Subject: CueCat


Hi folks,

The CueCat is the device that's being given away free at Radio Shack
stores and the ezine "Wired."  It's a bar code scanning utility that's
been discussed on this list.  You scan a bar code and the software takes
you to a relevant website that may have coupons or more info. about the
product.  It's kind of neat and seems to work well if you can find the
bar code to scan.  But there are privacy issues that may concern some of
us.  In my humble opinion, it's really not a big deal though, and no
cause for panic.

The CueCat identifies its user and "phones home" to give user
information to data servers.  Those data servers have been hacked wide
open and users are being given ten dollars (U.S.) to compensate for the
fact
that some user information is now floating around somewhere on the Web.
Many people will not be bothered by this because there's probably so
much information on us out there anyhow from all kinds of sources.

The following article explains that for those who have not yet installed
the device, the ID features can be disabled by cutting a wire or loading
a freeware program:


http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-2826868.html?tag=st.ne.1002.tgif.ni

Gary


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