Metadata in Vista Could Be Too Helpful

linumax writes "Windows Vista will improve search functionality on a PC by letting users tag files with metadata, but those tags could cause unwanted and embarrassing information disclosure, Gartner analysts have warned. Search and organization capabilities are among the primary features of Windows Vista, the successor to Windows XP due out late in 2006. While building those features, Microsoft is not paying enough attention to managing the descriptive information, or metadata, that users can add to files to make it easier to find and organize data on a PC, according to Gartner. 'This opens up the possibility of the inadvertent disclosure of this metadata to other users inside and outside of your organization,' Gartner analysts Michael Silver and Neil MacDonald wrote in a research note published on Thursday."

Oblig. Nelson

[gardyloo]

Windows Vista will improve search functionality on a PC by letting users tag files with metadata, but those tags could cause unwanted and embarrassing information disclosure, Gartner analysts have warned.

        Ha-ha! You're using Windows!

Windows Insecure???

[clr211]

The new version of Windows will be insecure???

Say it ain't so.....

Surely not ?

[TractorBarry]

No... say it ain't so...

Surely Microsoft aren't adding a feature to Windows without giving thorough consideration as to how the feature will work in a multi user, internet connected, environment ?

After all they've show time and time again how much they cae about these things :)

That reminds me...

[archeopterix]

My colleague at my former job once sent our boss a report in a file named 'for_dickhead_2003_11'. He changed the file name before attaching it to the email. Unfortunately, a self-reference in the file contents remained, showing the unfortunately chosen first name. Fortunately, our boss just politely reminded him to pick more neutral names, just in case.

This will be embarrassing...

[Anonymous Coward]

...if fellow co-workers learn I heart Fabio from the tags in my massive library of rectal gaping porn.

"embarrassing"?

[Mahou]

sounds like he's worried about people finding his porn collection when they search for seemingly unrelated things(scat music, majestic horse paintings, old lady jokes, kiddie books and toys, etc). maybe someone should just tell him not to tag that stuff

Train those users

[wombatmobile]

It's all under control. Just train your users to manage their own metadata [microsoft.com].

Re:Usefulness of metadata

[Photon Ghoul]

Catalogation

In the interestation of securitization, the catalogation of the nation's datation should not be left to the ineptitudination of incompetentation corporatizations with a historicalization of not giving full thoughtfulination to securitization.

Re:Oblig. Nelson

[TubeSteak]

Yea, well at least my box can't get r00ted

/windows has no root
/storms off

Re:Windows Insecure???

[TubeSteak]

AFAIK the only two companies that cause people to regularly get publicly humiliated due to meta-data are:
Microsoft (Office)
Adobe (PDFs)

If you can think of any other companies that keep turning up, you let me know.

Re:Hahaha, must have opened porn....

[Urusai]

You need a meta-metadata tag to set your metadata as "private". And in case your g/f gets wise and enables searching for "private" tagged metadata, you need a meta-meta-metadata tag to mark things "private for reals". If she gets wise to THAT, you just need a meta-meta-meta-metadata tag labelled "k biotch, i'm busted, just don't delete mah tubgirl pr0n".

Non-Oblig. Homer

[truthsearch]

Homer: From now on, there are three ways to do things: the right way, the wrong way, and the Windows Vista way.
Bart: Isn't that just the wrong way?
Homer: Yeah, but faster!

I'm shocked

[PaxTech]

<Claude Rains>
I'm shocked, shocked to see Microsoft prioritizing features over security.
</Claude Rains>

Re:Oblig. Nelson

[Koohoolinn]

Ha-Ha! Your metadata is showing!

Re:Couldnt care less

[Jugalator]

LOL, did Ballmer piss in your bed this morning? :-)

Re:Usefulness of metadata

[1WingedAngel]

Fo' shizzle!

Re:Surprise?

[da_matta]

Yeah, Google Desktop is great. First thing the default installation did was to display my porn pics in the sidebar. I wonder if it does the same with SO's account...