Microsoft Spyware Office 2003`

[David]

Office 2003 and consequently Publisher 2003 are spyware and give
Microsoft information.

You go to use the HELP file, and you cannot because Microsoft are
spying on you to see what you are doing. This is what happens below
when you try to access the HELP.

Gee, You're a paranoid idiot aren't you. What is MS going to track?
What kind of help you search for?

What makes you think you're important enough to spy on? You should move
into a cave somewhere.


--

David

Programmers write "Help Files" for a reason. use them.

"Due to Viewer dicretion...
Graphic violence is advised"

http://www.HeroicStories.com/
http://www.thisistrue.com/

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

Obviously an underaged, poorly educated troll looking to stir up problems
and who obviously does not have $200 to buy a vowel.

Consider yourself ignored. Plonk.

--
--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. Due to the
Swen virus, all e-mails sent to my actual account will be deleted w/out
reading.

| Look you stupid women, I bought and paid for a program and don't need
| Microsoft to spy on me and not supply the HELP file.
|
| You Microsoft moles are to indoctrinated to be bright enough to see the
| truth and abuse of Microsoft power.
|
| I suppose when you live in a country that abuses human rights so badly,
you
| are prepared to accept anything and everything.
|
| --
| WARNING
| Office & Publisher 2003 are Microsoft Spyware
|
| The US should free all those
| illegally held prisoners they are
| torturing, abusing and denying
| human rights being held at
| Guantanamo Bay.
|
|
|
|
| | > I suggest yu then remove Office 2003 and use something more to your
liking
| > such as OpenOffice.org.
| >
| > --
| > Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]
|
|

 

[Dwight Stewart]

Microsoft cannot use cookies to spy on you.

While that may be true, his message did tell me something about Office
2003 and Publisher 2003 that would certainly cause me not to purchase these
products. I have a slower internet connection and often travel overseas
where even slower connections are relatively commonplace. Because of that, I
absolutely would not want to connect to the internet each time I needed to
access the help system. Indeed, one has to wonder why Microsoft would
require this at all. Why not just include the help files with the program?


Dwight Stewart (W5NET)

http://www.qsl.net/w5net/

 

[Brian Kvalheim - [MS MVP]]

While that may be true, his message did tell me something about Office
2003 and Publisher 2003 that would certainly cause me not to purchase these
products. I have a slower internet connection and often travel overseas
where even slower connections are relatively commonplace. Because of that, I
absolutely would not want to connect to the internet each time I needed to
access the help system. Indeed, one has to wonder why Microsoft would
require this at all. Why not just include the help files with the program?

Dwight, the help files in Office 2003/Publisher 2003 ARE included with the
programs in Office, just as in previous versions. The internet is NOT
required. However, having the internet will allow you access to additional
*updated* help files, additional tutorials, additional Office 2003 only
clipart, and additional templates.

--
Brian Kvalheim
Microsoft Office Publisher MVP
Official Publisher MVP Site:
http://www.kvalheim.org

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
confers no rights.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Ignore that black helicopter hovering over your house; it's just a
figment of your imagination. Is your tin-foil hat a little too tight,
perhaps?

Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH


Office 2003 and consequently Publisher 2003 are spyware and give
Microsoft information.

 

[°°°MS°Publisher°°°]

Well Dwight you can turn it off, however it is buried and there is nothing
in the HELP file about it.

The HELP files are included, but if you don't DE-select the options it goes
looking to the Internet.

--


The US should free all those
illegally held prisoners they are
torturing, abusing and denying
human rights being held at
Guantanamo Bay.

 

[CZ]

While that may be true, his message did tell me something about Office
2003 and Publisher 2003 that would certainly cause me not to purchase these
products. I have a slower internet connection and often travel overseas
where even slower connections are relatively commonplace. Because of that, I
absolutely would not want to connect to the internet each time I needed to
access the help system. Indeed, one has to wonder why Microsoft would
require this at all. Why not just include the help files with the program?


Dwight:

IMO, MS is increasingly attempting to contact the Internet with several of
their products, as I am increasingly blocking their attempts with programs
like ZA free (ZoneAlarm, a free application gate type of firewall).

