WGA Reports To Microsoft Daily

9 Jun, 2006 at 9:50am ET Article published in Tech

Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) fights piracy; spies on users.

Microsoft has admitted that Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) will phone Redmond every day – something it neglected to tell users before they installed it.

WGA is designed to detect pirated copies of MS software but is also creating some false positives – two UK dealers have contacted the Reg to report customers complaining that WGA had branded their software as an illegal copy.

The software checks what is installed on your machine and then reports back to Microsoft – it sends your IP number and information on your software set-up. If your software is dodgy you will start receiving pop-up reminders from Microsoft.

One wonders just how detailed the “information on your software set-up” is.

Source: The Register

Comments

9 Jun 2006 ~ 11:59am Park_7677 Hrm. Disturbing. I'm sure someone will notice a traffic pattern (ports, IP ranges, etc) so it can be slowed down. Legit or not, the whole "spying" feeling gives you goosebumps.

Michaela Alexander, head of anti-piracy at Microsoft UK, told the Reg: "First of all this is a pilot - customers have the choice to subscribe or not.

Yeah, the "choice." I didn't see the "Download updates to fix our security holes but don't opt in for more crappy software (WGA)" checkbox
9 Jun 2006 ~ 1:39pm airbornflght No actually, I was at M$ updates, and they tried to sneak that WGA bull**** in. hah hah hah..dont think so billy poo.

What I want to know, is what is the Advantage? Not having the FBI bust your door in and run out with your computer?
9 Jun 2006 ~ 3:13pm Garg I'm not certain if this is always the case, but I know I wasn't allowed to download more updates through Windows Update without installing WGA first.
9 Jun 2006 ~ 3:21pm profdlp The "Advantage" seems to be tilted heavily in favor of MS, though if cutting down on piracy actually caused the price of Windows to fall a bit I would be happy to put up with the hassle. (profdlp is not holding his breath.)

Gargoyle wrote:

I'm not certain if this is always the case, but I know I wasn't allowed to download more updates through Windows Update without installing WGA first.

Same here.

What I find annoying is that I had to download and run a program first, then enter a code in order to update my 100% legit copy of XPpro. Shine that. :shakehead
9 Jun 2006 ~ 5:11pm airbornflght hmm. I went to the updates, and they had it as a critical update, and I thought, sure, but now critical enough guys. and I unchecked it. I had to run something once before before I could do anymore updating, and my copy is legit