Optimist/Pessimist

Let me illustrate what I mean . . .

An avid duck hunter was in the market for a new bird dog. His search ended when he found a dog that could actually walk on water to retrieve a duck. Shocked by his find, he was sure none of his friends would ever believe him. He decided to try to break the news to a friend of his, a pessimist by nature, and invited him to hunt with him and his new dog.

As they waited by the shore, a flock of ducks flew by, they fired, and a duck fell. The dog responded and jumped into the water. The dog, however, did not sink but instead walked across the water to retrieve the bird, never getting more than his paws wet. The friend saw everything but did not say a single word. On the drive home the hunter asked his friend, "Did you notice anything unusual about my new dog?"

"I sure did," responded his friend. "He can't swim."

WINDOWS AND PRIVACY

After a Massachusetts software developer alerted Microsoft to the problem this week, the Redmond, Wash. software giant conceded the feature, a unique identifying number used by Windows and other Microsoft software, could invade the privacy of those using the products. Microsoft also admitted the problem could be far more intrusive than a traceable serial number in the Intel Corp.'s new Pentium III processor that has recently riled privacy advocates.

The difference is that the Windows number is tied to an individual's name, to identifying numbers on the hardware, and even to documents.

"This has the potential to be quite scary," says Richard Smith, president of Phar Lap Software Inc., based in Cambridge, Mass., who discovered the flaw last week.

"I'm not saying that anything wrong is happening right now, but this is unprecedented ability to track documents and what computer users are doing."

After contacted by Mr. Smith, Microsoft admitted the combination of the Windows serial number with the other data could result in the ability to track a single user and the documents created across vast computer networks.

Hackers could compromise the resulting data base, or subpoenas might allow authorities to gain access to information that would otherwise remain private.

Microsoft will now alter the registration program, and technicians will delete information already collected improperly. "We're definitely sensitive to any privacy concerns," Robert Bennett, Microsoft's group product manager for Windows, told The New York Times.

Mr. Bennett said the option to collect the information had been added so that Microsoft support employees would be able to help users diagnose problems with their computers more accurately. He said Microsoft never intended to use the data for marketing.

But Mr. Smith said diligence is needed to weed out potential privacy issues before they become big problems.

"As a software developer, I play both sides of the fence," he says. "On one hand, I develop programs, but I also spend time looking at potential privacy problems."

Y2K VCR Setting