For information in case you weren't aware.



The SERIOUS New Spyware Threat ...

  NetZip's "Download Demon" was licensed by Real Networks and
  renamed "Real Download". Netscape/AOL also licensed it and
  call it "Netscape Smart Download."

  By watching the "packet traffic" flowing out of one of my
  machines while downloading a file through the Internet, I
  verified the rumors which you may have heard regarding these
  programs: In their default configuration ALL of these programs
  send back a report of EVERY FILE DOWNLOADED from
ANYWHERE on
  the Internet (even places that might not be anyone's business)
  and, except for Real Download which was modified after a week-
  long battle with me, these programs tag your computer with a
  unique ID which accompanies every report.

     This information could allow them to compile and create
     a detailed "profile" about who you are based upon the
     web sites you visit and the files you have downloaded.

  Perhaps you don't mind being watched and tracked as you move
  around the Internet ... and having every file you download
  reported. But the idea of this being done WITHOUT YOUR
  KNOWLEDGE, seems quite invasive to me. And even if you
  carefully read the program's license you might not be aware
  that this is going on or that "you agreed to it" when you
  accepted their terms!

  More than 14 Million people are already using the original
  NetZip Download Demon. NetZip knows the exact number, since
  every copy of their program "phones home" to report on what
  their users are doing! And I'm sure people are downloading Real
  Network's ReadDownload and Netscape's SmartDownload like
crazy.

  A Class Action lawsuit was recently filed against Netscape/AOL
  because of this privacy invasion, so perhaps the PC industry
  will begin to receive the message that this sort of secret
  spying and profiling is not okay with the rest of us, even if
  it is buried within a lengthy license agreement. You decide.

  Our web page has the FULL STORY, with plenty of background:

  <a href= "http://grc.com/downloaders.htm" >File Downloaders</a>

  And if you have questions or comments, please see ...

  <a href= "news://grc.com/newsletter" >The Newsletter Forum</a>

  ... or ...

  <a href= "http://grc.com/newsletter.htm" >Web Discussion</a>

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Thank you for your time. I hope this has been useful to you.

Steve Gibson.         <a href= "http://grc.com/" >GRC Website</a>

________________________________________________________
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Regards,

Ewart North,
Finance Office
University of Birmingham,
Edgbaston, Birmingham B15  2TT
Tel:    0121 414 7099
Fax:    0121 414 7979
email:  [log in to unmask]