Hi Folks, Does any body remember Spinrite? It was at one time the best disk analysis and fix'em up utilities going. Steve Gibson authored it and many other helpful goodies.
I subscribe to his free news thing and find the info and free software (personal firewall, vulnerability tests, etc.) very useful. Here is the news thing I got today. Think about the implications. David Steve Gibson's MailBot wrote: > > Hello David, > > _________________________________________________________________ > > The File Download Utilities from Real Networks, > Netscape/AOL, and NetZip *ARE* Spying On Us! > _________________________________________________________________ > > Before I tell you about this latest threat to our privacy ... > > I MUST ASK YOU PLEASE not to reply directly to this eMail. This > mailing is being sent to more than 325,000 people, so there is > JUST NO WAY for us to read and answer individual questions. > > I have created two resources for you to use for follow up: > > 1. A comprehensive new page on my web site which discusses this > threat at greater length and shows the detailed contents of > a "spyware packet" as it was leaving a test machine of mine: > > <a href= "http://grc.com/downloaders.htm"; >File Downloaders</a> > > 2. A very active PUBLIC DISCUSSION FORUM which you are invited > to use for asking questions and getting more information. > Any standard Internet newsreader -- like those included in > Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator -- can be used to > participate in the free discussion forums at grc.com. Just > click the link below to launch your reader and begin > participating ... > > <a href= "news://grc.com/newsletter"; >The Newsletter Forum</a> > > Or, if that doesn't work, you can access the forum through > our web-based interface (though it is much less cool.) > > <a href= "http://grc.com/newsletter.htm"; >Web Discussion</a> > > The SERIOUS New Spyware Threat ... > > NetZip's "Download Demon" was purchased by Real Networks and > renamed "Real Download". then Netscape/AOL licensed it from > Real and called it "Netscape Smart Download." > > By watching the "packet traffic" flowing out of one of my > machines while downloading a file through the Internet, I > verified the rumors which you may have heard regarding these > programs: All of these programs immediately tag your computer > with a unique ID, after which EVERY SINGLE FILE you download > from ANYWHERE on the Internet (even places that might not be > anyone else's business) is immediately reported back to the > program's source, along with your machine's unique ID *and* > its unique Internet IP address. > > This information allows them to compile and create > a detailed "profile" about who you are based upon the > web sites you visit and the files you have downloaded. > > Perhaps you don't mind being watched and tracked as you move > around the Internet ... and having every file you download > reported along with your unique ID and IP address. But the > idea of this being done WIHTOUT YOUR KNOWLEDGE, seems invasive > to me in the extreme. And even if you carefully read the > program's license, you might not be aware that this is going > on or that "you agreed to it" when you accepted their terms! > > More than 14 Million people are already using the original > NetZip Download Demon. NetZip knows the exact number, since > every copy of their program "phones home" to report on what > their users are doing! And I'm sure people are downloading Real > Network's ReadDownload and Netscape's SmartDownload like crazy. > > A Class Action lawsuit was recently filed against Netscape/AOL > because of this privacy invasion, so perhaps the PC industry > will begin to receive the message that this sort of secret > spying and profiling is not okay with the rest of us, even if > it is buried within a lengthy license agreement. You decide. > > And, of course, the next release of my own OptOut spyware > detection and removal utility WILL consider these programs to > be dangerous, and warn its users of their presence in their > systems. But I wanted to be sure that you knew RIGHT AWAY what > was going on, and that I had independently confirmed that this > invasive file download and trackability really was occurring. > > Our web page has the FULL STORY, with plenty of background: > > <a href= "http://grc.com/downloaders.htm"; >File Downloaders</a> > > And if you have questions or comments, please see ... > > <a href= "news://grc.com/newsletter"; >The Newsletter Forum</a> > > ... or ... > > <a href= "http://grc.com/newsletter.htm"; >Web Discussion</a> > > _________________________________________________________________ > > Thank you for your time. I hope this has been useful to you. > > Steve Gibson. <a href= "http://grc.com/"; >GRC Website</a> > > ________________________________________________________________ > You may change your eMail address or remove yourself from this > eMail system entirely, by visiting your personal page anytime: > <a href= "http://grc.com/x/ne.dll?6cmsn0zco6"; >Update Info</a> -- E-mail: broompi...@netzero.net Fax to: 1-253-681-1133 ICQ#... 44960928 ____________NetZero Free Internet Access and Email_________ Download Now http://www.netzero.net/download/index.html Request a CDROM 1-800-333-3633 ___________________________________________________________ -- The silver-list is a moderated forum for discussion of colloidal silver. To join or quit silver-list or silver-digest send an e-mail message to: silver-list-requ...@eskimo.com -or- silver-digest-requ...@eskimo.com with the word subscribe or unsubscribe in the SUBJECT line. 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