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The GUID is an implementation by Microsoft of a standard called Universally Unique Identifier or UUID, specified by the Open Software Foundation ( OSF). It is essentially a 16- byte number, written in hexadecimal form, such as:
GUIDs are written using a four-byte word, 3 two-byte words, and a six-byte word, such as:
The structure of the data type is:
GUID STRUCT Data1 dd Data2 dw Data3 dw Data4 dw Data5 db 6 GUID ENDSIn the Microsoft component object model, GUIDs are used to uniquely distinguish different software component interfaces. This means that two versions of a component can have exactly the same name, but still be different to the user in case the GUID has changed.
GUIDs are also inserted into documents from Microsoft Office programs, as these are regarded as objects as well. Even audio or video streams in the Advanced Streaming Format (ASF) are identified by their GUIDs.
The algorithm used for generating new GUIDs has been widely criticized. At one point, the user's network card MAC addressIn computer networking a media access control address (MAC address is a code on most forms of networking equipment that allows for that device to be uniquely identified. Address details A MAC address is an identifier physically stored inside a network car was used as a base for several GUID digits, which meant that e.g. a document could be tracked back to the computer that created it. After this was discovered, Microsoft changed the algorithm so that it no longer contains the MAC address. This privacyPrivacy is the ability of a person to control the availability of information about and exposure of him- or herself. It is related to being able to function in society anonymously (including pseudonymous or blind credential identification). According to E hole was used when locating the creator of the Melissa wormThe Melissa Worm also known as "Mailissa", "Simpsons", "Kwyjibo", or "Kwejeebo", is a computer worm that also functions as a macro virus. History First found on March 26, 1999, Melissa came to be one of the most infamous computer worms the world has ever.