Freaks Macintosh Archive/Freaks Macintosh Archive.bin/Freaks Macintosh Archives/Phreaking⁄Wardialers/Phreaking texts/Prodigy.txt

Text File | 1999-01-28 | 16KB | 785 lines

PRODIGY(R) interactive personal service        05/06/91



             The Privacy of Member Information

Some members have asked recently about the privacy of

information they store on their personal computers, as it

relates to their use of the PRODIGY service. I felt this

subject was important enough to inform all our membership

about it.



Privacy of a member's personal information is of primary

importance to us. We know that our members consider this

kind of information proprietary, and so do we.



A recent, unsubstantiated and incorrect newspaper report

suggested that members' personal information--unrelated to

their use of the PRODIGY service--is being transmitted to

our host computers from our members' computers. This is

simply not true. It never has been.              More [NEXT]

We have no central computers that access private computer

files. The PRODIGY service software does not read, collect,

or transmit to the Prodigy Services Company any information

or data that is not directly connected with your use of the

service.



Member privacy has always been a top priority for Prodigy.

Your use of the service can continue with the highest

confidence that your personal data will not be accessed

by us.



Ted Papes

President, Prodigy Services Company

May 2, 1991









PRODIGY(R) interactive personal service        05/06/91        8:49 AM



                                         1 OF 21

INTRODUCTION



You may have recently read about data from other files

appearing inside the STAGE. This is a harmless side effect

of DOS file operations and the process by which the PRODIGY

STAGE is created. On the following screens you'll find a

discussion of your STAGE.DAT file.



If you're interested in the details, please read on. I think

you'll be more comfortable once you've read the facts.



                             Harold Goldes (CBXH97A)

                             Technical Editor, PRODIGY Star





READING MY HARD DISK?                     2 of 21



The occurrence of "non-PRODIGY" data within the disk space

used by the STAGE has prompted some to speculate that

PRODIGY can gain access to that information or other

information on a member's hard disk. Here are the facts:



   The PRODIGY software does not examine a member's

   hard disk as a whole. It does not read files created

   by other software. It does not read data other than

   its own. It does not upload files to do this. The

   PRODIGY software confines its file operations to a

   limited and well defined section of your disk: The

   PRODIGY directory.



                                 ABOUT THE STAGE [NEXT]



                                     3 OF 21

ABOUT THE STAGE



When you install the PRODIGY software on your computer we

create a unique file on your floppy or hard disk:

STAGE.DAT. The STAGE (or STAGE.DAT as it appears in your

directory or folder) is a "container". What does it hold?



The STAGE contains frequently used information and

instructions that make up PRODIGY applications

("applications" refers to the individual activities

available to you on the service; FIND and the Movie Guide,

are examples).



                                LOCAL STORAGE [NEXT]

                                     4 OF 21

LOCAL STORAGE





PRODIGY(R) interactive personal service        05/06/91        8:49 AM





Placing portions of applications on the STAGE (and not in

other more remote parts of our network) puts them close to

you. Without a storage structure like the STAGE, key

components of an application would be sent to your computer

whenever you visited the application. This adds

transmission time. Placing them on your computer saves

time. When you install the DOS version of the PRODIGY

software, you have the choice of creating the STAGE in a

range of sizes from about 160Kb to 950Kb. For Macintosh

users there is one size: 200,064 bytes.



                                STAGE SIZES [NEXT]



STAGE SIZES                              5 of 21

If a member installs to a floppy disk(s), the STAGE may

vary in size.  These intermediate sizes depend on several

factors including the capacity of the disk and the version

of DOS. Once it's been created, the STAGE never changes its

size. But the date and time stamp on the STAGE does change

and is updated at the end of every PRODIGY session.  This

reflects the fact that during your session we read PRODIGY

content from it and write updated PRODIGY content to it.

To improve performance during your session, certain

frequently used parts of the service are always "staged". A

larger STAGE, should you choose one, permits a growing

inventory of applications to reside on your computer.

Because our software adapts itself to you, some of the

content you use regularly can become staged.

