AOL sorry for search data release

[Ian]

Last week AOL released search data on 650,000 users - allowing academic researchers to develop new tools based on the data.

However, the search data was easy for anyone to obtain and AOL have now removed the files due to privacy complaints. Although users were identified as #123456 instead of their screen name, it was possible for many people to be identified as they search for their own name, address or other personal features.

Many of the searches revealed deeply worrying trends from some users, looking for information on how to kill people and extremely worrying photos.

No doubt there will be some lawsuits over this from angry users.

Read more at the Guardian

 

[Anon_F]

Dont some on this forum call it AOHell
Seems those views may be right after all

 

[hangs-3]

AOHell

I think you are right AOL is getting worse with customer support as far as spam is concerned.I dont Know if the release of this data has anything to do with it but I have suddenly and for no reason started receiving unsolicited Pornographic Phishing and Medical spam.I have also been sent a list of about 200 AOL Email usernames from a Spanish sender who I don't know.

AOL have been informed each time and copies of each Email forwarded, but nothing seems to be done.Meanwhile I am tied in to another five months of a years agreement with AOL.I have asked them to change my username but they tell me they can't as it is the master name.

So I'm stuck for the next five months receiving filthy emails which I can only forward on to AOL and delete.Even my 15 year old son received some of these before I changed his email address.