RealNetworks plugged a major privacy glitch in its music software last Monday, but a newly discovered problem in the company's far more popular streaming software remains wide open.

The company last week issued a patch to remove from its RealJukebox software a unique identification number, which tracks users' listening habits. Software analysis shows that the same identifier is also transmitted by RealNetworks' RealPlayer.

The sad part is this doesn't surprise me at all. They had a chance to come clean when they admitted to the RealJukebox problem. But somehow they forgot to mention that another program of theirs did the same thing (at least partially).

Slashdot | Your Rights Online | RealPlayer Uploads Your ID Too.

ZDTV - Real Privacy Matters. RealNetworks decides to stop monitoring RealJukebox users after privacy advocates blast the practice.

ZDTV - Sneaky Software. RealNetworks is in real trouble over its privacy violations. Is this the tip of the iceberg?

ZDnet - Advocates call for halt to online profiling.

The Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Commerce will hold a public workshop Monday with privacy advocates and online advertisers to discuss the use of online profiling.

On Friday, privacy groups urged the FTC to immediately halt all online profiling pending an investigation, and speed up legislation that would protect consumer's privacy. The practice of creating user profiles involves gathering information on users' surfing habits.

Found via CamWorld - How to Obscure Any URL. How Spammers And Scammers Hide and Confuse Last Updated Monday, 1 November 1999

New York Times - free registration required Internet Users To Be Given Options.

Leading Internet advertising and data-profiling companies have agreed to a plan that would give Internet visitors the option to switch off information-gathering technology used at many Web sites.

The plan reflects an attempt by the Internet industry to address growing concern about technology that allows Web site operators to collect data about Internet users, often without the knowledge or consent of those who are being profiled.

Nice sounding press release but I'll wait for the details before I get to happy. After all if you read the whole article they admit that they still have to develop the software and procedures to implement this, and that might take a LONG time. In the mean time they keep building that profile, and maybe get any regulations stalled.

FCW Government Technology Group - NSA emerges from the shadows. With commercial products and services drawing heightened interest from federal agencies, NSA is stepping out of the shadows to take a major role in helping those agencies understand their security requirements and evaluate the available commercial solutions.

Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) Searching And Seizing Computers. The process of Searching and Seizing Computers raises unique issues for law enforcement personnel. The Federal Guidelines for searching and seizing computers illustrate some of the ways in which search a computer is different from searching a desk, a file cabinet, or an automobile.

GovExec.com - Congress refuses to fund security network.

Less than one week before the Clinton Administration's proposed network security plan is slated to be unveiled and discussed, Congress has refused a last-minute request to provide $39 million in funds--including $8.4 million for the controversial Federal Intrusion Detection Network (FIDNet)--until at least January.

Although House Majority Leader Richard Armey, R-Texas, has raised a number of questions about the privacy implications of FIDNet, the principal objection seems to be money.