June 13, 2006 10:00 AM PDT
Microsoft draws fire for stealth test program
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WGA Notifications is an exception to Microsoft policy, Lazar noted. Microsoft has not changed its approach on trial software, under which it does not send out unfinished code without an enrollment stage, he said.
"It is not a change in policy," he said.
The WGA Notifications program is a precursor to the antipiracy features Microsoft is building into Windows Vista, the new version of the operating system set for release in January 2007. In Vista, certain operating system features will only work as long as it is a properly licensed copy.
Following download and installation of the WGA Notifications tool, people who use a pirated copy of Windows will see alerts at start-up, login and during their use of the operating system. The alert reads: "This copy of Windows is not genuine; you may be a victim of software counterfeiting." Those who use a legitimate copy of the software won't see any messages, Microsoft has said.
Microsoft has said that there is a real benefit to its users in validating a copy of Windows. Only "Genuine Windows" users can download additional Microsoft software, such as Windows Defender, for example. Also, if a Windows copy is deemed pirated, it will only download "critical" updates, not less urgent fixes. Hackers, however, have repeatedly found ways around the checks.
"Our experience is that customers--as long as the process is understandable, unobtrusive, quick and painless--appreciate not only their copy of Windows more, but also appreciate Microsoft more. Now they have something that is more valuable than before," Lazar said. "They appreciate ?the confidence that they got what they paid for."
Declining is an option
When Microsoft launched the original WGA program in September 2004, it asked for validation only if people were downloading from Windows Update and the Microsoft Download Center Web site. Validation was optional and 56 percent of people opted in, Lazar said.
People can also decline the more recent WGA Notifications download, but 60 percent have chosen to install it, he said.
Although people can decline the WGA Notifications install, they can't remove the program once it is running. Also, those who decline the installation may receive reminders to run the tool. That's especially true for Windows Live OneCare security subscribers, who will see an alert that their system might be at risk because of the missing Microsoft update.
Microsoft is looking into the OneCare issue, Lazar said, particularly at "whether or not OneCare should be urging you to install WGA Notifications."
The installation concerns are only the latest criticism for the WGA program. Last week, Microsoft provided a public mea culpa for not disclosing that the WGA Notifications tool pings a Microsoft server every time its starts up. One critic had likened the tool to spyware for its undisclosed behavior.
In response to the earlier criticism, Microsoft plans to release an update to WGA Notifications this month that phones home only once every two weeks. A final release with worldwide introduction and no more calls to Microsoft is slated by year's end.
Microsoft has not yet decided whether running the application will remain optional or whether it will become mandatory.
"We're considering opt-in versus making it a requirement," Lazar said.
See more CNET content tagged:
antipiracy, priority, Automatic Update, software company, Microsoft Corp.
68 comments
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Just search the Web or Usenet for 905474.exe. Install that WGA spyware as MicroShaft insists you do. Than shut down Internet Explorer. Install this hack. Boot your PC. You're in business, PRIVATE business.
So you might be a pirate and you don't know. And if the lawyers come to check, you have no excuse. You deliberately disabled the piracy check, so they might even suspect you knew your copies were pirate.
What's the big deal? Enable the thing and let it go.
WGA is not spyware, no matter what you claim. It does what it tells you it does, it can be uninstalled and it is installed with an adequate prompt. So if you don't like it, it is because of something else, not because it is malware.
Either you're completely naive, or you authored this and are sitting back watching peoples personal data roll into your scam web site...
Get a clue.
Anything before Windows 98 is essentially useless since these OS's didn't support: FAT32, USB, AGP and a myriad of other technologies.
<a class="jive-link-external" href="http://zxo.blogspot.com/2006/06/stopping-windows-genuine-advantage.html" target="_newWindow">http://zxo.blogspot.com/2006/06/stopping-windows-genuine-advantage.html</a>
They've been releasing pre-release quality software since DOS, this isn't any different in that regaurd. Heck, even DOS had to be finished during the plane ride to IBM. Those pesky last minute boot loaders.