 

[°°°MS°Publisher°°°]

That black helicopter that comes overhead of my house belongs to one of my
clients. It lands in the forecourt of my quadrangle and collects me, so do
not mind it in the least.

--

The US should free all those
illegally held prisoners they are
torturing, abusing and denying
human rights being held at
Guantanamo Bay.

 

[Mike Williams [MVP]]

IMO, MS is increasingly attempting to contact the Internet with
several of their products,

Well that's not necessarily a bad thing. My toaster keeps trying to access
the electricity grid too.

Saying it's "attempting to contact the Internet" is painting a boogie man
picture, rather than saying "my computer is using the internet
communications infrastructure to access additional information or verify
user rights".

 

[Martin]

How many MS-Office users do yo thing there are?
How the **** can any organisation "spy" on that number of people.
Get a life, you need one!
Office 2003 and consequently Publisher 2003 are spyware and give Microsoft information.

You go to use the HELP file, and you cannot because Microsoft are spying on you to see what you are doing.
This is what happens below when you try to access the HELP.

"Cookies are required for this page to work correctly. If the selection you make on this page does not take effect, then your cookies may be disabled. Click here to learn more about cookies."

This is bizarre and unconscionable of Microsoft to not give you the HELP files. This practice allows Microsoft to spy on you and obtain information illegally. Because I have high security on my computer systems for necessary reasons, I cannot get use the HELP in my programs.

I paid for this program and now I cannot get HELP to work because I don't want or need Microsoft spying on me.

This is another absolute abuse of power by Microsoft.

What do people do who have no access to the Internet?

Microsoft GET RID OF YOUR SPYWARE.

--
The US should free all those
illegally held prisoners they are
torturing, abusing and denying
human rights being held at
Guantanamo Bay.

 

[Eric Lawrence [MSFT]]

Microsoft takes your privacy VERY seriously. As the person largely responsible for the implementation of these features, I'll chime in here.

1> You can read more about cookies here: http://www.microsoft.com/info/cookies.htm. The Office Online cookie only tracks non-personal information about your preferences: How many pieces of clipart to show per page, what size to show clipart thumbnails, what language you've chosen to receive help in, etc. There are no secrets or personal information inside the cookie. Feel free to look at it yourself-- it's just a text file in your cookies folder.

2> You can easily block cookies and the help will still work. Inside web help topics, you'll see the warning message, but you can still read the topic just fine. Accepting cookies is only ~required~ if you choose to submit the "Was this information helpful" feedback at the bottom of the page, because we submit the feedback using a cookie. The cookie is required for the clipart site, since it holds your selection basket.

3> You can very easily turn off all of the new Content on the Web features of Office.
- Boot Office
- Hit F1
- At the bottom of the Help Pane, click "Online Content Settings"
- Uncheck "Show content and links from Microsoft Office Online"
- Click Ok and restart Office. You'll no longer see online clipart, templates, or help.

I hope I've helped to address your concerns. If you have further questions, please let me know.

Eric Lawrence
Program Manager
Assistance and Worldwide Services

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

[Dwight Stewart]

Dwight, the help files in Office 2003/Publisher
2003 ARE included with the programs in Office,
just as in previous versions. The internet is NOT
required. However, having the internet will allow
you access to additional *updated* help files,
additional tutorials, additional Office 2003 only
clipart, and additional templates.

Okay, that makes sense. I thought with the ongoing trend to put everything
on the web, Microsoft had changed things. I don't use the help system that
often, but truly need it when I do. Thanks for the response.


Dwight Stewart (W5NET)

http://www.qsl.net/w5net/

 

[Dwight Stewart]

Well Dwight you can turn it off, however it is buried
and there is nothing in the HELP file about it.

The HELP files are included, but if you don't DE-select
the options it goes looking to the Internet.

Okay, perhaps that explains what he was talking about. I'll make sure to
keep an eye open for that if or when I do purchase those programs. I'm using
Office XP now so am not in a rush to update.


Dwight Stewart (W5NET)

http://www.qsl.net/w5net/

 

[Dwight Stewart]

IMO, MS is increasingly attempting to contact
the Internet with several of their products, as I
am increasingly blocking their attempts with
programs like ZA free (ZoneAlarm, a free
application gate type of firewall).

