Why We Should Be Worried About Lockheed Martin's Census Technology

I sent an email to microsoft to ask them what they plan to do about this, there must be a way we can protect ourselves and our privacy, otherwise anybody could get into anyone\'s system. This is not good, not good at all!

I've been involved in Information Technology for many years. This has been suspected for many years as well. Don't bother trying to get answers out of Microsoft, they don't care about you or I.<p> The only way to ensure your privacy and security is to use products that are peer reviewed. That is, many people around the world look at the 'source code' of the product, and check it for 'back doors' and security holes.<p> Nobody check Microsofts code, as evident by all the security exploits and viruses/worms we hear about almost daily.<p> 'Peer-reviewed' software or 'Open Source' includes BSD UNIX, Linux, and FreeBSD (made in Canada!). Recently the governments of Berlin, Brazil and <a> have switched from Microsoft products to Open Source products. They switched for many reasons. To get away from problems with Microsoft products, such as security privacy and cost. And because UNIX and it's variants have been in use for as long as computers have been (40 years) and Open Source products have been around longer than Microsoft - they are very compatible with each other. Microsoft is only compatible with Microsoft.<p> Open Source is supported by such companies as IBM, Red Hat, SuSE, Hewlett Packard, Sun, and AOL Time Warner (Netscape). Did I mention how much Linux costs? Nothing. Free. Nada. Zip. Zero.<p> <p>---<br>"History does nor repeat itself, but it does rhyme" Mark Twain

Thanks for the info, Dr. Caleb! Just one question: Microsoft states that they don\'t save personal information during \"Necessary Windows Updates.\" However, I heard from a computer expert that Windows contacts people\'s computers every day, for some unexplained reason. Why do you think this is? Could it be that Windows is purposely working with the U.S. government to steal secrets from people around the world, and that\'s why the government won\'t break up Microsoft?

Also, will most software now work with open source operating systems?

I tried to go to the cryptonym website, via the link provided, and it said something very interesting. After saying \"The page vannot be displayed,\" I tried one of the recommended options, which is to \"Try going to the website directly and search for the information you\'re looking for.\" That website would be: www.crytonym.com. (or something like that - check to make sure.) This site supposedly shows you how to make your own key, to replace the NSA key -and possibly the third key.....When I typed in the basic link, to hte home page, this is what the screen said, in plain text: \"This page (or screen) was purposely left blank.\" Why would it say this? Is Microsoft censoring this page?

Certain Microsoft program contact Microsoft whenever you are on the internet. Media Player is one - even if you disable the "Look Album Information on the Web" option. No one knows why it does this. There are many more examples, such as Office XP requiring a re-registration if you cange your hardware, eg add a CD burner and Change the video card, you have to re-register Office. WTF?<p> Most Windows software will run under Linux and BSD under Wine - including Microsoft Office - but there are free alternatives for most everything anyhow: www.openoffice.org - www.staroffice.org<p> <p>---<br>"History does nor repeat itself, but it does rhyme" Mark Twain

Are they censoring the page? Who knows. Microsoft does employ more Lawyers than programmers though.<p> <p>---<br>"History does nor repeat itself, but it does rhyme" Mark Twain

Hmmm.

Thanks a lot for the info. I\'d never heard of staroffice before, but I already had open office (version 1.1 -post beta) on my computer, and I\'d recommend it to anyone. It can do things that MS Office cannot. Great software!

StarOffice is Sun's pay version of OpenOffice. It's cheap licensing, around $5 a seat or something like that for a large corporation.<p> Combine Star/OpenOffice with Ximan (Mail/Calendaring/Instant Messaging) and you don't need Microsoft in your company.<p> <p>---<br>"History does nor repeat itself, but it does rhyme" Mark Twain