Seriously though:
Does this not smell a lot like that Win98 snaffoo where windows update was sending M$ system spec and software lists at each visit? An "oh, by the way" software installation under a false pretence isn't any better.
Granted, any business has the right to protect it's product from theift even if it is an absurdly over priced bile sac of bloated code. The issue is not that they are trying to reduce the number of pirated copies, it's the unethical way in which they go about it each time.
I have asked several Microsoft MVP's and technets and they cant fix the 299 error.
I have spent over 20 hours trying to get the OS updated but microsoft update refuses and says validation failed.. I know the step by heart to FIX IT THE MICROSOFT WAY but so far no fix is available. releasing beta code killing my LEGIT install that is not a pirate copy IS full of BS!
The programmers of WGA need to be fired PERIOD!
I have asked several Microsoft MVP's and technets and they cant fix the 299 error.
I have spent over 20 hours trying to get the OS updated but microsoft update refuses and says validation failed.. I know the step by heart to FIX IT THE MICROSOFT WAY but so far no fix is available. releasing beta code killing my LEGIT install that is not a pirate copy!!!!
The programmers of WGA need to be fired PERIOD!
I have asked several Microsoft MVP's and technets and they cant fix the 299 error.
I have spent over 20 hours trying to get the OS updated but microsoft update refuses and says validation failed.. I know the step by heart to FIX IT THE MICROSOFT WAY but so far no fix is available. releasing beta code killing my LEGIT install that is not a pirate copy!!!!
The programmers of WGA need to be fired PERIOD!
Listen when sleazy malware companies do this they are now charged under the new federal legislation that specifically prohibits this incredibly ILLEGAL behaviour.
Someone had better clue MS in to the fact that our PCs and what every the hell is one them is our PRIVATE and PERSONAL PROPERTY and is subject to the same RIGHTS and any other piece of PERSONAL PROPERTY!
God damn I hate the ******' company!
CLASS ACTION! CLASS ACTION! CLASS ACTION! CLASS ACTION! CLASS ACTION! CLASS ACTION! CLASS ACTION!
you know it you'll be on your knees begging the public to come
back..
Yes, I think MS can and should do better then this incident; but I'll admit it won't make me switch back to the Mac(I left the Mac years ago and have been much happier for it).
If you'd be happier on the Mac, then be off.
Microsoft easily the #1 OS in the world.. begging for users to come back is quite funny.. yea.. im sure there is a huge exodus to other OSs right now.. yea.. its not happening.
Right, for the users benefit. Uh huh.
If someone has legit version of winodws - there is nothing to worry about.
Only people who have pirated version (and I would say 50% have pirated versions) are trying to put Microsoft down with stupid comments about privacy. Those people should get their privacy in jail.
Pirates are always trying to say they will change to Linux or Mac, but interesting that they never do. Probably because nothing can replace good old windows?
Guys I am very technical guy, I used MSX2, OS2, all version of windows (including Vista), most versions of linux (and latest ones), many versions of Solaris, all version of Mac OS and I know that once people try to go for anything else than windows, they come back to their senses pretty quickly.
So just shut up and let Microsoft do their job. And they do the best job.
I dont get it either. If you have a legit copy then you are fine. Dont extrapolate...and go off on some conspiracy theory like well if they did this what is next . You are either a pirate or not. Stealing is stealing plain and simple.
Ummm.. obviously you are the idiot who doesn't seem to comprehend that a lot of "legit" computers seem to have problems with this crapware.
I maintain more than 20 computers in an office where 9 of them I had to call Microsoft to finally convince these are legit windows XP computers.. licenses in hand.
So now.. your generalization of just "pirated" people complaining is moronic and small-world.
The outcry is, of course, all a bit silly. Everyone knows that every piece of software Microsoft releases is essentially beta software, hence the endless patches. The release of Windows Vista will be yet another adventure into paid beta testing. And you kind of blew your cred when you said "once people try to go for anything else than windows, they come back to their senses pretty quickly." And did you actually say "good old windows"? Non-ironically? I thought that even Windows fans pretty much held it at arm's length.
