Richard M. Smith said in a posting to Internet security mailing lists Wednesday that the Windows Media Player version 8 installed by default along with millions of copies of XP automatically contacts a Microsoft Web server to look up information about DVDs played by users.
Smith, who one month ago complained that earlier - and more ubiquitous - versions of the Windows Media Player can give up a uniquely identifying digital fingerprint when communicating across the Internet, said that a similar ID number is transmitted when the version 8 player looks up DVD "chapter" information at a Microsoft Web site.
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