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.

[thedreaming]

Why it's being pushed

A few days after the first WGA notification program was released, a workaround was found, so Microsoft reworked the program so the workaround doesn't work, then pushes the software onto people's systems under the guise that it's a critical update. It's not a critical update to users, just microsoft.

[kamwmail-cnet1]

I never trust MicroShaft. Download WGA hack 905474.exe.

I have licenses for ALL my PC's - it's a holographic label stuck to the side of my PC's cases. But I DO NOT trust MicroShaft when they insist on collecting my personal data like a Gestapo. That's why I reinstall Windoze and refuse the "check" it's legitamacy.

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.

[Hernys]

Not the case

You cannot know if you are legit or not. Those Windows boxes could be fakes, some of them have very good quality holographs. The activation process and the associated activation key is the only way to know (or buying directly from Microsoft, but few companies get to do that).
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.

[gbrayjr]

What fool trusts a random hack executable off the net???

Install this hack, and risk your PC and every piece of data on it. Anyone who downloads some random hack executable off the internet to "protect their privacy" is naive and asking for trouble. How do you know your "hack" doesn't come with a built-in keylogger or spam trojan? How many versions of this executable are out there?

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.

[mlinder69]

WGA

Anyone ever thought about what happens when XP reaches the end of support, like do the activation servers get shut off? I'm betting this is what will happen. I dont know about anyone else but if I buy a piece of software I expect to use it as long as I want too.

[thedreaming]

what microsoft thinks

Microsoft thinks that you're too stupid to think for yourself, so it holds your hand on everything, including when they think you need to upgrade. I like thinking for myself, been doing it all my life. I've been seriously considering either using linux or just getting a mac because I want to be in control of when I upgrade my software and hardware and not have a company shove their pre release software down my throat because they're trying to nail pirates!

[sanenazok]

c'mon

I'm sure you're ready to up and install Windows 95 or Windows 3.1 on the computer you bought yesterday...no company supports more than a few older versions, and it's not like activation is that hard to bypass.

Anything before Windows 98 is essentially useless since these OS's didn't support: FAT32, USB, AGP and a myriad of other technologies.

[zxocuteboy]

STOPPING WGA DEAD IN ITS TRACKS- AND STILL GET UPDATES

This post will illustrate:
http://zxo.blogspot.com/2006/06/stopping-windows-genuine-advantage.html

[jabbotts]

What? M$ using backdoor software in it's OS? Nah, say it ain't so

Gratuitus Jab at MickeySoft:

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.

[inachu]

I have a legal copy and WGa messed up my system

I can no longer up date my Windows Media Center.

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!

[inachu]

I have a legal copy and WGa messed up my system

I can no longer up date my Windows Media Center.

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!

[pansy]

wga

Inachu, did you mean to post this message three times, or is there something wrong with your computer??

[inachu]

I have a legal copy and WGa messed up my system

I can no longer up date my Windows Media Center.

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!

[206538395198018178908092208948]

Two Words

CLASS ACTION!

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!

[imacpwr]

Mac just keeps looking better and better and better and..

That's it Microsoft, just keep shooting yourself in the foot. Before
you know it you'll be on your knees begging the public to come
back..

[catch23]

Then be on your way

and don't let the door hit you on the way out.
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.

[aSiriusTHoTH]

hehe.. ehh.. ok..

Im typing this out on my laptop with Debian installed...

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.

[ByteTraveler]

Their Experiment Backfired in my Case

My update log shows a string of failed attempts downloading this thing (fortunately, I guess)... Just "Error downloading"... And yes, I have a perfect legal copy of XP/Pro. Now that I realize I'm an involuntary tester, I won't bother trying to figure-out why I get the errors.

[MythicalMe]

WTF???

I'm getting tired of Microsoft trying to protect their OS. I own legal copies of XP and frankly I am disturbed by this "call home" software. I usually install everything and even installed WGA. The first time that Notifications was installed on one of my machines a virus seemed to infiltrate immediately thereafter. I uninstalled it, which was a pain, cleaned up the virus and have been both Notifications and virus free since. Needless to say, I won't be installing these call home software anymore and if they are made critical updates I guess I will be turning off automatic updates too.

[xauf93]

mindful consumerism

no one should actually be surprised by this, and we should read the license terms. though it may be tedious, its the way things work here. the fact is, if you're installing anything without finding out what it is, you deserve what you get. no one is forced to use microsoft software, there are plenty of alternatives. consumers need to be more mindful of what choices they have and what effects those choices might have.

[xauf93]

mindfulness

no one should actually be surprised by this, and we should read the license terms. though it may be tedious, its the way things work here. the fact is, if you're installing anything without finding out what it is, you deserve what you get. no one is forced to use microsoft software, there are plenty of alternatives. consumers need to be more mindful of what choices they have and what effects those choices might have.

