Does this report home, every day, as well?
Microsoft Corp. acknowledged Wednesday that it needs to better inform users that its tool for determining whether a computer is running a pirated copy of Windows also quietly checks in daily with the software maker.
The company said the undisclosed daily check is a safety measure designed to allow the tool, called Windows Genuine Advantage, to quickly shut down in case of a malfunction. For example, if the company suddenly started seeing a rash of reports that Windows copies were pirated, it might want to shut down the program to make sure it wasn’t delivering false results.
Lazar said the company added the safety measure because the piracy check, despite widespread distribution, is still a pilot program. He said the company was worried it might have an unforeseen emergency that would require the program to terminate quickly. But he acknowledged Microsoft should have given users more information about the daily interactions.
Lazar also said the company plans to tweak the program soon so it will only check in with Microsoft every two weeks, rather than daily.
Uh-huh.
I wonder if you can uninstall the program, and only reload it when you want to get the latest Windows security updates?
Would an “emergency” be classified as, say a, lawsuit, court order, etc?
OMG! It checks in daily…um…for updates and stuff I guess.
OMG! iTunes and Quicktime do auto-updates also! AND they do it over the net! OMFG!
Holy CRAP…I just checked CCleaner and it too checks to see if there are new updates over the net!
I….I can’t believe these programs check in over the net behind my back like that! I bet my computer is crawling with these things…I can feel them.
(faints)
Or, perhaps we can get a grip and take off our tin-foil hats…..because we need them for the NSA fiasco’s.
How ironic it is that Microsoft now promotes its own spyware removal solution (nice illustration of this btw) and yet Windows is one steaming pile of spyware itself. It’s clear Microsoft cannot be trusted with your system’s security. I suggest a third party spyware, virus scan, and firewall solution. As a side note, I downloaded and installed Windows Vista Beta 2. Wow, Microsoft, great job, a glorified version of Windows XP. Between Microsoft’s obvious disdain for consumers and their own technical incompetency, thank god OS X now runs on Intel and Linux is finally becoming usable!
Feedback to poster #3 comments: Difference is huge. First, most other programs that connect to the internet automatically clearly inform users of that fact and most of the time allow users NOT to allow that option. Even more, such programs can safely be blocked by firewall or such. Programs that do not inform users and make such contacts are typically called spyware (or worst)… In case of such MS tool I suspect you can’t safely block its unannounced internet connections (would it assume you are “pirate”?).
Zone Alarm always asks if anything trying to get out is allowed, and I would imagine the same thing would happen here. No big deal.
#4, Leo Laporte has jokingly referred to the whole thing as a protection racket, and I tend to agree with him.
Do a search for the word legit.
you will find a series of .dll’s names legit{something}control.
thats what this is in referance to.
if you want delete them. not my issue if you run a pirated copy.
It has nothing to do with the antispyware application (now called windows defender)
just FYI
i should also say dont be mad at me if something screws up. you mess with your computer at your own risk.
They STILL are not willing to acknowledge that my copy of windows is genuine and therefore I can’t download IE7!!!! Then this stupid program keeps popping up!
Another correction to #3 (Johny Can’t Learn). Updates to iTunes and Quicktime require user approval. Neither program reports anything to anyone without permission. Employing the revelation that Microsoft is using spyware to try to combat piracy to attack Apple is ignorant.
You think MS is bad, check adn see how many time a day Acrobat updater calls home to ET.
Anybody know of a web site that lists domain names or IP addresses to block to prevent this phone home from leaving your network? What about a site that lists what to block for many other programs phone homes or update checks?
#6 zone alarm does ask you if you want to allow the program to connect to the internet. and so there is the ability to just click deny. no conspiracy and no moon landings invovled!
ps if we didnt land on the moon then where did we get all the cheese from?
Here’s a novel idea, How about checking to see that my serial number is valid ONCE. Then terminating the program! Forever!
