AOL quietly changes Windows settings to combat pop-up spam

AOL quietly changes Windows settings to combat pop-up spam
Anick Jesdanun, The Associated Press 2003-10-23

Even more annoying than junk e-mail are all the spam messages that "pop up" through a little-used feature in Windows. As part of its spam-fighting efforts, America Online has been turning off that feature for its customers without telling them.

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AOL quietly changes Windows settings to combat pop-up spam 2003-10-23
Anonymous (1 replies)

AOL quietly changes Windows settings to combat pop-up spam 2003-10-23
Good info needed (2 replies)

How to disable it manually 2003-10-24
Anonymous

AOL quietly changes Windows settings to combat pop-up spam 2003-10-24
Texas

AOL quietly changes Windows settings to combat pop-up spam 2003-10-23
Tim (1 replies)

Just because it's beneficial to most users doesn't make what AOL is doing right. It's as if they are coming into your house at night and turning off a light you left on. Helpful maybe, but you never know what else they are doing and looking at while they're there.

They should at least notify users about what they are doing, even if it's something like an opt-out message from the bank. "If you take no action we're going to do this for you..."

[ reply ]

Link to this comment: http://www.securityfocus.com/comments/articles/7278/23328#23328

Still...why would they want it on to begin with? 2003-10-24
Anonymous

AOL quietly changes Windows settings to combat pop-up spam 2003-10-24
Anonymous

AOL quietly changes Windows settings to combat pop-up spam 2003-10-24
meowmix

AOL quietly changes Windows settings to combat pop-up spam 2003-10-24
Chris Caydes

AOL quietly changes Windows settings to combat pop-up spam 2003-10-24
shyamanta(aol tech)