Feb. 16, 2005

Hi, All!

This Week: An answer to a reader from Computer FAQ #224

/Hi there --- long time reader, first time with a question. / /When I fire up MSN Messenger on Windows XP, and click the "log in" link, a dialog appears asking for my user ID and password. The UID field is actually a pulldown, and shows the IDs of everyone who has logged in recently on that machine. My question is, where is that information stored?... / /Thanks

Greg

I looked on Microsoft's MSN Messenger web site and read their Privacy Statement. This is an excerpt about where and how passwords are saved in Messenger.

*USE OF COOKIES*

A cookie is a very small text file that a Web site saves to your computer's hard disk to store information that you provide about yourself or to store your preferences.

.NET Passport uses cookies whenever you sign in to a .NET Passport participating site. .NET Passport stores your unique identifier, the time you signed in, and if you signed in to an MSN site, whatever .NET Passport profile information you share with MSN in an encrypted cookie on your hard disk. This cookie allows you to move from page to page at the participating site without having to sign in again on each page. When you sign out of .NET Passport, these cookies are deleted from your computer.

.NET Passport also uses cookies to improve the sign in experience. For example, .NET Passport may store your e-mail address in a cookie that will remain on your computer after you sign out. This cookie allows your e-mail address to be pre-populated, so that you will only need to type your password the next time you sign in. If you are using a public computer or do not otherwise want this information to be stored, you can select the appropriate checkbox on the sign-in page, and this cookie will not be used.

The sites or services you visited may store their own cookies on your computer. .NET Passport recommends that you read each participating site's privacy statement to understand their policies and practices regarding the use of cookies. You have the ability to accept or decline cookies using the settings on your browser. However, if you choose to decline cookies, you will not be able to sign in using your .NET Passport.

As I have mentioned before, always read the privacy and license statements and make sure you understand what you are signing up for.

'Til next week, (ComputerFAQ#228)

Robert

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July 05, 2000 Introduction to ComputerFAQ

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August 09, 2000 Internet Service Providers (ISP)

August 16, 2000 Backup up your PC

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August 30, 2000 What is the slowest PC for Internet Access

September 06, 2000 PC Nomenclature

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September 20, 2000What Happens at boot up

October 04, 2000Desktop Areas

October 18, 2000Start Button

October 25, 2000Display Made Bigger

November 01, 2000 More Monitor Controls

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December 20, 2000 Desktop Properties Menu - part 3