What happens if in 2 years some hacker keygen’s my serial number and MS decides my copy is pirated? They cripple my machine and stop me from earning a living? Do I go back to Dell (who wont care) and get a replacement OS? Am I forced to pay MS a ransom to get to my computer data? How does someone prove they have a legit copy?
Yeah its interesting if you look in MSCONFIG to see the number of processes that are sitting there for the sole purpose of checking for updates – personally I disable them and run updates manually… waste of processor time the lot of them :\
Hey, doesn’t MS’ actions and software violate the recently passed spyware legislation?
How about a class-action suit to sort everything out.
MS definitely has more money the brains so lets all have at it and belly up to the class-action bar one more time shall we?
Pedro said:
“And BTW, those naive guys that think iTunes does not send info home I gotta tell you, you’ve been my comic relief for today.”
That happens only if you turn the MiniStore on, burro. As I said before, one has to give permission.
Genuine advantage…..for who? certainly not the ransom paying users of this piece of crap OS that MS has rammed down our throats for years. Now when they think that they may loose market share to another OS (linux) they are beginning to get worried. That’s what happens when over 90% of the pc’s sold are windows OS based. Competition? uncle Bill has never seen any so he will resort to any tactics to maintain market share. Genuine Advantage — only an advantage in the MS kingdom as I see it!
you people are morons. get off of the “lets bash microsoft” bandwagon, because you think its the cool thing to do. . if you dont like it, switch to linux. NOBODY CARES IF YOU DO.
#3
Very irritating comments. You are attempting to ridicule people for their very natural concerns. Why? Do you understand that Microsoft is making violating your privacy by contacting itself from YOUR COMPUTER, in secrecy? Hasn’t it occured to you that people may feel vulnerable when it comes to their computer because it is such a private domain? Not only that, privacy is very precious commodity, which more and more people are attacking saying that it is not protected by the Constitution. Many personal freedom and our rights to privacy have become luxuries that some are claiming that we can not afford. If behemoths such as Microsoft keep attacking our personal liberties, then possibly, Americans will eventually lose them, as have so many others around the world. Undisclosed, invasive activity by any company is therefore disconcerting. When the company is as large as Microsoft, it’s unacceptable. Big brother and all. It speaks to whether or not you want to live in a world where Microsoft vulgarly invades your life because you brought a lousy $300 program. When since $300 brought peek-a-boo rights? What did we do sell our souls or buy a lousy operating system ? Microsoft is BIG BUSINESS; Most users are just ordinary folks. Who do you think will get the short end of the stick? Why do you even bother to read a board such as this if you have so little self esteem as a computer user? Microsoft hasno respect for you and your comment shows that that suits you fine, cause you have very littl respect for yourself.
PS: If there is anything that I hate, it’s a program deciding to “phonehome” without my permission. I MUST get rid of this thing. But I have no idea where it’s located. Anyone know for sure? Pls don’t write and tell me to delete unspecified dll files. That’s just too vague.
You are a 13 yr old ass. I have never called anyone a moron in my life, yet I constatly witness this sort of sociopathic behavior on the net. Get your parent’s permission first next time. Just tiresome, how rude your little generation is. If you’re 13 physically, then you are 13 mentally. Learn to respect your fellow (hu)man.
PS
Above comment was directed at “Joe”.
“windows has completely updated your computer. No, we didn’t bother to ask if you wanted the update, we just did it. Don’t complain (well, you can but we won’t listen) we pretty much own your computer anyway so we can do whatever we want. Ha ha ha. You must restart your computer for the updates to take effect. ”
Error number 666-666-666-666-666-666
Lesser of 2 evils, is still an evil.
Microsoft is a monopoly. Deal with it, or get off the computers. End of discussion.
Oh btw.. 200 dollars for XP-home and 300 for XP Pro.
is it any wonder Microsoft software is being pirated?
With all the bugs and security holes it in, its not worth 75 bucks, let alone 200!