Subject: [UL] Microsoft launches self-destructing email (false)
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/33507.html > > The Register | 22 Oct 2003 > > Microsoft launches self-destructing email (false) > > By John Leyden > > An urban myth has grown up around today's launch of Microsoft Office > 2003 which suggests that the product features technology that allows > embarrassing emails to self destruct after a specified time period. > > If you believe early reports, the inclusion of an Information > Rights Management technology within Microsoft Office 2003 means that > embarrassing documents will vanish into the ether after a determined > period. > > We're told the package includes safeguards such as a "self destruct" > mechanism, putting a time limit on the lifespan of documents, as well > as the ability to limit which recipients can open, edit, copy or even > print a document. > > So no more embarrassing revelations spreading across company email > systems like wildfire (Claire Swires) or legally dubious memos > (Merrill Lynch technology analyst Henry Blodget describing stock he > promoted in email as junk) to worry about? > > Unfortunately not. > > Microsoft's Information Rights Management technology *does* include > controls that enable the author of information to control its use. > > However users looking for Mission Impossible-style auto-destruct > technology are likely to be disappointed. > > "There is no technology or functionality within Office 2003 to make > emails or documents disappear," a Microsoft spokeswoman told The > Register. > > "After a time limit an email doesn't vanish -- it expires. Someone with > administrative rights can still retrieve it from a server," she added. > > Jamie Cowper, consultant at Mirapoint, a messaging firm, adds: > "Although some of the features may make it more difficult for sensitive > information to be 'forwarded' into the wrong hands, the fact remains > that it will still be stored centrally due to archiving laws, making > companies liable if the content is incriminating. People have an > uncanny knack of overcoming technical limitations if the information > is valuable enough." > xponent Disinformation Maru rob _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
