Wednesday, March 7, 2007

WGA Reports Back To MS Even If You Choose Not To Install - Aviran's Place Heise online reports on a very interesting action Microsoft is taking during the installation of WGA. When you start WGA setup and get to the license agreement page but decided NOT to install the highly controversial WGA component and cancel the installation, the setup program will send your info and the fact that you choose not to install WGA back to their servers. In addition to that it seems that the setup program send some information stored in your registry to http://genuine.microsoft.com/. While it does not specifically identify the user, it looks like it does send some identification of your computer and Windows version (see picture) to Microsoft servers. 1:06:01 PM

Microsoft WGA Phones Home Even When Told No. Microsoft WGA Phones Home Even When Told No. Aviran writes "When you start WGA setup and get to the license agreement page but decided NOT to install the highly controversial WGA component and cancel the installation, the setup program will send information stored in your registry and the fact that you choose not to install WGA back to Microsoft's servers." [Slashdot] 1:00:00 PM

Stations agree on anti-payola settlement | Houston Chronicle Radio listeners weary of hearing the same songs over and over may have something to cheer about: Broadcasters have tentatively agreed to anti-payola settlements that could shake up music playlists at some of the nation's largest radio chains. Four major broadcast companies would pay the government $12.5 million and provide 8,400 half-hour segments of free airtime for independent record labels and local artists, The Associated Press has learned. The agreement is aimed at curbing payola -- generally defined as radio stations accepting cash or other consideration from record companies in exchange for airplay. The practice has been around as long as the radio industry and was made illegal after scandals in the late 1950s. Two Federal Communications Commission officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because final language has not been approved by the full commission, said the monetary settlement is part of a consent decree between the FCC and Clear Channel Communications Inc., CBS Radio, Entercom Communications Corp. and Citadel Broadcasting Corp. The settlement was reached at the same time as a separate deal designed to lead to more airtime for smaller record companies and their lesser-known artists as well as local musicians. 12:17:54 PM

Major Broadcasters Hit With $12M Payola Fine. Major Broadcasters Hit With $12M Payola Fine. Gr8Apes writes with a just-breaking AP story reporting that the FCC is wrapping up a settlement in which four major broadcast companies would pay the government $12.5 million and provide 8,400 half-hour segments of free airtime for independent record labels and local artists. The finish line is near after a 3-year investigation. An indie promoter is quoted: "It's absolutely the most historic agreement that the independent community has had with radio. Without a doubt, nothing else comes close." [Slashdot] 12:15:47 PM

Wal-Mart fires technician who recorded phone calls March 05, 2007   (Reuters) -- CHICAGO - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said today it fired a systems technician for intercepting text messages of people who were not Wal-Mart employees and for recording telephone conversations with a New York Times reporter without authorization. Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, said an internal investigation found the technician had monitored and recorded phone calls between Wal-Mart public relations employees and a New York Times Co. reporter between September and January. The Bentonville, Ark.-based retailer also said the technician, who worked in its information systems division, intercepted and stored text messages that contained certain key words, including those sent by people in the Bentonville area who were not Wal-Mart employees. Wal-Mart spokeswoman Mona Williams said on a call with reporters that the technician "did this on his own." While interviews with the technician gave the retailer an idea as to why he recorded the calls, Williams said she could not disclose the reasons because the case has been turned over to federal investigators. 11:52:20 AM

Spying at Wal*Mart: Human nature run amuck? Spying at Wal*Mart: Human nature run amuck?  Does the Wal-Mart eavesdropping debacle have the potential to be this year's HP scandal? A former IT security staffer for the retailer evaluates what might have happened. [Computerworld Privacy News] 11:46:37 AM

© Copyright 2007 Paul Hardwick. Last update: 3/18/07; 4:56:31 PM.