FUCK AOL! Just cancelled them GRRRRRRR

[Whoa_Nelly]

For DU'ers who have emailed me in the past, PM me for new email addy

Fucking AOL! Asswipes who "are sorry for their screw up" in publically releasing AOL user info, including Social Security and credit card numbers...FUCKWADS!

I cancelled my AOL account today, have deleted all AOL software from my machines. Thank goodness am buying new computer within the next couple of weeks (am going Apple), and there will be no hard drive links to AOL ever again. Am also getting new service provider to replace DSL I currently have with AT&T, as well as phone service.

Interestingly, when cancelling my AOL, there was no hassle in trying to keep my account. I also told the AOL rep. that I hoped this was being monitored/recorded, and went on to rant about AOL's HUGH!!!1! fuck up. The guy kept apologizing, and then in the middle of my rant, the fucker hung up on me.

Anyway...
If you are a DU'er who has now and again kept in contact with me via email through an AOL email addy, please PM me for the new addy.

[billyskank]

1. I don't ever like to see the name AOL

except in a sentence that goes "fuck AOL" :rofl:

:hug:

[Whoa_Nelly]

3. ROFL Everyone should enter an AOL Sentence that is combined with FUCK

:rofl:

[Amonester]

42. I'll go with entering just 1 (capital) letter: AWOL ;-)

And as for "the other word" I honestly believe it's implicit in the result!

[LSK]

2. i hope you canceled them

I hear stories about how they dont really cancel you and people get bills months later.

[Whoa_Nelly]

5. Was given a cancellation number and told I would be receiving

a cancellation letter with that same number. I even had the rep. confirm the mailing address.

Will be looking for that to arrive. Should it not turn up will have to take steps to make sure it is cancelled.

Meanwhile, am willing to start or join a class action suit against AOL for their intentional security breach, even it it takes years to litigate. I even told the rep. that. And, he said the most stupid thing..."I can connect you to AOL's Legal Department if you'd like." I replied that would be stupid since I want to be part of a suit AGAINST AOL.


:grr:

[SeattleGirl]

6. Stay on top of this, Nelly.

They are notorious for "forgetting" to send letters, and even if they do, they "forget" to actually cancel your account.

[Whoa_Nelly]

8. You bet'cha I will, SG! :-)

I am a dog with a bone when it comes to that kind of stuff.

:hi: there my dear friend, SG!

[SeattleGirl]

11. .....

:loveya:

[Karenca]

4. There's no reason to have AOL. I can't figure out why people keep it.

Unless they just like having to pay another monthly bill.

[Whoa_Nelly]

7. For a long time, I have just been lazy about it

Me ~~~> :spank: <~~~ Self

It was convenient to not transfer/collect all the info, addy's, saved shit and move those to another ISP. Now, it doesn't really matter. Have emailed family and friends about the change, and for everything else, I have no problem rebuilding my favorite links folders, especially since the majority of them can either be found through Google, or I just know how to access the URL.

[RebelOne]

9. That's the same reason I have not cancelled AOL.

But after reading what they did, I will probably be cancelling as soon as I get e-mail addresses transferred to another ISP.

[Whoa_Nelly]

10. I did it the easy way re: address list

I just sent myself an email to the other ISP I have with all the addresses in it. Have saved that email, and can access it and add those to my address book whenever I send email to any of those people.

[RebelOne]

23. Good idea. Thanks.

[Karenca]

12. I was lazy about it too....

but it was a painless transition, and now I'm
totally happy without it.
I'm wireless MAC, BTW. I'm also glad I switched to APPLE.

[Whoa_Nelly]

13. My son just bought wireless MAC notebook

and he loves it! Have played around with it, and am getting one within the next two weeks. :woohoo:

[Karenca]

14. I bought mine about one year ago, now my son is buying his on Thursday.

I used to be afraid to switch...Now I love it!
Enjoy!!

[Rabrrrrrr]

15. Wow - I've been saying "fuck AOL!!!!" since 1993.

Just as soon as ISPs starting showing up, ISPs that allowed people to actually get on the Internet without mediation, totally unlike AOL which has always been a resource-wasting shitty mediator, I've said "Fuck AOL!!!!!".

Fuck 'em to hell.

I can't imagine how awful their broadband must be.

