Privacy -- Issue solved [?]

[NaegeleWDC at aol.com]

Thanks to the great responses from lots of you with respect to this issue.  You are terrific as always.

Here's the latest:

1.  I wasn't even signed onto "AOL Anywhere" or "AOL Instant Messenger" (AIM) and heard the "door opening."  So I signed onto both, and watched the "AIM Express" and sure enough the "door closed" when a friend signed off of AOL.

2.  What this means is that AIM is working even though (1) I am not signed onto AOL, and (2) AIM hasn't been launched (or loaded).  AIM is always in the background "lurking."

3.  I have never used AIM since I got my Ti 800 a year ago, but I have set it up to be used.

One of the wonderful list members sent me a message offline today, which said:

"You do realize that if you have your buddy list preferences set  you will hear the door open when a buddy comes online and the door close sound when a buddy goes offline.  They don't have to contact you.  You just hear the sound.   This has nothing to do with being on an aol site.   This occurs whenever you are on the internet using your aol account."

It was suggested that the sound might be turned off; however, "AOL Anywhere" does not have the features that AOL software apparently has.

The larger issue, which was my original concern -- namely, privacy -- remains, it seems.  Yet, maybe this is a unique issue for AOL users.

Thanks again to all.  Obviously privacy raises larger issues for all of us.

Tim Naegele

www.naegele.com

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