W7 rocks your ^(*% socks. I have been using the Pro version for some time now and had no problems with any of this. Just leave it turned off....

[edit on 7-10-2009 by DaMod]

Lets get it right here people, all parts of any computer, are configurable by the end user. If there is a chip than it can be disabled in the bios, if there is software i can be removed, and no computer manufacturer is going to include something in there computers that costs money, if the user does not want it. Its not good business sense. Also there is already tracking chips out there on the market today at dell we have laptops that have lo-jack installed. There is two tools that you are talking about in windows 7, Geo tracking and personal tracking sensor. The geo tracker can be used for what you are talking about, but there is no possible way to propagate a conspiracy through it. Anybody with a little bit of knowledge about computers could remove or disable it, and the personal tracking sensor software is just that. There is a group of people that are developing this technology. So your computer can adjust the light in the room,screen, or switch applications or profiles based on the user that comes in the room. If I remember right bill gates has this type of thin in his house, and it changes the temperature following the user where ever he goes.

I hate Microsoft I hate vista, BUT WINDOWS 7 IS THE BEST OS MICROSOFT HAS EVER MADE AND THAT IS A FACT

Firefox uses ip addresses to try and find where you are. that is not always reliable because ip addresses can be bounced of servers. So you get the server that you are communicating through instead of the actual place. I guess you could use that type of thing for regional stuff, for instance, if I look my own ip address up, i get BOISE IDAHO INSTEAD of northern Idaho.

Originally posted by secretstoshadow111
WINDOWS 7 IS THE BEST OS MICROSOFT HAS EVER MADE AND THAT IS A FACT

i second this. have been using ultimate version for a couple weeks. i am always interested in tweaks...and that is all this geotracking is to me: a small tweak to the permanently OFF position.

my recommendation is to move to Win7 now.

My only question is can the software be excised from the install completely or do you have to let it remain there. If it remains then its only a matter of time before enterprising virus writers or others to manipulate the system in order to make it enable the feature.

Just for those who aren't running windows 7 I took some screen grabs of, what on the face of it, is the sum total of the information on this issue built into the system and the help files (I hope the images are readable!)





There may be more - this was just a quick search for the obvious things - as you can see I have no devices that will bother me (but then again this is a desktop).

(this is 7 ultimate 64bit if that makes any difference at all)

Edit: Note the second paragraph in the last image - That's really the crux of the issue.

[edit on 7/10/2009 by Now_Then]

I wonder what would happen if you occasionally linked your GPS enabled mobile phone to the computer via bluetooth? Would that suddenly become a geo locater device?

Cos some of these things will be very easy to overlook as your going about your business.

Question, has anyone noticed a program in their add/remove called OGAEXEC, apparently it downloaded with a recent Windows Update, it has to do with Alam Zone, cannot figure out if it tracks or not.

zone alarm update is the only thing that i can think of. windows update compatibility patch.

I do agree that with technology, there comes a risk of loosing privacy. Look at all the people that use facebook any other social networking site. Here is a video from youtube on face book.
[yvid] width="425" height="344"> "http://www.youtube.com/v/FZH-Pm5XtoI&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344">[/yvid]

our generation is not concerned with there own privacy it is really sad. I have showed this video to many people and they say OH WELLL!!!! I don't care If they have my information, but this is only the beginning of whats to come at lease you at this point in time, can have a little know how and simply know what is going on with your computer. So things like this can be easily removed.

Still confusing, I do not use Windows firewall or Zone Alarm, use McAfee and have Windows firewall disabled so maybe it's no big deal.

please if its the last thing you do don't use macafee it is just crap surrounded by layers of crap. avast is free, comodo is free, avg is free use aything but macafee. please!!!!!!!!! windows firewall is a all you need, if you are not looking to do some specific things that it does not do.

Meh, I'm W7 right now, and I have to say that it feels like XP with a nicer skin but more compatibility problems. Half of the programs I tried to install can't run on W7 even if I try to use the compatibility feature. Neither I could install the drivers for my tablet and webcam, so I'm saying bye-bye to W7 in the next week to return to my good old Windows XP.

(And if I had a say in the matter, I'd use Linux).


To stay on topic, I wouldn't worry too much about it; knowing Microsoft it probably comes with a few bugs and after running the third app your computer would crash. I'd be a little more worried if the same happened with Mac (which wouldn't surprise me in the least) or if it came with Chrome OS.

Been thinking about it....going to switch to Windows Firewall, do you recommend an anti-virus along with that, which one?

Originally posted by Aquarius1
Question, has anyone noticed a program in their add/remove called OGAEXEC, apparently it downloaded with a recent Windows Update, it has to do with Alam Zone, cannot figure out if it tracks or not.

I've seen OGA mean Office Genuine Advantage somewhere before - do you have MS Office?

Running Windows 7 Ultimate right now (not beta or test version) and I can tell you it runs absolutely pheonominal compared to Vista. There is absolutely no comparison. Vista will feel like clunky bloat ware compared once you format and install. And the interface improvements are glorious and sleek to say the least. It was a smart move by Microsoft, I think they redeemed themselves with this one. But since this isn't a software review forum I'll leave you with this:

If Microsoft is watching me, I don't care. If someone is tracking where my desktop computer is going, I don't care because it stays put all day. If someone can view my Internet history and browsing activity, I don't have anything to hide. If you feel guilty for looking at pornography and afraid your wife is gonna find out: stop. If you are going to somehow organize and commit criminal acts using your personal computer somehow: don't. I can see one's concern of being "tracked" if they are using Windows 7 on a laptop, but if you're putting it on your desktop, what's the big deal?

Why is everyone so paranoid about being tracked?

[edit on 093131p://333 by For(Home)Country]

they might be deactivated by default, but with MS's penchant for "remote access" whats to keep these from being reactivated with the user unaware?

Originally posted by Now_Then

Originally posted by Aquarius1
Question, has anyone noticed a program in their add/remove called OGAEXEC, apparently it downloaded with a recent Windows Update, it has to do with Alam Zone, cannot figure out if it tracks or not.

I've seen OGA mean Office Genuine Advantage somewhere before - do you have MS Office?

I do but only use Microsoft Word........