[billyskank]

16. One of my colleagues at work was on AOL until recently

How can you take seriously a computer programmer who uses AOL? :wtf:

[AirmensMom]

17. Yes, FUCK AOL!

I made the mistake of installing their 90-days-free CD when hurricane Wilma knocked out our power. The CD said it required no credit card, but that was the first thing it asked for. :wtf: I was desperate, so I entered it. Sure, it worked OK, but the damned thing was using up my battery with updates every time I logged on. I called to cancel and ended up with a letter saying, "Thanks for subscribing"! So I called up and read them the riot act. It took MONTHS to get that damn account cancelled. They never charged my card, but I was ready to challenge any charges.

Oh, and then they started bombarding me with marketing calls! I had to call back and tell them to stop that ... but they had me on hold for about 30 minutes before I could do that. FUCK AOL!

[billyskank]

18. Their CDs make ok coasters though

:D

[AirmensMom]

19. My sister strings them together

and hangs them from her trees to keep the birds from eating her fruit. :D They have many uses ... connecting to the internet is not one of them.

[Whoa_Nelly]

20. Here's a site for 101 Uses for AOL CDs

http://www.spiritone.com/~english/humour/aolcd.html

Some are hilarious!

Example:
Get an old satellite dish (big one) line the dish with them point it at the sun and you have one hell of a cigarette lighter. This would probably do a lot of damage to my pipe.

:rofl:

[Courtesy Flush]

21. You gave them your Social Security number? Why? n/t

[Whoa_Nelly]

22. I never gave them my SSN

It was from the articles I read re: AOL publically giving away info that included SSNs and credit card numbers, etc.

I have never entered my SSN online anywhere. However, that doesn't mean there aren't hackers who could get that info through hacking credit card usage, etc. While I have never done a search using any of my personal credit or SSN info, I have done searches to access the sites re: credit card companies, seach for and clicked on sites where I used a credit card to make a purchase, gone to the credit card company sites to access current billing info, and even set up a couple of online access accounts, all within the last three months using AOL as the server.

Here are a couple of article links to the AOL Total Fuck Up:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/07/AR2006080701150.html

AOL Takes Down Site With Users' Search Data
Personal Details Posted in 'Screw-Up'

By Ellen Nakashima
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, August 8, 2006; Page D01

AOL issued an apology yesterday for posting on a public Web site 20 million keyword searches conducted by hundreds of thousands of its subscribers from March to May. But the company's admission that it made a mistake did little to quell a barrage of criticism from bloggers and privacy advocates who questioned the company's security practices and said the data breach raised the risk of identity theft.

"This was a screw-up and we're angry and upset about it," the company said in a statement. "Although there was no personally-identifiable data linked to these accounts, we're absolutely not defending this. It was a mistake, and we apologize."

<snip>
Michael Arrington, editor of the blog TechCrunch, said some of the data contained credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, addresses and names.

"People put anything they can think of into the search boxes," he said.

And here's the TechCrunch article:

http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/08/06/aol-proudly-releases-massive-amounts-of-user-search-data

<snip>
The utter stupidity of this is staggering. AOL has released very private data about its users without their permission. While the AOL username has been changed to a random ID number, the abilitiy to analyze all searches by a single user will often lead people to easily determine who the user is, and what they are up to. The data includes personal names, addresses, social security numbers and everything else someone might type into a search box.

[Courtesy Flush]

25. Here's a scary thought

You could go to the library and use their computer. And the next user can get your credit card number.

Ever notice that when you enter your number on a site you've used before, the number pops up by way of the browser's auto-fill function?

A simple history search could tell other users what sites were recently accessed and the unscrupulous user can go fishing from there.

[brindons]

24. aol

it is real hard to cancel aol i tried and they kept me on hold!

[Anarcho-Socialist]

26. Hi! Welcome to DU!!

:hi:

[Whoa_Nelly]

27. Hope you were able to finally get through and cancel!

:hi: Welcome to DU, brindons!

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

31. You might appreciate this ...

http://www.consumerist.com/consumer/aol/the-best-thing-we-have-ever-posted-reader-tries-to-cancel-aol-180392.php

Welcomes to DU :hi:

[RevCheesehead]

28. Oh my.

I don't think I've ever seen you rant like this before.
Have you been taking lessons from Rabrrrrrr? :hi:

[Whoa_Nelly]

32. AOL -- Brings out the rant in everyone :-D

What they did, and the fact that the page they took down on Sunday has been mirrored all over the globe, this feels like my home has been invaded.

How are you and your sweet kitties doing these days, Rev? :hi:

[RevCheesehead]

33. Hi, Nellie!

We're doing OK. Although Binky is refusing to take her meds, and I caught her twice peeing in my bedroom. She's never done that before. Granted, it needs cleaning - but still....