[technewsjunkie]

BIG BROTHER. Wha cha gonna do? _Switch_ Macs do Windows too

Don't ya just love Microsoft's "we're doing it for our users" ploy.

Right, for the users benefit. Uh huh.

[john55440]

Windows Update & Beta

Windows Update should only be used for delivering completed, nonbeta, software - PERIOD.

[alenas]

Only pirates can complain

What a bunch of idiots complaining?
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.

[Lindy01]

One word

Amen.


I dont get it either. If you have a legit copy then you are fine. Don?t 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.

[umbramistweave]

Not just pirates

I spent several hours trying to fix an office machine which slowed to a crawl or froze after this update was installed. It's beta. It's flawed. It should not have been released as an update.

[aSiriusTHoTH]

Um.. it affects legit computers

"What a bunch of idiots complaining?"

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.

[Ikthog]

Yar matey!

The issue is whether forcing users to beta test your software, and not only failing to adequately inform them but actually imply that they are getting a "high priority" update that does nothing to make their system run better, is ethical (and, if some enterprising lawyer starts thinking "class action," legal).

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.

[DeusExMachina]

Do you even kno what BETA means?!?

I find it very difficult to believe that you "[sic] 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." 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.)

[thewizardofahhs]

Legit users complain.

I service PC's. I have seen several PC's com in recently complaining that the software was not Genuine. I happen to know that the software WAS GENUINE! I am the system builder that sold the computer originally and preloaded the windows I purchased from a genuine DSP.

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.

[CraigBryan]

That is a very closed mined way to look at this issue.

I have to agree with "SilveryRose". I have a Dell Dimensions desktop that was messed up after this Microsoft download. I seriously doubt that Dell is selling computers with pirated copies of Windows installed on it.

[Miditone]

I am not a prirate

I am not a pirate. I paid for my computer and its software. It's not theirs to install beta on or phone home from.
By the way, Who left you in charge of "shut up"?
PWS

[spyresearch]

(Byte that hand M.S.--Only pirates can complain

Gee I'll have to say that the statement (Only pirates can complain) must have came straight from Microsoft because thats the feeling customers have been getting from them for sometime now; Everybody is a pirate ! yep thats right,now why is it that no one takes in to account the innumerable copies (O excuse me I meant licensed not sold copies) re-purchased because a lot of people give in (for various reasons) rather than deal with the repeated phone calls for to M.S. for example, when trouble strikes and lets not mention the countless copies on OEM software due to bios or board changouts (my mother has one of those OEM dead beat machines.) O thats right piracy runs in the family I guess, Yea right! along with my neighbors machine too. It must be hard to stay afloat with so many pirates surrounding you Microsoft.! If there were as many pirates as you people claim then you'd be sunk right now (well except maby for those high prices) so continue to bite the hand that feeds you and watch yourself grow skinny.
SpyResearch
Amen

[spyresearch]

(Byte that hand M.S.--Only pirates can complain

Gee I'll have to say that the statement (Only pirates can complain) must have came straight from Microsoft because thats the feeling customers have been getting from them for sometime now; Everybody is a pirate ! yep thats right,now why is it that no one takes in to account the innumerable copies (O excuse me I meant licensed not sold copies) re-purchased because a lot of people give in (for various reasons) rather than deal with the repeated phone calls for to M.S. for example, when trouble strikes and lets not mention the countless copies on OEM software due to bios or board changouts (my mother has one of those OEM dead beat machines.) O thats right piracy runs in the family I guess, Yea right! along with my neighbors machine too. It must be hard to stay afloat with so many pirates surrounding you Microsoft.! If there were as many pirates as you people claim then you'd be sunk right now (well except maby for those high prices) so continue to bite the hand that feeds you and watch yourself grow skinny.
SpyResearch
Amen

[p.romany]

Genuine Advantage?

My version of XP automatically downloads & installs updates. This included the anti-piracy beta. My version was pre-installed on a new, legally purchased Dell computer. My computer froze during the update installation process & "blue screened". After a forced re-boot, my login screen was watermarked to tell me that I was a victim of piracy. I had to wait for a countdown to complete before I could log in. Fortunately, after the third re-boot I was able to resume the update & re-booot safely back into a "legal" XP!

[aSiriusTHoTH]

Legit users affected

"What a bunch of idiots complaining?"

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.

[baswwe]

maybe your coworkers used the keys at home?

beat ya to it! haha

[gerardogerardo80]

Windows lacks safety and stability

Always has and always will, 21 years with remedies and band-aids but no cure. All version had unresolved issues that MS could not fix
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??