Life is too short not to exact a bitter and bloody revenge
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Microsoft's Orwellian tracking system goes public
DEVELOPER OF CUTE SOFTWARE Microsoft has publically released a tagging system that will allow users to leave a breadcrumb trail for the firm, its advertisers and just about anyone else to follow.
The Vole claims that its Tag software allows businesses who use it as a form of barcode giving access to "advanced analytics" and "real-time location services" to track where users access products and services that are registered with Microsoft's latest privacy concern.
Backing up Tag's ability to provide access-all-areas capability, Microsoft gushed that it has witnessed "a lot of enthusiasm for Tag among marketers". Well, quite, but the firm doesn't mention a thing on its website concerning the privacy of those who purchase products incorporating Tags.
The system will form part of Microsoft's plan to build up a rich picture, similar to that of augmented reality, of Tagged items, with the user being able to receive further information about them. The firm hopes that its customers will use smartphones to tap into the apparent wealth of data this system will provide. Microsoft says that "all major mobile platforms" are supported, and presumably Windows Mobile, too.
Perhaps as a sign of Microsoft's legendary reliability, at press time Microsoft's Tag website was up and down like a yo-yo.
As Microsoft loses its grip on the virtual world, apparently it's decided to chance its hand in the real one. µ
Tags: Microsoft
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That line right there tells me that there is a major threat to my privacy and that I should be concerned.
Thank you for the heads-up.
@Kerome, open as long as you have a Windows computer laying around or the specified phone.
Again, another closed loop for the Microsoft Internet. Shy away from becoming involved. Microsoft has a terrible track record of not getting the Internet. Just as browser development only kicks in why they fell threatened I see whatever project they start only important until they see no competition.
Isn't this the QueCat all over again? Last time Radio Shack was passing out the hardware to read the codes, now MS gets to view all the personally identifying information before sharing with the advertisers. No more hardware issues, because cellphone users are providing the hardware at their own expense!
QueCat caused a firestorm of protest that eventually killed the system, but now MS may actually succeed!
Tag is NOT an orwellian tracking system. Sheesh. What it is a barode technology with associated web server which redirects you to a page of the tag-maker's chooser. It's an open system, anyone is free to make tags and use them as they like. It's actually pretty useful, and whether it tracks who looks at what tag or not doesn't really matter, when you consider Google keeps all your search results for a year...
So what Firefox plugin do I need to screw up Tag's tracking? Or will my current combination of NoScript, Adblock+ and only accepting cookies from whitelisted sites keep me reasonably well hidden?
But obviously it's through advertising. Greed will create the mechanisms which are then merged into gov't control.
By the way, "publically" should have the 'al beaten out of it. Orthography is resistance to the police state.