How about you? :hug:

[Whoa_Nelly]

34. Oh no! Is Binky's behavior indicative of health prob?

Sure hope not! :hug:

Am doing really well. THanks for asking! :loveya:

Am applying to teach here in CA, and am going to save up an even bigger chunk of money to get the house I really want (and not have to trade up to that in a few years.) My son and I have been talking about buying some land together, building our homes and having a gated pool in between us. I LOVE that idea!

Am taking a month to move from the rental I now have into a one in the town where my son lives. So, am paying two rents this month, but I like the luxury of being able to get things moved in, getting settled over a month rather than a hurry-up weekend move. I'm bad about misplacing things as it is! This way I can be somewhat organized :D
(also, place am in doesn't allow pets...they don't know about Seneca :yoiks: New place DOES allow pets and Seneca is a wanted pooch ;) )

[RevCheesehead]

35. Sounds wonderful!

Take your time, and get things set up the way you like it!

I dunno what's going on with Bink. She's got kidney problems, but she's never done this before. I spent a good chunk of the evening scrubbing the litterboxes (I even replaced one), cleaning "their" bathroom (the 1/2 bath where the boxes are), and putting in fresh litter. It might just be her way of protesting my pathetic housekeeping skills.

[Whoa_Nelly]

36. Are you calling the vet about the behavior change?

Sometimes that can indicate a kidney infection or dysfunction.

How old is Binky?

[RevCheesehead]

37. We're still going in twice a week for injections.

She will see Binky on Friday.

I think the mess in the house is a big part of it. And, the fact that Binky's been fighting me when I try to get her meds in her might have some effect as well. At least it doesn't smell... that would be awful.

Thanks for your concern! Binky and I are grateful!!

(Binky and Oreo are both 16)

[CrushTheDLC]

29. I remember when AOL was a C-64 online service called "Quantum Link"

And they sucked just as much then. :argh:

[Whoa_Nelly]

30. I joined AO-hel-L in '96, after the QuantumLink Serial thing

Welcome to DU, CrushTheDLC! :hi:

I hereby dub thee to now and forever be known in The Lounge as

CTDLC!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QuantumLink_Serial

The QuantumLink Serial by Tracy Reed on AOL (1988-89) was the first episodic online story. The series was also known as the PC-Link Serial and the AppleLink Serial before all three services were unified when Quantum changed its name to AOL.

<snip>
The QuantumLink Serial was played out in online chat rooms, emails and traditional narrative. After each week's chapter was published on each of the three AOL online services (Commodore 64, PC and Apple II/Macintosh), users wrote to author Reed suggesting how they could be part of the story. Each week Reed chose one to a handful of users on each of the three services and wrote them into the narrative, depicting how they interacted with the story through chat rooms, emails etc. Reed altered story lines to reflect the readers' input to the characters, as reflected in their unique custom-written "guest star appearances."

[pissed off duck]

38. AOL is the worst internet provider around...

I once was an AOL'er, but now I am wise.

Let me tell you all why.

First off, AOL tries to take control of your PC. WHen you try to use IE or netscape, or whatever browser you prefer, instead of the lame ass excuse for a browser they have, it will run slower.

Second, McAfee ANTI-virus, is the worst anti-virus program out there, for those of you using such a program, toss it and use AVG Free, in fact, if you use norton, or any other proprietary anti-virus software, toss it too, it all sucks. AVG is awesome.

Third, AOL runs programs that uselessly take up system resources, such as their "topspeed" monitor, and whatnot. If you have a DSL, IDSN, Cable, or other broadband connection, AOL is useless.

Fourth, AOL OUTSOURCES!!!!!!!!!!!! Need I say more.

Last, as I have read, AOL does not give a shit about their customers, because, no offense to any past AOL users, there are a million more suckers out there.

Thank you, and good night.

[Whoa_Nelly]

41. After I deleted all the AOL software off one of my computers

And did a restart. My computer would not go into restart because of a fucking AOL message box asking me if I wanted to install all the AOL I had just deleted. I clicked NO. Then, upon the machine rebooting, it wouldn't go through the process until I ditched that same message box again.

Which means it down't matter that I deleted the software, my hard drive needs total wiping to ditch the crap, and there's probably an internal AOL cache somewhere because of the original Windows XP bundling.

I will be so glad when I get a Mac in the next couple of weeks and stop using a PC.

[El Fuego]

39. I like AOL, I've had it for 10 years and no complaints.

[Whoa_Nelly]

40. So what they did doesn't bother you?

I'm absolutely appalled by it all. Had been planning on quitting AOL, and now that I have, have also canceled my AT&T/SBC Yahoo DSL. I signed up for Comcast cable yesterday. Am sick and tired of the sell outs to the NSA, as well as the unmitigated gall of AOL and AT&T taking my money and abusing my privacy and my personal information.

