What is Digg?104 Comments
- MacGyver, on 10/12/2007, -1/+14Doesn't it make sense that if you put a cd in and it asks you to fill out a questionnaire, that the information will be sent back to whoever distributed the cd? I don't see why people are surprised by this.
- trogdoor, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11This is bad but I don't see how the Sony rootkit saga plays into this except as a gimmick for getting more diggs.
- Inphormatika, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6This is pretty nasty. Somebody needs to get fired over this one, and not just a patsy. Whoever decided to give this the go-ahead needs to be gone.
- lordsandwich, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4TFA has almost no useful information; the actual source is here: http://www.publicradio.org/columns/minnesota/polinaut/
As for it sending your personal information to the GOP, apparently you have to register with your name, address et. al. to receive an access code before you can even run the program. You'd have to be pretty dense not to realize what's going on. - infra172, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4OMFG! When I click on the "submit comment" what I type on my computer is transmitted to Digg.com! And its not even encrypted! Its just liike Sony! Rootkit! Digg is a rootkit! I'm consumed with irrational fear!
- QuickHonda, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3What were people expecting? If an informational CD were to ask me my name and address and request that I fill out a survey then I would assume all that information is going to be sent back to the author. Theres no sense to ask this stuff if its not going to be sent back. Probably should of had a warning attached but come on, it was obvious.
- 0Troy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Here's a questionair. Take it home, fill it out, and then shred it.
What do you think happens with questionaires??? - gotamd, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2This is an interesting story, but the title is innaccurate (obviously trying to sensationalize the story).
- Crashless, on 10/12/2007, -0/+21st off, the OP should have linked to the MPR story and not the ThinkProgress FUD story.
Secondly, OMFG I filled out a form and it sent it to the people who were asking me the questions!! WTF!!??
Lastly, it _is_ pretty dumb not to secure the database. That is the only useful part of this story, the rest is partisan BS. - talmand, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3You know, one time I was given a survey asking me various questions. So I filled it out. Then I noticed those people had the nerve to actually ask me to put the survey in the included pre-paid envelope to mail to them for processing. How dare they try to invade my privacy like that!
This is stupid. If you are asked to fill out a survey what do you expect to be done with it? Of course it's going to report the results home. And Bush must have lots of time on his hands since so many people here seem to think he's directly behind this whole evil thing. And who the hell reads a license agreement nowadays anyway?
People need to get a grip and please keep politics out of a tech forum please. - gamekid, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3"This is coming from Thinkprogress.org. I'll wait til I hear the other side of the story. "
Don't worry. The other side of the story hears you. - elev8, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2They put a rootkit on the CDs? If not, then it really has nothing to do with a "Sony--type spyware", it's just spyware (by definition).
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2The lesser of two evils does not make either "good."
The reason why everyone votes for the either the left or the right is because they don't believe anyone else would vote for a third party.
It starts with YOU voting for who you REALLY want. Research ALL of the candidates. Don't be complacent and live with what the left and the right give you. - chartermark, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The issue here is that the data they are collecting is not anonymous: it is DIRECTLY TAGGED to your own identity. Most decent surveys don't collect as much possible data on you as this survey does. Yes, you'd have to be (decently) dense to fall for it. Still, its an odd and slightly suspicious trend that's taking place here through the outlet of technology. Certainly something to watch out for in the future.
- jermm, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Sounds like a FUD to me...
- diggnate, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2oh, and I just love how when you mention any republican, in this case the minnesota republican part, and bush haters automagically come out with guns ablazing, having spontaneous orgasms at the thought of another chance to maybe slip a bush-bash into the comment section of a website. when are you guys gonna realize that
1. bush is a person, the rep party is a ... err .. party. just because a republican does something, doesn't mean bush ordered it.
2. bush is in office for another 3 years. get used to it. oh, and he's not up for reelection, so why go so out of your way to trash him. it won't do you any good in 08, cause he's not on the ballot. - dognose, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Very inaccurate story. This dosn't install a root kit on your machine. It's a survey that reports back.
- UGM2099, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2"Another lame smear job.
If this was a democratic CD, the wackos would be silent."
ever been to http://www.freerepublic.com ?
wackos galore. - kajoob, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4This is coming from Thinkprogress.org. I'll wait til I hear the other side of the story.