I actually doubt there are too many documented cases of Windows recidivism, and anyone who comes trudging back is likely doing so because they feel they have no choice.
Anyway, I can't really blame Microsoft for wanting to lock down Windows, given that entire countries are running pirated copies, it's really just a matter of whether they overstepped by making this a mandatory update before it's finished.
I used MSX2, OS2, all version of windows (including Vista), most
versions of linux (and latest ones), many versions of Solaris, all
version of Mac OS." My guess is I could quiz you right here and
now about various aspects of Linux, Solaris or OSX, and you
would not have a clue, even with Google at your beck and call.
That being said, you should be a little more reticent in regards
to words like "idiot." Do you even know what beta software is?
The issue is not just that it is an invasion of privacy and is, at
best, duplicitous. The issue is that this software is still in beta
form, which means that even Microsoft is unwilling to stand
behind it and say that it has no significant bugs that can destroy
your system. That is why they supposedly have a policy to
ALWAYS inform users that certain packages are beta. (I say
supposedly since it is ridiculous for MS to claim that this policy
is still in effect when this, per se, violates it.)
Considering the low level at which this software resides and
does it's work, its potential to wreak havoc on your system, even
destroying entire drives due to unforeseen buffer overflow
issues (you SERIOUSLY trust Microsoft not to have released
buggy software, especially in a beta release?!!!!!) is enormous.
Your inability to see this indicates that the idiot moniker might
better be applied a little closer to home.
-Mark
(someone who DOES work with various versions of Linux, UNIX,
and OSX, and, reluctantly, Windows.)
One reason that the system complains about counterfeit software is that the firewall they were using asked the users whether to allow the program access to the internet and not knowing any better they blocked it.
Other reasons that the counterfeit message appears is that any of 5 or 6 active x controls may not be working correctly or accessing the internet.
And all of these were on legitimate PC's !!!
Each instance required a technician to spend 15 to 30 minutes to diagnose and repair the problem.
While i know that MS must protect itself against piracy, punishing legitimate users is not the way.
By the way, Who left you in charge of "shut up"?
PWS
SpyResearch
Amen
SpyResearch
Amen
Ummm.. obviously you are the idiot who doesn't seem to comprehend that a lot of "legit" computers seem to have problems with this crapware.
I maintain more than 20 computers in an office where 9 of them I had to call Microsoft to finally convince these are legit windows XP computers.. licenses in hand.
So now.. your generalization of just "pirated" people complaining is moronic and small-world.
I've found that Windows has many popular applications that have not been developed for Linux because there is no money in Linux. But file sharing with a LinuxOS is a real pleasure, surfing the net is as safe as one can dream no worms, virus, spyware you name it. I'm sure MS is going to make a killing with Vista and One Care, and I'll buy the stock. But my daily computing will be done with Linux. Life without Microsoft is possible. But what is next to come, will be spending money to buy Vista and then $50.00 a year for OneCare forget Norton and Mcaffe, they are already out of the picture, and on top of that, keep reintalling Vista every time gets infected with God knows what new malware will come in the future.
After all Linux has Open Office, CD/DVD Burning and many more tools that work, You don't get every thing in life. Windows lacks security, there is no such a thing as peace of mind while running Windows, you are always on the edge and many times ,in serious trouble. Restoring, reinstalling, reformating, updating, patching twice a month.
Now MS wants the public to test and give them feedback, for free?? and pay later for a version of Vista??
Apple are open and above-board. The Mac Software Update tells
you what updates are available, describes each of them in a brief
synopsis, and allows the user to select or de-select which ones
he wants, all before starting the download process.
If enough large network users, such as businesses and
academia, started switching to Mac, maybe Micrsoft would start
to do what's good for the customer, instead of what's good for
Microsoft.
So, its not just apple.
Like I said, I have legit licenses for all. It's stuck like an ugly pimple on the side of my PC cases. But I don't like MicroShaft being so nosey into my personal data. If they want to stick their noses up my arse, they can come over and do it physically.
;-)
PWS