[Martinus]

A friend just sent me this link, I'm more than a little bothered to say the least: Article

While the pilot is presently opt-in, as it expands later in the year, AU and WU customers may be required to participate. Users who have not validated their machines as genuine through WGA will not be able to download IE 7 and Windows Defender among other downloads and updates. However, they will not be denied critical security updates

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Will the Windows customer who uses auto-updates have the opportunity to decline this update and still install other updates?:

"The pilot is opt-in, so all participants are given a choice about whether or not they wish to participate. The opt-in is via a License Terms dialog, and users can chose to accept or decline. Only users who accept will receive the software. Once installed, participants will have the option to suppress notifications for some length of time. Users will not have the option of uninstalling WGA Notifications. Customers [already] running genuine Windows Advantage will be unaffected by WGA notifications. Users running non-genuine Windows will see the notifications at boot time, login time, and periodically to via a system tray bubble notification. Messages are displayed until the system is running genuine Windows. Users can choose to suppress the notifier. The notifier will remind such users that they are not running genuine Windows and direct them to the WGA failure page, where they can learn more about the benefits of genuine software and take advantage of the Microsoft genuine Windows offers designed to help victims of counterfeit software. All users are able to receive High Priority Security & reliability updates regardless of their validation status."

It's almost time to give up all rights to your computer or choose another OS that you can trust to not 'collect data' from your computer. Linux/BSD anyone?

[BlackDove]

I don't see the problem.

Just don't update. You don't need to anyway. Get yourself an SP2 copy and let it be. That's what I'm doing. Works awesome.

[aldo_14]

I have absolutely no intention of ever buying any MS product (possibly excepting exceptional games), that's for sure.

[Fury]

What's the big deal? They have all the right to check if you are running a legit copy of Windows or not. If you're running illegal copy, then too bad for you. It's not like you're going to get any pity points for not wanting or being able to afford a legit copy.

[aldo_14]

What's the big deal? They have all the right to check if you are running a legit copy of Windows or not. If you're running illegal copy, then too bad for you. It's not like you're going to get any pity points for not wanting or being able to afford a legit copy.

Rather simple; it's an application that cannot be removed, and which prevents you from downloading updates unless you afford it the privilege of scanning your hard drive for whatever information it requires.

[Fury]

So? Are you still disillusioned by the fact that you are actually enjoying your so called freedom in a free country? Heck, authorities have all the bloody control of our lives with or without MS and Windows.

[Turnsky]

i was hearing about this from a friend, aparrently said scan was saying that her legit copy of windows, wasn't. either way, just switch off auto updates, and leave it be with whatever service pack is issued, simply put. it'll *****, whine, and nag you, but will do basically jack.

[aldo_14]

So? Are you still disillusioned by the fact that you are actually enjoying your so called freedom in a free country? Heck, authorities have all the bloody control of our lives with or without MS and Windows.

Sorry, but eh?  I simply don't like the concept of arbitrarily opening up my private files to anyone, be it individuals or companies.  You wouldn't accept that level of of intrusion for any other form of personal information and/or possesions, why for information?  If the RIAA knocked at the door and asked to rifle through your CDs to check none were CD-Rs, you'd tell them to **** off, and rightly so.  This is no different in my mind.

[karajorma]

So why give up more control?

I happen to run a genuine copy of XP at the moment (dispite my heartfelt thought that MS owe me an OS because my computer came bundled with ME ). I certainly don't want MS feeling that they can scan my PC any time they want. Especially considering the fact that if I did install one of the pirated versions of Windows which I can very easily get hold off I could crack it and avoid having it do anything of the sort.   

I don't see the problem.

Just don't update. You don't need to anyway. Get yourself an SP2 copy and let it be. That's what I'm doing. Works awesome.

If you think that waiting a year between service packs so that you can obtain patches to critical system vulnerabilities is a good idea I really don't know what I can say to you

[Martinus]

It's not the pirates that need to worry, it's the people who actually paid for windows. Pirates are simply going to use a legit copy of windows to grab the updates, streamline them into a ripped copy and make numerous copies of that. WGA will most likely never see their machines.

