Microsoft plans antipiracy update for Windows 7

[DKT27]

An optional update to Windows closes a number of hacks that counterfeiters have used to bypass the product activation technologies built into Windows 7. With the update, Windows will try to restore Windows to its proper state, as well as marking tampered versions as non-genuine copies of the operating system.

Windows 7 that will close a number of loopholes that counterfeiters had used to thwart the operating system's built-in antipiracy measures.

Microsoft said on Thursday that it is planning an update to

The Windows Activation Technologies Update for Windows 7, which will be released later this month, closes more than 70 "activation hacks," according to Joe Williams, general manager of Microsoft's Genuine Windows unit, responsible for anti-counterfeiting measures. The update will also check with a server periodically to see if there are further hacks that need to be addressed, though Williams said no personally identifiable information about the user will be sent to the server.

In an interview, Williams cautioned about the dangers that come with using nongenuine versions of the operating system, citing a German study that looked at several hundred copies of Windows 7 that were posted online and found that nearly a third had some type of malware.

"We do see malicious code--everything from easily discoverable malware to keyboard recording," he said. "There's all sorts of things we've seen that puts our customers at risk and their data at risk."

The update will be available for manual download from Microsoft's genuine Web site on Feb. 16 and from the Microsoft Download center the following day. Later this month, the update will also be offered through Windows Update as an "important" (but optional) update.

Williams said the new update will remain optional and that those who choose not to install it will still be able to get other Windows updates, a position that marks a fairly sharp contrast to the once hard line Microsoft was taking against piracy.

With the first release of Windows Vista, Microsoft took an aggressive stance, shifting users it determined to have nongenuine versions of the operating system into a severely limited "reduced functionality" mode. In that mode, all users could do was access the Internet for an hour a day.

However, Williams said that Microsoft heard from customers, businesses, and governments that the restrictions were to draconian and decided to try a different approach.

In the first update to Vista, Microsoft relaxed things considerably, choosing instead to just prominently notify users that their version was not genuine.

Starting with Vista Service Pack 1, users saw their background changed to black and a message that their version was nongenuine, as well as getting a dialog box encouraging them to activate a genuine copy. One could choose to do so immediately, or, after 15 seconds, could click an option to activate later.

With Windows 7, Microsoft eased things even more, allowing users to immediately choose to deal with the issue later, although those that choose that option are notified of some of the benefits of genuine software.

Williams declined to say whether Microsoft will close any of the activation hacks with the first service pack to Windows 7, noting that the company has not yet confirmed any plans for that update. Microsoft did close a number of activation holes in Vista with the service pack to that product.

Williams said Microsoft has put much of its focused on informing customers that may have been duped into buying a PC with non-genuine software.

"We are pretty realistic," Williams said. "People who are actively pirating will try to find ways to continue to pirate."

Source - CNET

[shought]

"There's all sorts of things we've seen that puts our customers at risk and their data at risk."

These 'things' were noticed in pirated torrents, don't think people downloading those include 'their customers'.

*Cough* flawed reasoning, FTW! *cough*

[DKT27]

This is non-sense. Atleast one person will be able to crack it. But still I'm worried. What will happen if by-chance a person downloads it. :unsure:

[mara-]

Well, I don't think that they can do anything about copies that uses keys from big brands, especially those with modified BIOS. Loaders also should not be affected. I was running Vista with loader since SP1 was released, then I was using it with SP2 until Windows 7 was RTM. I never had any problem. Now, because I don't want loader, I modified bios for Win 7. They can only blacklist keys from big brands, but that would affect legal users.

Cheers ;)

[DKT27]

Let hope that they fail to implement or make it work. :unsure:

[nsane.forums]

Shiver me (Aero Peek) timbers!

View: Original Article

[lister]

I don't get the whole WGA thing. Most (if not all) Windows users have allready bought a copy of the OS with their PC.

Hounding 'the few' who have loaded a diff (sometimes earier version) OS is a minor annoyance to 'the few', who will get new ways to bypass the WGA (it's even enjoyable to some) and a minor annoyance to the majority whose OS is legal - or major to those who get hammered for having a few corrupt files who are legal but fail the WGA.

Sorry, WTA!

[Night Owl]

lister, you are absolutely right.

I actually bought a Windows 7 Home Premium upgrade for my Windows Vista 64-bit PC. My upgrade would not activate so I called the toll-free number in the Windows 7 booklet. Microsoft told me I shouldn't have called that number. :o I then got bounced from department to department and I was even accidentally hung up on at least once. Of all the departments, you would have thought that the Windows 7 Activation department would have been able to fix my problem, but no they gave up and transferred me to somebody else. Anyway, I was on the phone with Microsoft for close to one and a half hours. What a joke.

Anyway, I'm now running Windows 7 Ultimate!! :pirate:

[DKT27]

@Night Owl: You are using a pirated one? :D

I mean virtually pirated one. :P

[Night Owl]

@DKT27: Aye, matey. :pirate: Shiver me timbers. :pirate: After Microsoft made me wait about one and a half hours, they're getting what they deserve! :pirate:

The newer models of my Sony notebook got a BIOS update with SLIC 2.1 which works perfectly on all the older models. And I downloaded the retail ISO file for Windows 7 Ultimate x64. And I activated it with a Windows 7 Ultimate OEM key.

Result: "Windows is activated". :pirate: (As mara- said, Microsoft would have to blacklist the OEM keys, but that would affect legal users.)

[myidisbb]

most of the acutally illegal copies of windows OS prograsm are in 3rd world countries. biggest one being china.

nothing pisses me off more then my legal copy asking to be checked. plus i firm believer that in case shit happens to the world, we should not have wga type of checks.

[DKT27]

I agree. WGA and OGA sucks. -_-

[Bizarre™]

@DKT27:

You don't need WGA if you have XP. You can update offline.

Ever heard of Post XP SP3 Updates?

[DKT27]

I choose what updates to install, by myself. I've never installed WGA and OGA. ;)

[Bizarre™]

@DKT27:

That's what I was doing in the past. It's too much work.

Post XP SP3 Updates is much easier to implement.

[DKT27]

Hmm. Now I Googled it. :think:

Not much days left for me on XP. But I would surely like to know(to help others), what site/way do you download Post XP SP3 Updates from?

[Atasas]

http://www.ryanvm.net/msfn/

[oZ.]

lister, you are absolutely right.

I actually bought a Windows 7 Home Premium upgrade for my Windows Vista 64-bit PC. My upgrade would not activate so I called the toll-free number in the Windows 7 booklet. Microsoft told me I shouldn't have called that number. :o I then got bounced from department to department and I was even accidentally hung up on at least once. Of all the departments, you would have thought that the Windows 7 Activation department would have been able to fix my problem, but no they gave up and transferred me to somebody else. Anyway, I was on the phone with Microsoft for close to one and a half hours. What a joke.

Anyway, I'm now running Windows 7 Ultimate!! :pirate:

that's why u don't buy software if you don have to =P

[Night Owl]

that's why u don't buy software if you don have to =P

Yeah, if I would have known, I wouldn't have bought the upgrade. Oh well, at least I bought it for half price during Microsoft's summer sale.