Microsoft shares Hotmail users data without asking

The Inquirer ^ | 07-02-2002 | Paul Hales

[JameRetief]

Microsoft shares Hotmail users data without asking

Vole employs sneak tactics to promote spam

By Paul Hales, 02/07/2002 08:53:31 BST

AFTER RANTING A LITTLE about how Microsoft benefits from spam by persuading users to upgrade to the paid-for service in order to get more space to accommodate all the Viagra/debt management/penis extension mail, we were bombarded with readers’ thoughts on the matter, some of which we published here.

Now, it seems, the increase in spam to my own Hotmail account can be traced back to a move by Microsoft to add a couple of buttons to the Options screen on the account, which were mysteriously ticked to allow my "address and other personal information" to be shared willy-nilly.

According to a source, this happened a couple of months ago, yet we cheapskate users have not been informed of the change.

If you’re a Hotmail user, you can check this out by logging on to your account, clicking on Options and then Personal Profile. You see the two added buttons at the bottom and BOTH will have been mysteriously checked. You’ll find this is true even if you previously asked for your details NOT to be shared.

Microsoft posts some information on the .NET passport privacy policy on the page:

"· NET Passport shares the personal information in your .NET Passport profile only when you have given consent.

· You indicate what information to share such as your e-mail address on the .NET Passport Registration form, or in your .NET Passport profile following registration."

Except that in this case, Microsoft chose to share the personal information WITHOUT asking users’ consent, but by offering the option to opt out without informing them.

Microsoft says: ".NET Passport helps protect your privacy by letting you decide when to share the personal information in your .NET Passport profile—except as explained in the .NET Passport Privacy Statement."

That's here.

It’s a long document, but no-where in it can we find "Microsoft will share your information when it feels like it."

There’s an option on the Hotmail screen to mail Hotmail with any queries, which they say they always respond to within FOUR hours. We mailed 24 hours ago and are still awaiting a response. µ

[Kaslin]

I used hotmail first when I got on the Internet, but got tired from getting spammed so I got rid of it, and I could never figure out passport to work

[Rodney King]

What kind of idiot puts his real personal information on his hotmail account?

[Severa]

Actually Yahoo pulled a similar stunt a few months ago. Putting a little quiet button labeled something like 'Your Marketing Information', had you subscribed to all sorts of crap.

[Paul Atreides]

For real. Then again, I have never understood why people put photos of their children on those community pages. I wouldn't want some perv coming to my site, looking at pics of my kids (if I had kids).

[alieno nomine]

I would not put up a picture of my dog for the same reason!! You never can tell. There's no end to the crazies and their perversions out in cyberspace.

Back to Microslut, their move to share info in this manner is unethical to say the least.

[this_ol_patriot]

Not defending any company that will divulge an e-mail address without permission but you do know that magazine companies and other mail order concerns have been selling our personal information for decades, that is your name, address, and sometimes phone number.

[Sarah]

We have friends who don't even want to e-mail US on hotmail because of the polution and viruses that use hotmail user's phonebooks.