AfterDawn: News

Microsoft makes updates to WGA

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

Written by: James Delahunty @ 20 Feb 2007 15:16

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• 12 comments

• borhan9

  I don't think this is going to make much of a difference. People will either to choose to download it or not.

  21.2.2007 01:51 #1

• 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).

  21.2.2007 04:31 #2

• ZippyDSM

  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.

  21.2.2007 10:44 #3

• borhan9

  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.

  21.2.2007 10:49 #4

• ZippyDSM

  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.

  21.2.2007 10:54 #5

• alex131

  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.

  21.2.2007 12:39 #6

• Steve83

  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.

  22.2.2007 13:17 #7

• borhan9

  I just did the WGA update. No problems so far.

  22.2.2007 13:25 #8

• ZippyDSM

  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.

  22.2.2007 13:29 #9

• ZippyDSM

  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.

  22.2.2007 13:33 #10

• 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!

  24.2.2007 18:04 #11

• ZippyDSM

  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....

  25.2.2007 06:37 #12