APG-L Archives

Archiver > APG > 2007-04 > 1175797368


From: "Suzanne Russo Adams" <>
Subject: Re: [APG] Ancestry.com blocked at LDS libraries
Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2007 12:22:48 -0600
References: <d50.5af1f28.334684c5@aol.com>


Dear Colleagues,

The Family History Library and Ancestry.com have used IP authentication
for several years to help manage the access to the Ancestry.com
experience to the library. Since Ancestry and the FHL started using IP
authentication several years ago, patrons at the Family History Library
have not been able to use their own personal accounts on Ancestry.com.
With the changes in the FHL access to Ancestry.com effective on Monday,
this has become more of an issue than it was in the past.

Ancestry learned a few days ago that patrons at the Family History
Library had inadvertently used a deep link into Ancestry.com to bypass
the IP authentication that made the computer unable to log out of a
personal account, even if the user wanted to, creating a security risk.
Ancestry closed that hole to protect our site security and customer
privacy. Shutting down the deep link log in function on the FHL
computers was not a direct or an intentional ploy to upset current
Ancestry.com subscribers.

Ancestry and the FHL are currently exploring solutions to allow people
to gain access to their personal accounts at the Family History Library
while still protecting the privacy of customers. Rest assured that we
(Ancestry and the FHL) are working on a resolution--but there is not yet
a timetable for its completion.


SUZANNE RUSSO ADAMS, AG(r)
Professional Services Desk Manager
ancestry.com
Part of The Generations Network



-----Original Message-----
From: [mailto:] On
Behalf Of
Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2007 10:59 AM
To: ;
Subject: Re: [APG] Ancestry.com blocked at LDS libraries


In a message dated 4/5/2007 11:15:04 AM Eastern Standard Time,
writes:

So, if you Ancestry folks are reading this, can't you do what other
databases do and make it impossible for someone to be logged into their
account in more than one place at the same time? I am assuming you are
worried that people at the FHL will share their account logins or
forget/fail to log out so others will then be able to use the account.


------
I'm not an expert on the subject but I believe they do this now. I've
seen
complaints from subscribers who received a message that they couldn't
login when they took their laptop someplace and forgot to logout from
their home desktop computer--so they must be doing this.

The problem with cookies and someone not logging out when using a
library computer isn't just a hypothetical issue. It has happened in
the past and in at least one case resulted in major issues with the
Ancestry/RootsWeb message boards. Hundreds of posts made by a variety
people showed up under this one user's name and email address. It took
message board staff quite some time to sort out the entire mess.

Joan



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