Intel to phase out serial numbers

Intel has decided to phase out its practice of stamping serial numbers on its processors.

The company said it will not include serial numbers on the next generation of its processors, code-named Willamette, slated for release later this year, but will continue to use them in the Pentium III.

Introduced in 1999, the feature was designed to allow customers to use the number as a form of identification - similar to a password - to enter protected Web sites. However, privacy advocates claimed the number could be used to track people's Web travels.

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