On Thu, 13 Jul 2000, Derek Martin wrote:
> Today, Todd Littlefield gleaned this insight: WON'T buy a PIII though, due
> to the chip ID. Big brother is here baby...
Right. And I suppose you don't have any network cards in your system,
either, right? Or ever use the same IP address more then once? And you
change your email address with each posting, of course? </SARCASM>
The whole Pentium CPU Serial Number thing was blown out of proportion in all
the wrong directions. A unique, per-chip ID adds nothing -- in terms of being
able to track individual workstations -- that we don't already have (see
above). It was, in fact, less dangerous then network addresses, since network
addresses have to be propagated outside your machine in order for you to
communicate, while a CPU S/N is local unless you specifically offer it up over
higher level protocols.
I advocate awareness of privacy issues, but I don't like press-induced
hysteria over something that isn't really a danger, especially when it
distracts from *real* issues.
--
Ben Scott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
| "I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by." |
| -- Douglas Adams |
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