Microsoft ready to nuke pirated versions of Windows?
Posted Wednesday, June 28th, 2006 12:08 pm by Mon Solo
Viewed 4334 times | Related entries: Software
In case you haven’t been following your Microsoft updates lately, Microsoft has implemented a Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) routine, which is now being pushed into all Windows users’ machines via Windows Update. The WGA routine checks your system to see if it is properly activated. If not, as in your version is a pirated version, a message will advise you that your version of Windows is ”not genuine” and access to some Microsoft resources will be cut off.
Now here’s what’s cooking in the rumor mill, care of Dave Farber:
…in the fall, having the latest WGA will become mandatory and if its not installed, Windows will give a 30 day warning and when the 30 days is up and WGA isn’t installed, Windows will stop working, so you might as well install WGA now
You don’t need to be Nostradamus to see what’s coming up next: as WGA becomes mandatory, then what’s stopping Microsoft from nuking your version of Windows if they determine its pirated?
ZDnet’s Ed Bott calls it a “chilling possibility” and decries Microsoft for its “complete lack of transparency on the issue:”
Currently, no one at Microsoft is blogging about this fiasco. No executive has been quoted on the record about it. There are very few technical details available, and those that have been published are being tumbled through the spin machine and spit out as press releases
This is clearly a case of the right intentions but with the wrong implementation. Consider also the implications: Microsoft can also force its own products onto your workstation, threatening that it will disable your Windows if you choose otherwise.
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16 Responses to “Microsoft ready to nuke pirated versions of Windows?”
And Scoble just quit, too. Now who’s gonna explain this mess?
Mike, good point. The lack of “spin” and “damage control” could probably be attributed to Scoble’s departure.
now i know. this is what exactly i’ve seen with my friend’s friend’s friends’ pc could not get any updates at windows update.
Yes, ikabon, we all have that friend’s friend’s friend who can’t get Windows Update.
question, is there a anti-wga software so my friend’s friend’s friend can get windows update?
ikabon,
Yes. It’s called “Windows XP – original.”
thank for the advice Mon…
WGA is spyware. I wouldn’t be surprised if an antispyware package (probably from some company M$ burned) starts blocking it.
This means, more people junking Windows.
And they get sued. Serves them right.
That’s why I moved to Ubuntu Linux. No WGA, plenty of support from a warm and loving community.
With the launch of UMPC, the delay of Vista, the resignation of Scoble, the death of WinFS, Microsoft is definitely on a roll!
Unfortunately its a roll downhill…
Larry and Sergey must be having a good laugh.
one tip that will block the WGA..
never, in any circumstances, connect to the internet..
Hello, am new here, but just wanted to say, forget Scoble. Bill Gates himself is “quitting!”
Even Warren Buffet has the better idea: give it away! Buffet Enterprises will now triple in stock price and he might not be able to give it away fast enough.
How to Turn Off Automatic Updates
* Click Start , click Control Panel , and then double-click System.
* Click the Automatic Updates tab, and then click Turn off automatic updating. I want to update my computer manually.
“yer booty shivers me timbers..”
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