Windows Genuine Advantage

By Steve Biddle, in General, posted: 4-Jul-2006 22:14

If you've been using XP over the last few months or following the news you're probably aware that MS deployed "trial" software called Windows Genuine Advantage in select countries which came as high priority windows update. This software checked your product ID and if it suspected you were running a pirated copy of XP displayed a nice logo on your log in srceen saying that your software may be counterfeit and a nag screen in your system tray. It also rang home to MS every time you rebooted your PC which was not disclosed by MS.

There have been numerous reports of this software causing incompatiblity issues and over the past couple of days there appears to have been a significant back down from MS as the anti WGA backlash started to gain momentum.

MS being sued over WGA Spyware
http://www.itnews.com.au/newsstory.aspx?CIaNID=34423

How to remove WGA from your system
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/921914

And this candid interview with Microsoft's chief privacy strategist who essentially says "we stuffed up"
http://www.arcon5.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=337

Other related posts:
Netsys HPNA/HCNA adapter review
When is a deal not necessarily a deal? When you buy it from Spreets.
Are NZ consumers being duped by retailers as Digital TV comes to town?

Permalink to Windows Genuine Advantage | Add a comment (2 comments) | Main Index

Comment by alasta, on 5-Jul-2006 07:09 , user id: 210)

It is unacceptable that WGA does not provide sufficient notification about its 'phone home' functionality, but I don't really see the problem with WGA in principle. Surely Microsoft has the right to protect their intellectual property.

Comment by sbiddle, on 5-Jul-2006 09:17 , user id: )

The phone home seems to be one of the biggest gripes. I've read stories of people in oz who have incurred charges of over $30 per month extra in local call charges because WGA automatically connects to the net on startup or a reboot to phone home!

I agree of the principal but it seems to be a hack which is also causing compatibility and system stability issues on some systems. Surely MS could have just deployed such a system in Vista and left XP alone?

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Steve Biddle
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I'm an engineer who loves building solutions to solve problems.

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