- ZekeSulastin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1So, it's a survey. The survey sends answers back. Wow. Important. The article itself mentions some of the possible issues that arise from no privacy policy - they can send info to anyone etc. etc. etc. But be real - is the GOP interested in telling your church/boss your abortion issues? No - they're interested in sending targeted campaign stuff to save some money, and also to do some research on your area. You'd have to be dumb not to realize it's sending stuff home ...
And also, Mr. Sensational-headline, a Sony-type CD would install a rootkit behind my back even if I cancelled the installation. I don't see any rootkit here, thus you're just trying to get extra diggs for an overrated story by mentioning something we all hate. Reported for inaccuracy, jackass. - MacGyver, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1This is what's wrong with the country. People are so blinded by their party affiliation that they can't think for themselves anymore. Holy *****, republicans passed out a cd with a survey on it and they are collecting the information, someone call the ACLU, my constitutional rights are being violated. If it was dems doing this, republicans would have the same reaction that liberals are having now, which is why both parties suck.
- cheese06, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1from ethanwa: "cheese06 is a Republican, plain and simple."
thats funny because I really am sick of the left wing/right wing agenda that every cable news program spews out to the American people. I'm pretty much sick fo the left / right paradigm thats poisoning poltiics today. and you know? you should be sick of it as well, as well as the rest of the country.
so screw anne coulter, screw al franken, screw bill o'reilly, and goddamnit screw paul begala as well as tucker carlson. - Arramol, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1No Digg for sensationalist headline. Slashdot's version was much more appropriate: "Minnesota's GOP's CD Raises Privacy Concerns"
- StephnDolenc, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3democrats/republicans/us gov = awesome.
I'm a senior at oakton high school in virginia and I went to capitol hill today for a field-trip. I met Hillary Clinton -- took a picture with her, saw john Kerry, saw Arnold Schwarzenegger (there was a governor's conference), watched a supreme court for a few minutes (not the case anna nicole smith). Anyway, all of the republicans/democrats that I met were really good people. Some that I previously hated for various reasons, but when you actually walk through the senate / house office buildings you realize that the gov isn't as bad/evil/corrupt as some people say. - strictnein, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Seriously: "If you give the “wrong” answers on abortion or other issues, they can tell your boss, members of your church, or anyone else"
You have got to be kidding me. A bunch of ***** idiots. - Lucky14, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Why am I not surprised. Who needs the NSA when you can rely on the stupidity of the typical computer user. Apparently you are suppose to type in a unique code printed on the CD's envelope. After you are done, the information is sent back to HQ where the code is matched to the address to which the CD was sent.
- Skywise, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1So uh... what part of "Please fill out the form below to obtain your activation code" and "Submit answer and continue presentation" makes one think this information isn't being transmitted somewhere?
- strictnein, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2You have got to be kidding me. A story heard on Minnesota Public Radio (far left) posted on ThinkProgress (also far left) about the dreaded Minnesota Republican party (which as Republican groups go is fairly centrist, I mean, this is the state that didn't vote for Regan, ever, the one single state that never did), and we're supposed to think that anything in this article is actually factual?
And how in the world does this have anything to do with Sony's rootkit?
Digg is worthless. Its users make slashdot look like a MENSA gathering. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Haha, I love morons who are latched onto their security blanket, aka their copy of 1984.
- UGM2099, on 10/12/2007, -7/+7wow... dirty.
@ kajoob,
I doubt Fox news will be reporting on this very soon. - J03L, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0SPYWARE/MALWARE is not the same as ROOTKIT. All are bad, but definitely not the same.
- tavisjohn, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0That is why I use ZoneAlarm! It tells me when ANY app tries to connect to the internet. If it looks like something is trying to connec to the net that I do not want to connect, then I block it!
- okcookienc, on 10/12/2007, -4/+4The GOP continues to sicken me. As time goes on, the more and more repressive and sneaky they become. This is the party of Nixon, Bush Sr, and McCarthyism. This is the party that spies on US citizens, consistently goes to war over lies (Vietnam, Iraq, Nicaraqua, Grenada,) steals from the opposition (Watergate,) controls the media, and distorts the truth. This is the party of lyers, thieves, and war criminals. I can't wait for 2008.
- aurifex, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Inaccurate. The Minnesota republican party, not the majority of the republican party itself.
- rodball, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0This is really quite high-larious. Minnesota Public Radio steals data from some Republican site (maybe, we don't know, since they can't really tell us), then blames the same site for having the data. To quote from the MPR story:
"Using the stream indicated above, people way smarter than me were able to figure out the destination for the data being accumulated, and then poked around and found the site. And the data was not secured at the site."
