Re: PhotoStory 3 released

From: John Inzer (oobie_at_doobie.xyz)
Date: 10/28/04 

Date: Wed, 27 Oct 2004 20:34:29 -0400

No Spam wrote:
> "John Inzer" <oobie@doobie.xyz> wrote in message
> news:usb8t0HvEHA.200@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
>> No Spam wrote:
>>> Of course, you have to do their "voluntary" compliance
>>> stuff.
>>> All that's going to do is screw the honest people. The
>>> warez / pirates will just get it from somebody who
>>> already downloaded it. Or the direct download link will
>>> be published somewhere in about 6 more minutes.
>>> And, of course, you have to lower your security settings
>>> just to be able to get through Microsoft's checks. (For
>>> example, my security settings are high enough that I
>>> can't get through either of their two checks.)
>>> And they wonder why nobody likes or trusts them...
>> ===========================================
>> All I had to do was click the Download
>> button at the following site:
>>
>> Photo Story 3 for Windows
>> http://tinyurl.com/555tu
>
> That link goes to their validation page where it tries to
> *automatically* install an activeX control.
>
> The fact that you managed to do it with just a simple
> click says that your system has very poor security
> settings.
> It means that you allowed an activeX control to
> automatically install without even asking you (assuming
> it wasn't already installed), and it definetly means you
> allowed an arbitrary activeX control to run without even
> asking you.
> Internet Explorer doesn't really have any safety controls
> for activeX controls. They can be marked 'safe' but that
> doesn't mean they actually are. The reality is that once
> you allow an activeX control to run, it can pretty much
> do whatever it wants. You just have to hope that it's
> honest and safe.
> Sounds like your system is pretty open.... Hope you
> don't visit any warez or porn site that might try to
> install a few things you'd rather not have!
>
> If the automatic installation doesn't work, they do offer
> a manual method. It downloads a .HTA file that you are
> supposed to manually run.
> But, again, on my system, apparently I have my security
> settings up high enough that it can't do the activeX
> control that way either.
> To be honest, I'm rather glad my default settings are
> that good! Internet Explorer isn't exactly known for its
> security.
> But that, of course, doesn't mean I'm happy with
> Microsoft.
> Just like their activation, the only people this is
> really going to bother are the legit people. (And yes,
> for the record, I do own XP. I bought it right off the
> store shelf.)
> PhotoStory 3 isn't that major of an item, but their
> attitude here is really is a bad sign of things to come
> from Microsoft.
===================================
I don't install from the net, I just downloaded the
program to my desktop and installed from there.

Clicking the Download button opens a dialog that
offers a choice of Run or Save.

The program is worth the download and does
not require activation. BTW...it installs separately
from Photo Story 2....go figure. 

-- 
John Inzer
Picture It! MVP
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