For the reasons stated elsewhere, I'm not exactly thrilled with that trend
either. I'm not really an internet junkie, so would rather not be pushed
onto the internet for what should obviously be available off-line. Others
say the help files are included and internet access is not required (can be
turned off), so that pretty much resolves this matter as far as I'm
concerned.


Dwight Stewart (W5NET)

http://www.qsl.net/w5net/

 

[Bastet]

Eric,

You're not going to convince him, you do realise that don't you? No matter what you tell him - he's just going to say that you would say that because they're your employer!

You know something...He 'bought' the public beta and never complained once then. But then Davey's never happier than when he's bad mouthing MS - or anyone/thing else for that matter...
Microsoft takes your privacy VERY seriously. As the person largely responsible for the implementation of these features, I'll chime in here.

1> You can read more about cookies here: http://www.microsoft.com/info/cookies.htm. The Office Online cookie only tracks non-personal information about your preferences: How many pieces of clipart to show per page, what size to show clipart thumbnails, what language you've chosen to receive help in, etc. There are no secrets or personal information inside the cookie. Feel free to look at it yourself-- it's just a text file in your cookies folder.

2> You can easily block cookies and the help will still work. Inside web help topics, you'll see the warning message, but you can still read the topic just fine. Accepting cookies is only ~required~ if you choose to submit the "Was this information helpful" feedback at the bottom of the page, because we submit the feedback using a cookie. The cookie is required for the clipart site, since it holds your selection basket.

3> You can very easily turn off all of the new Content on the Web features of Office.
- Boot Office
- Hit F1
- At the bottom of the Help Pane, click "Online Content Settings"
- Uncheck "Show content and links from Microsoft Office Online"
- Click Ok and restart Office. You'll no longer see online clipart, templates, or help.

I hope I've helped to address your concerns. If you have further questions, please let me know.

Eric Lawrence
Program Manager
Assistance and Worldwide Services

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

[Bastet]

For the reasons stated elsewhere, I'm not exactly thrilled with
that trend either. I'm not really an internet junkie, so would rather
not be pushed onto the internet for what should obviously be
available off-line. Others say the help files are included and
internet access is not required (can be turned off), so that pretty
much resolves this matter as far as I'm concerned.


Dwight Stewart (W5NET)

http://www.qsl.net/w5net/

Listen to Brian, rather than Davey...The former knows what he's on about...

 

[Patrick Connor]

What an excellent reply.

Shame it took such a lot of reading through rubbish to get to.

Thanks

 

[SA]

Dwight:

For what its worth, IMO, MS' approach on this with the help system (which as
previously stated you can't turn off easily) really could have some
benefits.

How many times have you gone for a search in the help files and not found
exactly what you are looking for on the first try (second or third for that
matter,) because the topic isn't there or you didn't phrase it the way the
help file is organized to find it.

What the on-line connectivity adds, is that if the topic is not in the local
help file, or MS can identify that user's consistently ask about something
which causes an internet call because its not in the local (i.e. installed
on disk) help system, then they use these queries to enhance the help system
quickly and as a result user's get more out of the product in the end; that
in general is adding value to the product you shell out a lot of bucks for
when you buy it. Secondly if the online help gets you to otherwise unknown
knowledgebase articles about issues; again could be very helpful. Lets
just hope that it all works according to plan.

My 2 cents

Steve Arbaugh

 

[purplehaz]

Well that's not necessarily a bad thing. My toaster keeps trying to access
the electricity grid too.

Saying it's "attempting to contact the Internet" is painting a boogie man
picture, rather than saying "my computer is using the internet
communications infrastructure to access additional information or verify
user rights".

Well said!!!

 

[Brian Kvalheim - [MS MVP]]

Hi Patrick Connor ([email protected]),
in the Microsoft® newsgroups
you posted:

|| What an excellent reply.
||
|| Shame it took such a lot of reading through rubbish to get to.

That is what cross-posting does to ya ;-(

--
Brian Kvalheim
Microsoft Office Publisher MVP
Official Publisher MVP Site:
http://www.kvalheim.org

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
confers no rights.