                                  BENEFITS  [NEXT]



                                   6 OF 21

BENEFITS



Whenever and wherever you logon to the Prodigy service, we

check to see if you've got the latest versions of a variety

of programs and data that reside in the STAGE. If not we

send you what you need. You don't have to ask for new

disks. And you don't have to reinstall.



                                     RAMDISKS [NEXT]











                                     7 OF 21

RAMDISKS



Some members use RAMdisks to improve performance. A RAMdisk





PRODIGY(R) interactive personal service        05/06/91        8:50 AM



is a "disk drive" made from memory (RAM) not from

mechanical parts. It's faster than its physical counterpart

but can more easily lose data. For that reason we don't

recommend using a RAMdisk.  However here's something to

keep in mind if you're going to do it anyway. A RAMdisk is

volatile. If you turn your machine off, the information

stored on the RAMdisk evaporates. As you may be receiving

an update each time you sign on, be sure to save the

updates. To do this, copy the file named STAGE.DAT back to

your PRODIGY directory before you hit that switch.



                                 NO UPDATE NEEDED [NEXT]



                                     8 OF 21

NO UPDATE NEEDED



Members often ask about the need to update the PRODIGY

software on their PRODIGY installation disks. There is no

need to update the original installation disks. Use those

disks (or backup copies) to install the software on any

computer you use to sign on to the PRODIGY Service. Then,

when you sign on for the first time, the service will

automatically update the PRODIGY software.



                                   DUAL COMPUTERS [NEXT]







                                   9 OF 21

DUAL COMPUTERS



Suppose you have two computers and use them both to access

the service. Let's say you use one more frequently than the

other.  Each of your computers will get updates, if needed,

when you use them. The machine used most frequently will be

updated steadily (almost imperceptibly) by increments. When

you use the other machine, you might notice a delay during

logon because it's receiving a greater amount of updated

information all at once.

                                         LIMITS [NEXT]









                                    10 OF 21

LIMITS



There's a practical limit to the kinds of changes we can

make automatically to an existing version of the software.

If you've ever tried adding air conditioning to a car you





PRODIGY(R) interactive personal service        05/06/91        8:50 AM



bought without it, you'll understand this; sometimes it's

best to start over with the really useful options built in.

So over time when we make extensive improvements to the

PRODIGY software, we may send you a new set of disks.



                                  NON PRODIGY DATA [NEXT]









                                     11 OF 21

NON-PRODIGY DATA



From time to time members using the DOS version of the

PRODIGY software see information from "other" (non-PRODIGY)

applications in the disk space used by STAGE.DAT.



Data from non-PRODIGY files is never actually part

of STAGE.DAT. More importantly it is never accessed or

uploaded by the PRODIGY software. There are two ways in

which extraneous data can appear in the STAGE. In the first

case, the data was originally located in areas of the hard

disk once used by other software. At one point in the past,

this data was erased.

                              DOS FILE DELETION [NEXT]



                                     12 OF 21

DOS FILE DELETION



When you erase a file, PC-DOS or MS-DOS (the operating

system for personal computers) does not remove the file's

contents from your disk. Instead it only marks the space

used by the file as now "available for use". In doing this,

it gives other software permission to reuse that space.

Until that space is used by its new owner, the old data

remains. This is why certain "unerase" software packages

can recover accidentally deleted files.  When you install the

PRODIGY software, it asks DOS to supply disk space for the

STAGE.DAT file. Depending on the size of the STAGE you

choose, this is usually a request for anywhere between

160Kb to 1 Mb.

                           DOS PROVIDES FILE SPACE [NEXT]

DOS PROVIDES FILE SPACE                      13 of 21



DOS then checks its inventory of available disk sectors,

finds the space and reserves it for its new owner:

STAGE.DAT. But DOS leaves any old data in that space

intact. Please keep in mind that DOS simply supplies the

sectors we request (as long as they are available) and does

not touch their original contents. Next, our install





PRODIGY(R) interactive personal service        05/06/91        8:50 AM



program starts filling the space with blocks of PRODIGY

information. The PRODIGY install program does not erase any

old data because to do so would appreciably lengthen the

install process. As a result, old "erased" data may appear

in unused space following the blocks (where it's more

noticeable) as well as in smaller areas that occur within

the blocks (for more on this see "HOW WE USE SPACE" below).