First thing I asked Comcast rep was, "Is Comcast a sell out to the NSA?" The rep said they weren't. I asked him if he knew what I meant by "the NSA", and he said he did, named it as the National Security Agency.

When I mentioned what AOL did, he said they have had quite a few new sign-ups in the last couple of days of people screaming about AOL, asking the same thing (NSA) I did, and that they wanted to change their ISP. He asked me if there were any online sites where he could read about what AOL did because he wanted to know more about it all, so I gave him a couple of URLs.

[El Fuego]

43. Your OP is misleading, it's in no way THAT serious

http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588_22-6103098.html

The database does not include names or user identities. Instead, it lists only a unique ID number for each user. What that means is that it's possible to view the search terms that users of a single account typed in while using AOL Search during a three-month period. (Google, Yahoo, and MSN Search aren't included.)

From that massive list of search terms, for instance, it's possible to guess that AOL user 710794 is an overweight golfer, owner of a 1986 Porsche 944 and 1998 Cadillac SLS, and a fan of the University of Tennessee Volunteers Men's Basketball team. The same user, 710794, is interested in the Cherokee County School District in Canton, Ga., and has looked up the Suwanee Sports Academy in Suwanee, Ga., which caters to local youth, and the Youth Basketball of America's Georgia affiliate.

That's pretty normal. What's not is that user 710794 also regularly searches for "lolitas," a term commonly used to describe photographs and videos of minors who are nude or engaged in sexual acts.

The following are a series of excerpts compiled by CNET News.com from the AOL search logs, with each user's search terms included in chronological order.

AOL user 311045 apparently owns a Scion XB automobile in need of new brake pads that is in the process of being upgraded with performance oil filters. User 311045, possibly a Florida resident, is preoccupied with another topic as well:
how to change brake pads on scion xb
2005 us open cup florida state champions
how to get revenge on a ex
how to get revenge on a ex girlfriend
how to get revenge on a friend who f---ed you over
replacement bumper for scion xb
florida department of law enforcement
crime stoppers florida

Based on the number of local searches, AOL user 1515830 appears to be a resident of Ohio's Mahoning County. On March 1, user 1515830 was trying to find the amount of calories in chai tea and bananas. But on March 9, the searches took a darker turn:
chai tea calories
calories in bananas
aftermath of incest
how to tell your family you're a victim of incest
pottery barn
curtains
surgical help for depression
oakland raiders comforter set
can you adopt after a suicide attempt
who is not allowed to adopt
i hate men
medication to enhance female desire
jobs in denver colorado
teaching positions in denver colorado
how long will the swelling last after my tummy tuck
divorce laws in ohio
free remote keyloggers
baked macaroni and cheese with sour cream
how to deal with anger
teaching jobs with the denver school system
marriage counseling tips
anti psychotic drugs

Revenge is a common theme, though of course it's impossible to guess whether an AOL user has criminal intent or is in the middle of writing a true-crime novel. In the case of AOL user 17556639, the jury's still out:
how to kill your wife
pictures of dead people
photo of dead people
car crash photo

Some AOL users seem to be worried that an abusive partner in a relationship may come back to hurt them. This person, AOL user 005315, searched for information about prison inmates, gang members, sociopaths in relationships, and women who were murdered in southern California last year:
resources for utility bill paying assistance in southern california
section 8 housing southern california
los angeles county ca. gang member pictures
orange county california jails inmate information
fractured ankle
letters and responses written by women to emotionally
abusive partners
men that use emotional and physical abandonment to control their partner
warning signs of a mans infidelity or sexual addiction
the sociopathic relationship
southern california newspaper stories about woman murdered by boyfriend in pomona december2005
names of females murdered or found dead in pomona california in 2005
characteristics of a sociopath in a relationship
a person that shows lack of empathy
help in writing a letter to a abusive narcissistic ex boyfriend
how to hurt the narcissistic man
retaliating against the narcisisstic man

[Whoa_Nelly]

44. Tell that to Thelma Arnold, 62, in Lilburn, GA

A Face Is Exposed for AOL Searcher No. 4417749
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2445691&mesg_id=2445691


Someone posted it to alt.binaries.x in full (400M) yesterday
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2445691&mesg_id=2445730

[idgiehkt]

45. that is some scary shit.

I'd die if my searches got exposed. They aren't about stuff like that.