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Microsoft Security Updates for Pirated Windows?
zachlipton writes "DSL Reports has an interesting question posted: should users with pirated copies of Windows be allowed to download security updates, such as for Sasser? Apparently, without a valid CD key, users cannot download these updates. Do they get what they deserve, or should they be allowed these updates through Windows Update in order to reduce the impact of these worms on the rest of the net? Should security updates only for worms be made available to pirated users, or also updates for issues that while not posing a risk to other internet users, would open the pirate up to a security hole?"
Whatever they decide will no doubt be best for everyone. Afterall, they have the resources to really look into the questions while all we can do is speculate.
"Dodge this!"
Got time? Spend some of it coding or testing
Company profits vs. general good of the internet. I really wonder which one they'll choose.
(note that I left out writing better software)
SecondPageMedia - Wha
Maybe it's something you could get used to.
Frank: Hey Bob, could I burn a CD on your computer?
Bob: Yeah sure.
Frank: Uhh. It says it's going to shut down in 60 seconds.
Bob: Yep. Gotta work fast.
But if they don't update, then the rest with legal copies is also affected when pirates computers get infected by worms.
I have a modest proposition: MS should made for pirates a "special" version of the security update: one that will disable the whole TPC/IP stack
Muahahahahaha!!!!! Take that, Mr. Pirate!!!!
And if one stole a TV from a shop, and TV is broken, he should be able to bring it back and request a replacement.
MSDOS: 20+ years without remote hole in the default install
TPC/IP stack? What's that, Transactions per Century/IP?
Not funny... Insightful.. I fully support this idea. (As someone who is currently using LEGAL copies of Windows XP Pro, .Net Studio, and Windows 2000 Server.
at last, someone with some real credentials.
london is drowning and i live by river
They can be nasty, but what can you do?
I go downtown and lure small children into my car with candy, money, and toys. Then I drive them to my house and ask them to click on I Agree, Yes, or Ok.
You are using the wrong arguments to convince her. Try saying: "But an iMac goes so much better with your furniture than that ugly beige-box PC".
I wouldn't have sex with a new partner without a condom
;-)
Well it's lucky you're a Slashdot reader and don't have to worry about such concerns anyway
I have a modest proposition: MS should made for pirates a "special" version of the security update: one that will disable the whole TPC/IP stack ...which would, at last, secure the computer.
One of these days Microsoft is going to get nailed by a "innocent third party" law suit
This isn't +5 interesting, this is +5 wishful thinking.
> in fact I wish they would write code that makes illigimate versions of windows to not allow any virus scanner to run
> plus crash randomly.
And how would they differ from the regular versions, anyway?!
cheers.
``If a program can't rewrite its own code, what good is it?'' - Mel
"FCK GW", man politics gets everywhere these days
Maybe they should start programming the viruses to check for valid CD keys ;-)
That is quite possibly the best post I have ever read. Thank you.
!hoD
Should security updates only for worms be made available to pirated users
We can pirate people now? Cool... how do I burn me a Britney?
In the 50's in Venezuela, we had a dictator called Marcos Perez Jimenez.
/me hopes Windows can reach that quality. It certainly has improved, but the user hasn't. Stupid people clicking all those .exe, .vbs and .pif files
When a tunnel was built in a city, he ordered the arquitects to stand in it, and ordered 10 tanks to drive slowly above the tunnel with the crew below to see if the tunnel would hold the weight.
I'm sure you can tell the quality of the work that was done here in that time.
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