Student's program sends PR chaos in Wiki-scandal

One American student sent major corporations, governments and even the Vatican on the defensive after coming up with Wikipedia Scanner, a software program that reveals who changed Wikipedia entries.

As soon as the software was launched on the internet, chaos erupted.
Among many revelations, Wikipedia Scanner reported that:

- Microsoft tried to cover up the XBOX 360 failure rate

- Apple edit Microsoft entries, adding more negative comments about its rival

- Bill Gates revenge? Microsoft edits Apple entries, adding more negative comments about its rival

- EA Games deletes whole paragraphs of criticism about employment practices and business methods

- Sony removes harmful paragraphs against blu-ray systems

- MSN Search is "a major competitor to Google". That's what MSN added to their page

- Click the link for the full list ...

[Ahhhh]

haha that stuff is funny.

[stunt213]

They're all trying to cover up their dirty little secrets

[bung tickler]

dirty dirty... funny... but dirty...

[ThisIsWaiting]

Its new to the site, isnt it?

[BISHOP-BRASIL]

And this, kids, is why history books just talk about dead people.

[INehalemEXI]

2 funny

[ShiftyLookingCow]

wow corporate soap opera

[ChibiSelz]

lmao there worser then us fanboys

[AznSniper]

"worser"?

[Rooftrellen]

Who knew the BBC could be so funny?

[ktchong]

or attack their rivals.

Interestingly enough, the Chinese govenment haven't done anything!

[Mr Murda]

Republicans do, but Democrats don't? Ha, right.

Chinese do not....well, according to you, the logical things is to all become Communists. Tell you what...you try it out first and come back and tell us how it was. K?

[dikturbo]

This is why journalism is a degree not a certificate. Wiki and every other BS "I know what I'm talking about more than you" website take note; bull-shizzers get caught. Funny how it took a 17 year old kid to develop a piece of morality software.

Give this kid a Pulitzer for journalism.

EDIT: Thanks for the clarification on the student Round Peg. I must have been 'misinformed' someplace or simply didn't look into it properly.

Seriously though, circumstances like this definitely bring to light the need for effective journalism.

[ktchong]

He's a CalTech graduate student, Virgil Griffith -- he's in his 20s.

[ktchong]

CalTech = university

graduate student = working on his Master or PhD degree.

[ublender]

HAHAHAHAHAHHAAAAA

I have never laughed so hard at 11:50 at night! I hope I didn't wake the neighbors.

EDIT: Btw, where can I get this tool?

[RelloC]

they will send ninja assassins to kill this guy any day now. and no one will know who to blame because this dude put all kinds of people business out there. cant wait to hear some of the resonses that the groups have to come up with.

[reaperxciv]

b*st*rds!

[macalatus]

For some odd reason I was expecting a Wikipedia entry (probably made by Mart)that says "n4g hijacked by Sony fanboys". Despite some MS fanboys calling this site as an "agent of Sony", I'm surprised that none of them started a Wikipedia article about n4g.com all the while labeling it as such.

[ThisIsWaiting]

way to plant the seed lol

[mrcoolz]

that was hilarious

[GnaM]

...just goes to show that Wikipedia is NOT reliable when you want the facts.

[btkadams]

omg thats awesome! way to go

[nobizlikesnowbiz]

Weak.

Those in power are dirty and will do anything to stay in power.

Not just talking about gov't. Dem's & rep's are equally sh1tty.

[gamesR4fun]

funny stuff def shows you gotta take any information with a grain of salt esp the news now days....

[Charlie2688]

This is HILARIOUS I cant believe some of this edits!

I guess what they say its right..."Information is power"

[SofaKingReetodded]

this has confirmed to many what was already known to few. WIki is ABSOLUTELY WORTHLESS

[Daewoodrow]

I think this might be the funniest thing i've read all week. No, month.

[m9105826]

"If we erase the failure rate on Wikipedia, it never happened! Right? RIGHT?!?"

lol at MSN Search a major Google competitor. Seriously, now. Google rules the earth!

I'd be interested to find out what MS wrote about Apple and vice versa. Also, am I the only one not surprised at all by EA? They edited the sweat-shop like working conditions to make it sound like a decent place to work, lol.

[WAR_MACHINE77]

honestly the stuff about the companies like MS and Sony doesn't really bother me because its really minor stuff. OH no sony deleted negative comments about bluray and MS changed it to say MSN is a rival of google and hide the RROD, who cares. What really bothers me is the newspapers and governments making those changes.

[SlippyMadFrog]

The program this guy wrote matches IP's, how did he know which IP is which corporation?

[FCOLitsjustagame]

What if the information was wrong? Or added by a competitor from their home or a Library. Anyone can edit Wiki and I have seen conspiracy theory crp in some of the entries like its truth. If someone deletes that are they "covering up"?

Now I am not saying any of the entries in this article were wrong but it doesn’t surprise me, and I would expect companies and governments to correct wrong information or stuff thrown out there by their detractors or the ill-educated. Since I expect that then doesn’t surprise me (but I guess in a way it is sad and human nature) that they edit it even further to hold the company line and keep the image up.

This is Wiki it is editable by ANYONE from alienated employees to fanatical employees, to people without a clue. You want news go watch the news or read an encyclopedia or history book where a supposed independent third party with supposed independent editors and facts checkers write "the truth". Although keep in mind they often interject opinion and commentary and have angles themselves (sometimes its subconscious sometimes on purpose). After all, history is written by the winners.

The best advice is to use multiple sources of information (multiple different sources not just different versions of the conspiracy theory/democrat/republican/gre en party websites) and come to your own conclusions. And even then be aware that those conclusions are not necessarily "the truth" as they are colored by the experiences in your life.

[nix]

caught with their fingers on the keyboard!!! q:

[LeShin]

Man, if I created a program like that, I'd stay bloody anonymous! The number of corporations that he "outed" are crazy....and some of them could really screw him up!

Something's gonna happen to this guy or his relatives....mark my words :)

[HateBoy]

yeh, oil corps arent famous for beeing nice, the american government isnt afraid to do bad stuff to people, and the nra... Holy crap, he's dead. U dont fakk around with hicks with guns.

[Kratos12]

Finally an article where everyone agrees with each other. Wish it was like that in every other post!!!

[HateBoy]

Someone get this guy a medal, priceless shiat on that list.

[HateBoy]

Someone get this guy a medal, priceless shiat on that list.

[joevfx]

this is the best thing ever, now i want to know who edited Chris Bennots wikipidia about his wifes death.

[jcgamer]

and it's offically the "Wiki-scandal" lol...hat's off to that guy...