                                   ROOM TO SPARE [NEXT]

                                     14 OF 21

ROOM TO SPARE



If you chose a large STAGE (anything from 250Kb to 950Kb),

chances are that at first, a portion of it will be unused.

It is likely that some of the space within that unused

portion was used by other software at one time. If so what

you'll see if you examine that area will be "leftovers".

Over time, the PRODIGY software will write blocks of

information to the STAGE replacing whatever is there.

Please keep in mind that the PRODIGY software can only

recognize the blocks of information that it puts into

STAGE.DAT itself. It does not read, collect, process or

transmit "non-PRODIGY data". All disk space containing such

data is treated as empty.

                              STANDARD TECHNIQUES [NEXT]

                                     15 OF 21

STANDARD TECHNIQUES



Like most major software, to ensure compatibility and

reliability when creating, reading and writing files, the

PRODIGY software employs standard "services" provided by

your computer's operating system. By viewing the STAGE with

certain software tools, members have observed information

from non-PRODIGY applications. However the PRODIGY software

can neither see this information nor use it. To the PRODIGY

software this space is considered "empty" and available for

storing PRODIGY data. Over time, as you use the service,

this "empty" space is covered by PRODIGY content.



                             HOW WE USE SPACE [NEXT]



                                     16 OF 21

HOW WE USE SPACE



When we store data in the STAGE, we do it via DOS in blocks

of a specific size. Let's say that size is 100 bytes. If we

store a 120 byte "object" then we use two blocks (or 200

bytes of storage). What we store takes up all of the first

block but only 20 bytes of the second block. What happens

to the remaining 80 bytes of the second block? Whatever was

there originally remains. If that block was built on a





PRODIGY(R) interactive personal service        05/06/91        8:50 AM



previously used sector, 80 bytes of "old" data will be seen.



                      DATA FROM A DIFFERENT DISK [NEXT]







DATA FROM A DIFFERENT DISK                   17 of 21



There's a second way in which extraneous data may appear

within the disk space used by the STAGE. When the STAGE is

being created, certain "control" areas may incorporate

information that was in your computer's memory (RAM). These

areas are used by the STAGE itself to keep track of its own

contents. This extraneous data may include non-erased data

or data from another disk. You may observe the names of

directories, your PATH, or information from the software

you were using just before you installed the PRODIGY

software. To minimize the occurrence of this data within

the STAGE, just turn your PC off, wait 15 seconds then turn

it on again before installing the PRODIGY software.



                                FOREVER SEPARATE [NEXT]

                                     18 OF 21

FOREVER SEPARATE



In short, extraneous information can appear in the disk

space used by the STAGE and yet not actually be part of it.

The appearance of this "non-PRODIGY data" is a side effect

of DOS file operations or the process by which the STAGE is

created.  But, like a bottle containing oil and water, this

disk space STAGE can contain both PRODIGY and non-PRODIGY

data which are different and remain separate.



                         REMOVING EXTRANEOUS DATA? [NEXT]









                                     19 OF 21

REMOVING EXTRANEOUS DATA?



The PRODIGY software does not read information created by

other software. And it does not read data other than its

own. Nevertheless some members have tried to delete

non-PRODIGY data from the STAGE by using file editors.

Modifying the contents of the STAGE file will do more harm

than good. To maintain the integrity of the STAGE, we use

special techniques that detect alteration of its contents.



                   "NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS" [NEXT]



PRODIGY(R) interactive personal service        05/06/91        8:51 AM











                                     20 OF 21

"NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS"



Changing the contents of the STAGE with a software tool

(like an editor) will render the STAGE unusable. You'll

have to reinstall the PRODIGY software. For those members

who are concerned by even the appearance of extraneous data

within the STAGE, we are preparing a utility to eliminate

non-PRODIGY data from the STAGE.

                                    CONCLUSION [NEXT]













                                     21 OF 21

CONCLUSION



No extraneous information appearing within the disk space

used by STAGE.DAT is known to or used by PRODIGY.



The only information used by the PRODIGY software is what

is needed for the installation and operation of the

software.