Path: utzoo!mnetor!tmsoft!torsqnt!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!rutgers!gatech!mcnc!ecsgate!ecsvax!seals
From: seals@uncecs.edu (Larry W. Seals)
Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk
Subject: Re: EFF and Prodigy
Summary: Reverse access and privacy
Message-ID: <1990Dec18.141718.16714@uncecs.edu>
Date: 18 Dec 90 14:17:18 GMT
References: <1990Dec10.211625.9536@eff.org> <STEVE.90Dec17170203@pluto.Advansoft.COM>
Organization: UNC Educational Computing Service
Lines: 27



In following this thread, I have read about unauthorized intrusion into
corporate computer systems, privacy issues and Prodigy.  But I recently
stumbled upon another thread in comp.risks concerning the supposed
ability of Prodigy to "reverse access" your computer, check the version
of Prodigy software you are running and if registered, automatically
upgrade your copy to the newest rev (which implies that if the software
is not registered they can shut off your Prodigy access?).  In an
interview in the Christian Science Monitor (memory does not serve, I
read this in comp.risks earlier in the week), a supervisory type was
asked about Prodigy's remote access of a user's system and the possible
potential for abuse.  The supervisor answered something to the effect
of "...that would never happen here!"

Never?  A close friend has decided to stop using Prodigy after reading
about this.  His reason echoes mine - if someone wants access to my
system, they better damn well ask!

**********************************************************************
              *                | Larry Seals @ Trailing Edge Software
             / \               | "When it doesn't have to be 
            /   \              |   best!"
           /_____\  Merry      |"I thought ESPN was the telepathy
              #    Christmas!  | channel!" - Matt Frewer as Dr. Mike
                               | Stratford (Doctor,Doctor)
***********************************************************************