People who actually paid for windows on the other hand have a piece of software snooping around on their hard-drives looking for anything that Microsoft deems illegal or that aids them.

[karajorma]

Exactly. This announcement actually makes it more likely that I'll simply pirate XP Pro and install that when I do the reinstall I've been promising myself for the last month or so.

[Taristin]

It's not the pirates that need to worry, it's the people who actually paid for windows. Pirates are simply going to use a legit copy of windows to grab the updates, streamline them into a ripped copy and make numerous copies of that. WGA will most likely never see their machines.

People who actually paid for windows on the other hand have a piece of software snooping around on their hard-drives looking for anything that Microsoft deems illegal or that aids them.

Well, find me a way to get sketbook pro 2, and artrage2 to run under linux on a tablet PC (which means it has to have tablet support) and I may just do it. :}

[CP5670]

Why is this such a big deal? There are usually cracks available to get around these things. I think something like WindizUpdate may also work.

I'm running a genuine copy of XP (came with a laptop) that I've cracked anyway, as I didn't want it complaining whenever I changed hardware.

[deftonesmx17]

Where does it say that the program is snooping around your HDD

[aldo_14]

Where does it say that the program is snooping around your HDD

What do you think it would do to verify the legitimacy of the program?  Go eeny-meeny-miny-mo?

[deftonesmx17]

Where does it say that the program is snooping around your HDD

What do you think it would do to verify the legitimacy of the program?

Check specific files that M$ has every right to check the validity of that would have to be specified in the EULA. Do you grasp the difference between that and somthing just snooping around your HDD????????

To snoop is to pry into the private affairs of others. It is made very clear that it doesnt pry into any of your private data.

[aldo_14]

Check specific files that M$ has every right to check the validity of that would have to be specified in the EULA. Do you grasp the difference between that and somthing just snooping around your HDD????????

To snoop is to pry into the private affairs of others. It is made very clear that it doesnt pry into any of your private data.

It is also very clear that it has the potential to do so, most likely with full system access priveleges.  Even if Microsoft themselve aren't inclined to abuse that, it is quite possible a third party will seek to - either someone exploiting the traditional Microsoft security holes, or perhaps the likes of the RIAA and MPAA suing MS to force them to provide a DRM functionality.

[deftonesmx17]

Check specific files that M$ has every right to check the validity of that would have to be specified in the EULA. Do you grasp the difference between that and somthing just snooping around your HDD????????

To snoop is to pry into the private affairs of others. It is made very clear that it doesnt pry into any of your private data.

It is also very clear that it has the potential to do so, most likely with full system access priveleges.  Even if Microsoft themselve aren't inclined to abuse that, it is quite possible a third party will seek to - either someone exploiting the traditional Microsoft security holes, or perhaps the likes of the RIAA and MPAA suing MS to force them to provide a DRM functionality.

And I have the potential to gain control of your computer and snoop around your HDD right now just by you being connected to the internet, but that doesnt mean I am doing it................

[Taristin]

Check specific files that M$ has every right to check the validity of that would have to be specified in the EULA. Do you grasp the difference between that and somthing just snooping around your HDD????????

To snoop is to pry into the private affairs of others. It is made very clear that it doesnt pry into any of your private data.

It is also very clear that it has the potential to do so, most likely with full system access priveleges.  Even if Microsoft themselve aren't inclined to abuse that, it is quite possible a third party will seek to - either someone exploiting the traditional Microsoft security holes, or perhaps the likes of the RIAA and MPAA suing MS to force them to provide a DRM functionality.

And I have the potential to gain control of your computer and snoop around your HDD right now just by you being connected to the internet, but that doesnt mean I am doing it................

Here, Let me help you win this argument.
By not agreeing to this, aldo is acting like a nazi. Nazi nazi hitler.

[deftonesmx17]