Hello Elmer,

Just wait, check out whats comming with XP service pack2 (couple of items on the front UT page), .NET will be worse. This stuff gets harder and harder to turn off even by us experts, what chance does the average Joe have?

Since just about any software (especially the OS) can pretty much do what they want to your computer (and any computer you are connected to) it is coming down to you just have to trust the vendor. I do not trust MS, use to, but judging by the way MS does business, not any more. At least with open source software, other people can inspect the code for these violations of privacy. Not to say some stuff can't be snuck in, but if you know the source is out there, you may be less inclined to try to pull a fast one.

Bob

>Hi Jos,
>I have also never been asked and have always wondered this myself. I highly doubt it and would be really PO'd to find out that they did, but maybe MS has secretly put a "phone home" function that sends usage info when you use VFP or the other stuff in MSDN in order to collect such "accurate" data. Did anyone say spyware? LOL. Not being one to put much stock in conspiracy theories, I currently don't believe this to be the case, though more and more software from MS does this under the guise of anti-piracy, licensing, update and support measures. When my sister bought a new computer with Windows XP home, she could hear it dialing out for updates and other things at all hours of the day and night. Her computer actually used the internet more than she did until I turned most of that crap off.