Mobile/PDA About Us Advertise here


		User name	Password

		Not registered yet? Register here. Lost your password? Click here.

Browse by topic

News

Microsoft makes updates to WGA

20 February 2007 15:16 by James "Dela" Delahunty | 12 comments

Microsoft has updated the Windows Genuine Advantage program today in response to feedback from users. WGA is software that attempts to identify whether or not a Windows installation is genuine or not. If found to be illegitimate, the program periodically alerts the user that the software is pirated and blocks access to some downloads.

When it was discovered that WGA was "phoning home" secretly, it was heavily criticized and became even more unpopular. Other problems included false positives, where users of genuine software were told they were running pirated software.

After a WGA test, the software will now label your installation genuine, non-genuine or "not sure". The software will rolled out in Automatic Updates over "the next several weeks or months" and will update every 90 to 120 days.

"There's no denying WGA has had its challenges but we really think we've listened to customers. When a customer fails it now gives more information as to why. Some 33 million people have gone through WGA now in the UK alone. We've added a glossy wizard to make it easier for customers. If any IT manager does have problems, please get in touch and we'll try to help." Microsoft UK anti-piracy head Michala Alexander told The Register.

Source:
The Register

Permalink to this article

Lawsuit alleges Windows Genuine Advantage is 'spyware' (9 September 2009)

WGA bites legitimate customers (27 August 2007)

WGA update phones home (9 March 2007)

Take-Two enters settlement for Hot Coffee (1 March 2007)

Office piracy checks to become mandatory (26 October 2006)

XP piracy rates drop thanks to campaign and WGA (19 October 2006)

Microsoft alters WGA after spyware claims (10 June 2006)

Microsoft steps up Windows Genuine Advantage trial (25 April 2006)

Windows Genuine Advantage beaten again (29 July 2005)

Microsoft Windows Genuine Advantage cracked by Indian (23 June 2005)

« Previous news article
UK retailer slashes Xbox 360 price

Next news article »
Indiana video game bill moving forward

Post your comment

Discuss this article!
borhan9 (AfterDawn Addict) 21 February 2007 1:51
I don't think this is going to make much of a difference. People will either to choose to download it or not. [ + quote]
hughjars (Inactive) 21 February 2007 4:31
I don't mind it warning me, I can make my own mind up about whether I go ahead or not (but I certainly don't feel any need for any secretly 'phoning home' software). [ + quote]
ZippyDSM (AfterDawn Addict) 21 February 2007 10:44
Originally posted by hughjars: I don't mind it warning me, I can make my own mind up about whether I go ahead or not (but I certainly don't feel any need for any secretly 'phoning home' software). the more it annoys the user the more a user will buy it and get it over with. [ + quote]
borhan9 (AfterDawn Addict) 21 February 2007 10:49
Quote: the more it annoys the user the more a user will buy it and get it over with. There is no way I will purchase the updates only if it free on the windows update site thats all. [ + quote]
ZippyDSM (AfterDawn Addict) 21 February 2007 10:54
Quote: [quote]the more it annoys the user the more a user will buy it and get it over with. There is no way I will purchase the updates only if it free on the windows update site thats all. mostly because it will nag you till you get a "legitimate" key,or illicitly remove it. [ + quote]
alex131 (Member) 21 February 2007 12:39
Are these similar to the anti-piracy warnings on XP? Those are a mild nuisance at their worst. My buddy got one of those although his copy was paid for, and he just left it there for another six months until he got a new computer. [ + quote]
Steve83 (Member) 22 February 2007 13:17
Originally posted by ZIppyDSM: the more it annoys the user the more a user will buy... ...something else? I have enough problems keeping my machines running. I don't need the OS designer adding in BS to MAKE it hassle me. Since Vista has been released, I'm really starting to consider Linux or Mac now. [ + quote]
borhan9 (AfterDawn Addict) 22 February 2007 13:25
I just did the WGA update. No problems so far. [ + quote]
ZippyDSM (AfterDawn Addict) 22 February 2007 13:29
Quote: [quote=ZIppyDSM]the more it annoys the user the more a user will buy... ...something else? I have enough problems keeping my machines running. I don't need the OS designer adding in BS to MAKE it hassle me. Since Vista has been released, I'm really starting to consider Linux or Mac now. the more it annoys the user the more a user will buy it to kill the naging ,I know a few people that bought OEMs versions of XP to get over WGA. WGA nags you to activate then locks normal XP mode down after awhile,they implemented it to get more money from consumers,and this tactic causes legit users to suffer. [ + quote]
ZippyDSM (AfterDawn Addict) 22 February 2007 13:33
Originally posted by borhan9: I just did the WGA update. No problems so far. I have the no update after a update version of WGA kill (2.0)and I love it. [ + quote]
ChappyTTV (Newbie) 24 February 2007 18:04
Personally, if WGA only checked ONCE and then never bothered you again (unless your copy's illegal anyway), that would be the way to go. Why do I need this thing to keep checking me every Tuesday, or now every couple of months, if my copy has already been checked and found to be valid? Thats what pisses me off about all this, I could care less if they wanted to check my OS once, I know it's valid so I have nothing to hide there, but why do I have to go thru this crap every second Tuesday, or 2nd month now. Someone with a legit copy should not have to keep suffereing thru that infernal WGA download notice. Get It Together MS!! Once is ENOUGH! [ + quote]
ZippyDSM (AfterDawn Addict) 25 February 2007 6:37
Originally posted by ChappyTTV: Personally, if WGA only checked ONCE and then never bothered you again (unless your copy's illegal anyway), that would be the way to go. Why do I need this thing to keep checking me every Tuesday, or now every couple of months, if my copy has already been checked and found to be valid? Thats what pisses me off about all this, I could care less if they wanted to check my OS once, I know it's valid so I have nothing to hide there, but why do I have to go thru this crap every second Tuesday, or 2nd month now. Someone with a legit copy should not have to keep suffereing thru that infernal WGA download notice. Get It Together MS!! Once is ENOUGH! No its not,one can easily spam out the partition on other machines after acvation,altho I wish MS would just do a black list on keys and not "watch" over the OS.... [ + quote]