Can Microsoft know my history if I use Netscape?

[Poop]

Can Microsoft know My history if I use Netscape?

[slave]

Microsoft is Omniscient, know this.

[Bazoukas]

You mean will Windows keep track of where you go even if you dont use IE?
  If thats the case then try this  <-Push me

[Doctor V]

Its really hard to answer that question.  Thr truth is, only the programmers at Microsoft really know.  Because they havn't released the source code, there's no way for someone to check and see exactly what Microsoft is doing.  They do keep the index.dat files from IE, which they don't do with Netscape (try Mozilla, Netscape's cousin).  But its very possible that they do keep track of you in other ways.  They certainly do with windows media player.  They also have been known to put signatures on the files people create.  Now, if you are not OK with all of this, there is no reason that you have to use windows.  Have you ever tried an alternative?  Linux is IMO a good one that can do more than 90% of what windows can.

[Poop]

How do they keep track of you in meadia player?

[Calum]

the gremlins that are integrated into the software wake up in the middle of the day (when your computer is least likely to be being used) and then they ring up Bill Gates and leave messages on his answering machine. (Yes there's gremlins in media player! why did you think the installer was so huge?)

[Gooseberry Clock]

quote:Originally posted by Macs-R-Us:
Can Microsoft know My history if I use Netscape?

No, but Netscape can.

[pkd_lives]

quote:Originally posted by Macs-R-Us:
How do they keep track of you in meadia player?

If you use WiMP above 6.4 then it stores your played files in the registry.

Try it. play some files, and check out the recently played files list. Then Uninstall WiMP (with XP this is not possible I believe). Then reboot, use a different player, whatever. Install WiMP and watch your list of played files magically reappear - hang on that may be 2K only - I haven't used WiMP in a long time. To remove that info you have to edit the registry. And of course there are a couple of report to M$ functions that need to be turned off in WiMP.

If they can store it then it is entirely possible that they can retrieve this information and use it as they see fit - in fact they were recently told to stop abusing their information storage under passport, and they are under investigation in the European Union for breaking privacy laws with their Media player (as are realplayer). And of course don't forget they once packaged a spy program that reported back everything on your computer with IE.

[Calum]

well while we're on the subject, they once sold thousands of copies of microsoft lookout which were preinfected with the NIMDA virus! nice going microsoft!

regardless of whether thei software is trying to phone home, i do think that you might as well cut your losses and use an alternative program...

[videobruce]

Try Opera!

NO cookies, NO history and NO cache on exit!

NO other browser does that as far as I know!

If it crashes it return to ALL the pages you were at!

http://www.opera.com/download/

[Calum]

yes, i used to agree completely with that, but now i prefer phoenix. i think phoenix and mozilla have all the features that opera has, and a couple more, so long as you install the prefbar addon.

The other benefit of using mozilla or phoenix is that the browser is open source, and it gets updated faster than opera, and it's also free. mozilla really wasn't as good as opera a year ago, and now it has surpassed it, and that's coming from somebody who used to see opera as the world's saviour from internet exploder.

[pkd_lives]

The Opers 7.01b is out for all you stuck behind Windows.

Opera latest beta

[PsysicTV]

Opera's great, but don't you have to pay for it to remove ads? If you don't want cache or cookies, you can always use Pheonix, which - if I may add - has very effective popup blocking. It's also free, j00. And come on, it's got a way cooler name  

[Calum]

TV, you are correct in every way.

[pkd_lives]

Opera is also free, with ads granted. Bollocks about the name phoenix has been done and used to death. Nah Opera is a much better name. Actually I don't like Phoenix yet. And I use Opera as my backup. Moz. IS still king for me.

Edit : woohoo it's fast, and I'm on ME at the moment. If you are stuck in Windows world Opera beta is a good choice.

[ November 26, 2002: Message edited by: Linux Frank ]