Sponsor's Message

Two interesting examples of this have surfaced in recently and they might well be the start of a very worrying trend.

The first is a piece of software called Plaxo.

This allegedly useful utility promises to automate the process of keeping your contact lists up to date by integrating seamlessly with Outlook Express and other programs.

Imagine how nice it would be if the name, phone, email and other details of people you knew were automatically updated on your computer whenever they changed. No more bounced emails because old Bob has changed ISPs, no more wasted calls because Jim has switched cellphone providers and now has a new number.

But there's a problem with this. Plaxo appears to be just a little too vigorous in keeping your data up to date.

It contacts people on your behalf and perhaps without your expressed permission by sending emails that appear to be written by you but which are, in fact, an automated bulk-mailing.

Those emails advise the recipients (who are all those in your contact list) that they need to confirm the current details you have on file for them.

Recipients are directed to click on a link in the email to confirm the validity of that contact info. They're also invited to download their own copy of Plaxo and install it so that they too can enjoy the "benefits"(?) of this system.

Now while Plaxo's privacy policy may carry a plethora of assurances and claims that your information (including all the details in your address book and contact-list) is safe in their hands.

However, I find it interesting that on the page referenced above they say "We do not share your information with anyone without your permission. Period." yet on this page we're told "In the event Plaxo goes through a business transition, such as a merger, acquisition or the sale of a portion of its assets, Your Information and your membership in the Plaxo Contact Networks™ will, in most instances, be part of the assets transferred.".

Sorry but I would not use a service like this and it worries me that some people who obviously have my email address in their contact list are using it. This means that, without my permission, Plaxo has my address and, for all I know, they could end up being bought-out by a spamhaus.

I don't mind if people want to surrender their own private details to a company like Plaxo but I'm buggered if they have any right to surrender mine without my expressed permission!

Another example of how we're losing control of our information and our computers involves the US company Belkin.

One of their products, a router designed to allow easy sharing of a single Internet connection, was delivered from the factory with code that saw it periodically hijack web-page requests. Instead of the requested page being displayed, users would be directed to a page advertising more of Belkin's products.

Outraged users, who figured that if you've paid good money for a device like this they shouldn't have to put up with unsolicited advertising, revolted.

The company was forced to announce that it will be offering a fix to eliminate this ridiculous behaviour.

I'm pretty sure that if this trend towards the hijacking of users' data and their computers by commercial operations continues then it (just like spam) threatens to significantly compromise the utility of the Net.

Do Aardvark's readers have any other reports of such unacceptable hijacking by commercial products?

If any Aardvark readers want to share an opinion on today's column or add something, you're invited to chip in and have your say in The Aardvark Forums or, if you prefer, you can contact me directly.

Contacting Aardvark
I'm always happy to hear from readers, whether they're delivering brickbats, bouquets or news tip-offs. If you'd like to contact me directly, please this form. If you're happy for me to republish your comments then please be sure and select For Publication.

Other media organisations seeking more information or republication rights are also invited to contact me.

Just add a couple of lines of JavaScript to your pages and you can get a free summary of Aardvark's daily commentary -- automatically updated each and every week-day.

Aardvark also makes a summary of this daily column available via XML using the RSS format. More details can be found here.

Contact me if you decide to use either of these feeds and have any problems.

Linking Policy
Want to link to this site? Check out Aardvark's Linking Policy.

Did you tell someone else about Aardvark today? If not then do it now!