Well, shame on them for not securing the data. And shame on rape victims for being so purty and smelling so good. I would really like to see the individuals responsible at MPR prosecuted, or at least their asses sued.
f. MPR: 'Imagine if thousands of CDs arrived in homes with the question "do you like Siegried and Roy?"'
Yeah, that would make my head 'splode, or turn into a zombie, or some *****. - jefffm, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0@mcgyver
republicans would have the same reaction that liberals are having now, which is why both parties suck.
liberals arent a party, its a side of the political scale. you mean democrats and republicans.
And it's sort of a given that you shouldnt type stuff you wouldnt want the world to know into some program you got for free in the mail. - rodball, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0timmarhy - Sorry, perhaps my analogy is flawed. Want another one?
If I park my car by the curb, with the keys in it, is it up for grabs? Of course not, even though I may be a numbskull.
It may be that in the case of information on the 'net, things are a little more dicey. If anyone would like to provide some case law, that would be great. But it seems to me that if I have information, no matter how lax I am in my security, if I have not published it, it should still be under my control. Just because MPR has cleverly found my website, and my information all hanging out, it's still their bad. - brad11, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0@0troy
Yes, Bush has won twice. He has not served out his second term, yet. Let's wait for this year's Congressional elections and see how a non-GOP majority does.
It's sad that the Liberal/Conservative labels have been assigned to the Democrats/Republicans, respectively. I personally fault Reagan's repeal of the Fairness Doctrine for the ultra-conservative media takeover, and Clinton's signing of the Telecommunications Act for media consolidation.
And I fault the ultra-conservative media for collapsing the terms and polarizing our nation. I support their efforts to generate revenue, but I question the unprecedented distortions without clearly identifying the source. At least the Colonial newspapers had no pretense of neutrality, naming themselves after the political party whose views they presented. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"Defeat? Bush won twice, and served maximum terms. What defeat?" -0troy
Bush won once, served twice. That's twice as much as he's entitled to.
"That is why I use ZoneAlarm! It tells me when ANY app tries to connect to the internet. If it looks like something is trying to connec to the net that I do not want to connect, then I block it!" - tavisjohn
That is, of course, except for ZoneAlarm itself. : ) - jonohull, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"Some that I previously hated for various reasons, but when you actually walk through the senate / house office buildings you realize that the gov isn't as bad/evil/corrupt as some people say."
Obviously, they want to give you, Future Voter, an impression that they are there just for you. That's what they do. I can see they've already snagged you. The party system is not good for the country. One of Washington's main points in his farewell address was not to form parties. - dchamplain, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1So what.
Get over it. - UGM2099, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1@ Diggnate
"2. bush is in office for another 3 years. get used to it. oh, and he's not up for reelection, so why go so out of your way to trash him. it won't do you any good in 08, cause he's not on the ballot."
Why go out of your way to give a ***** who complains about Bush?
No one ever "gets over it", as I've so often heard. Sure, it would be nice if your political opponents became completely submissive after a defeat but it's not that easy, sorry! - JimXugle, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1yes, yes, settle down children.
Republican != Stupid
Democrat != Stupid
Other != Stupid
Republican(Idiot) = Stupid
Democrat(Idiot) = Stupid
Other(Idiot) = Stupid
Yeah. It's like a mixed bag of nuts. Sometimes a salty cashew, other times a rabies-infested rat carcass.
The question is... did the software install a rootkit to monitor your every move?
and what did those people think they were doign when they were entering all of their political views into the computer?
Never put a cd that came in the mail into your computer unless you ordered it and know that you trust who it came from. - SmeRndmGy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0the university of connecticut does something similar with the CDs they give out for free at the basketball games. Probably less evil than the republicans though, im sure they want to steal your babies and feed them to dick cheney for lunch.
- philomatic, on 02/08/2009, -0/+0The CD contained a survey... uhmmm what the hell did you ppl think it was gonna do with your answers...
- vbitrate, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Where can I download this software?
- pmcall221, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Is there a rootkit involved? Data mining is a huge business it was only a matter of time before this happens. Its going to be pretty hard to prove any wrong doing came from this. I'm surprised with all the lawyers the republican party has they didn't include some sort of privacy policy or EULA.
- Wamzlee, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2Crazy Thinkprogess.
- Johnny1337h4x0r, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I guess the main problem with this is the matching of the address with the CD key. Most likely the people thought that this is an anonymous survey.
P.S. some of you need to hit that check spelling button. - reqage, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0why the hell would anyone use that cd at all?
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