Did you ever wonder what information is transmitted to Microsoft when you validate your version of Windows?

Here’s the list:
* Windows product key or product ID

* Windows service pack version

* PC manufacturer and model

* Operating System version

* SKU and Suite Mask

* Security ID

* PID/SID

* BIOS information (manufacturer, model, make, version, date)

* BIOS MD5 Checksum

* IP Address

* User locale (language setting for displaying Windows)

* System locale (language version of the operating system

When you install a version of Linux, here’s the information sent to the Linux developers:
*

There’s a new player in the software firewall market. The makers of my favorite anti-spyware software, Webroot (makers of SpySweeper) have introduced their Desktop Firewall.

I’ve had it running for about 2 weeks on my test computer, along with SpySweeper and NOD32 AV, and thus far am finding it quite good. It has many of the same controls as Zone Alarm, monitoring inbound and outbound traffic and asking permission only on the first attempt of any software to connect to the internet. It will automatically recognize your default browser and allow it access to the web, and provides the ability to block all traffic if you need it to.

Den ganzen Beitrag lesen…