Edited by author 12-05-2002 07:29 AM
Iggy: You acknowledge the fact of "many well documented security flaws and privacy invasions in apps used by millions worldwide," but then seem to suggest that Flash 6 should be exempt from discussion until a hack occurs.

If you are saying that a sound security policy for end users is to not talk about vulnerabilities until 9.11 has occured, I would respectfully disagree. (Macromedia documents Flash problems and vulnerabilities assiduously here and elsewhere.)

If you are saying a sound communications policy for hugely popular software companies is not to advise the world that a new, potentially invasive feature has been introduced in its most popular product, I suggest that this is not only imprudent, but raises ethical concerns.

I am not "picking on" Macromedia, and certainly don't intend to lump it in with pernicious virus and trojan horse manufacturers. But Macromedia's public communications strategy surrounding the new Flash 6 videoconferencing capability deserves scrutiny. If its behavior here doesn't differ from the way other major software companies behave toward their end users, that doesn't make it any less troubling.