Since 1996, the whistleblower site Cryptome has been posting sensitive government and corporate documents. Now Cryptome has been stricken from the Web after releasing the "Microsoft Online Services Global Criminal Compliance Handbook", a "spy guide" for law enforcement detailing what data Microsoft has, keeps, and can relinquish.
Since most of you are Microsoft users, there are a few tidbits of information you'll need to know before purchasing Xbox Live points, logging onto Office Live, or sending an e-mail through Hotmail. (Editor's Note: See "Microsoft Relents, Cryptome Returns" for an update on this issue.)
"The Global Criminal Compliance Handbook" is a quasi-comprehensive explanatory document meant for law enforcement officials seeking access to Microsoft's stored user information. It also provides sample language for subpoenas and diagrams on how to understand server logs.
I call it "quasi-comprehensive" because, at a mere 22 pages, it doesn't explore the nitty-gritty of Microsoft's systems; it's more like a data-hunting guide for dummies.
Which Microsoft services are affected?
All sorts. Microsoft keeps user information related to its online services. The data ranges from past e-mails to credit card numbers. The information is kept for a designated period of time, sometimes forever.
The sites referenced are:
- Windows Live
- Windows Live ID
- Microsoft Office Live
- Xbox Live
- MSN
- Windows Live Spaces
- Windows Live Messenger
- Hotmail
- MSN Groups
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