Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!att!linac!midway!gargoyle!ddsw1!ddsw1!point!akcs.vladimer
From: akcs.vladimer@point.UUCP (kevin kadow)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Subject: Is Prodigy safe to use?
Message-ID: <27798e38-2412.7comp.ibmpc-1@point.UUCP>
Date: 27 Dec 90 10:00:03 GMT
References: <80330004@hpl-opus.hpl.hp.com> <8619@tekgvs.LABS.TEK.COM>
Lines: 21

I'd like to know more about the other problems with prodigy...
 
As to what the real difference between Prodidgy updates and commercial
software is:
 
If I buy a commercial program and install it on my HD, that is a one time
act, where I get a file from the company.

With PRODIGY, let's say that I call and send some E-mail to a guy saying
that I'm working on a revolutionary new communications network that will
make systems like Prodigy and Compuserve OBSOLETE. Now let us say that
they intercept this message, in which I say I'm writing this program
using PASCAL.

Prodigy writes a program, which is run in the background on *MY* system
the next time I call. This program makes a list of a files with a .PAS
extension that are on my drive, and copies them (in the background) to
their disk WHILE I AM ONLINE.
 
They could also sabotage my program, or otherwise conduct industrial
espionage.