Palladium in Longhorn? *shiver*

Next thing you know Microsoft will come out with something that lets them tap your digital camera and spy on you, in order to "protect your home from robbers that might break in".

[Kamakazie Sith]

Can you turn it off? It's only a privacy violation if it runs without your permission.

[Ace Pace]

Can you turn it off? It's only a privacy violation if it runs without your permission.

I bet it will be a service like the current Error reporter, I'll kill it or block it.

[Praxis]

Yes, the article says you'll have the same "Send" and "Don't Send" option as you currently have, its just that Send sends Microsoft EVERYTHING, even the documents you're writing or pages you're viewing.

HOWEVER, thats just the standard consumer version...in businesses, its a different story.

To quote:

Windows lead product manager Greg Sullivan said users will be prompted with a message indicating the information to be sent and giving them an option to alter it, such as removing the contents of the e-mail they were writing when the machine crashed. Also, such reporting will also be anonymous.

...

With businesses, however, IT managers typically set the policy. If they wanted total information, they could configure systems so that they'd know not only that a user was running Internet Explorer, for example, but also that he or she was watching a video from ESPN.com. Or, they might find out not only that a worker was running Instant Messenger but also that he or she was talking to a co-worker about getting a new job.

So basicly IT managers can set the policy on your system so the black box information goes straight to them, telling them what you are doing.

So yes and no on the off button.

Though there is no off button on Palladium But thats a whole different topic.

[phongn]

Some workplaces have something VNC on every computer so they could audit you that way. Hell, all they'd have to do is look at the IP logs of your computer's requests to see if you're surfing the 'net on compay time.

[Chmee]

Company's computers = company's information, you have no privacy expectation there.

At home .... looks like some new URL filters will have to go into my firewall to be sure my network doesn't talk to MS's data snoopers.

[phongn]

I don't really have a problem with the "black box" -- I doubt MS will make it mandatory and you apparently can strip out any data you want from it. But it will likely be a better tool than what they have now.

[Uraniun235]

I took one look at the title and knew instantly there'd be a chorus of "omg microsoft sux lol" posts, and that the reality would probably be far less shocking.

So basicly IT managers can set the policy on your system so the black box information goes straight to them, telling them what you are doing.

As it should be.

[Xon]

This really isnt an issue.

As previously noted, it is opt-in for consumer. And that can get turned off easily.

As for Palladium, you can already do that under Windows 200 onwards. Just force only allowed digital certificates will permit executables to run

:edit: Removed uncalled for Praxis bashing.

[Praxis]

This really isnt an issue.

And I love how this quote was entirly ignored:

For consumers, the choice of whether to send the data, and how much information to share, will be up to the individual. Though the details are being finalized, Windows lead product manager Greg Sullivan said users will be prompted with a message indicating the information to be sent and giving them an option to alter it, such as removing the contents of the e-mail they were writing when the machine crashed. Also, such reporting will also be anonymous.

I took one look at the title and knew instantly there'd be a chorus of "omg microsoft sux lol" posts, and that the reality would probably be far less shocking.

Praxis is known for that type of stuff.

What? If you bothered to read my posts, I actually QUOTED that line a bit down.

I said myself that there is a don't send button.

Try reading sometimes before you bash me.


FYI, I've been trying not to be so much a fanboy recently after some complaints. You'll notice in my "What will you do when Longhorn comes out" I never said my opinion, for example.

Give me a chance before you assume I'm being a fanboy.