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Microsoft Allows Pirates to Install XP SP2
mkraft writes "On the tail of the previously asked question on whether Microsoft should support pirated copies of XP, comes the answer.
According to Computer Times, Microsoft will allow SP2 to be installed on any copy of Windows XP including copies with invalid license keys.
Microsoft decided "that even if someone has pirated copy of Windows, it is more important to keep him safe than it is to be concerned about the revenue issue."
There is no news of whether or not pirated copies will be allowed access to the Windows Update site afterwards or just allowed to install SP2."
Good for your Microsoft.
http://www.rayn.net . Funny. Stuff.
the new DRM stuff being added has nothing to do with them letting everyone have it.
*tinfoil hat*
"You worthless post!"
-Shakespeare, 2 Gentlemen of Verona, 1. 1. 147
Of course, were they to deny access to SP2 to those with copyright infringing copies, those using them might migrate to OSS. Or Microsoft might even be sued for having allowed infected machines to exist, when they had the means to patch them.
One CPU cycle wasted on digital restrictions management is ONE TOO MANY.
I'm gonna play Devil's advocate here and say that they may allows for downloading SP2, but who thinks that when Windows Update realizes that you have an invalid/pirated key that it will dial home and let Microsoft know? A week after installling SP2, you get a nice little letter from the boys in Redmond kindly asking you to refrain from stealing Windows. As an added bonus, they'll give you a coupon for 10% off the cost of Windows that is good at your local stores. Then Microsoft can make some more money off of people buying Windows to make up for the fact that the next version won't be out for a few years. This all of course is just a hypothetical situation.
I think we're going to see a little more of this. MS is starting to notice that people care about security, they care about FOSS, they care about being treated more like grown-ups. They're having to deal with the open-source movement, and that's a good thing. It'll make competing harder, though.
From the headline:
If someone is using a pirated copy of Windows, seems to me the "revenue issue" has already been decided. ;)
The Dalai LLama
...on a pirated copy of Linux... hope my service packs will install...
My sig could be your sig!
Why can't Microsoft settle for allowing people who have not purchased a valid key for XP/Server 2K3 to have the upgrade, but also make any TCP/IP connection drop after a certain time?
That is, except for more updates from Microsoft.
This way people can still "try" Windows, use it for the programs they need, but if they want to go online or play games, etc., they'll have to do it in the time frame before Windows needs to reboot or wait a certain time before connecting again, or purchase a key.
Human nature is the same everywhere; the modes only are different. -- Earl of Chesterfield
I bought a whitebox from a dealer, and it turns out that the XP Pro was the illegitimate "FCKGW..." version. I've wanted to go "legit" on this. Is doing this as simple as buying a proper XP Pro installation CD, and will it install right over the top of everything, with no difference in the end except that I'll have a legit registration number?
This shows just how important SP2 is to Microsoft - and I don't mean from security perspective. Security is an excuse. We'll have to keep an eye on this thing.
It's quite obvious when you think about it. As long as Microsoft makes it possible to pirate windows it keeps linux down. Remember, piracy makes things more popular, like music. As long as people can get windows for free the freeness of linux is not so attractive. Microsoft knows that people who are pirating XP probably will never pay for windows ever. So by doing this they can keep their market share from going to linux or some other os. Someone using windows, even if not paying, is still using windows. And there's a chance they just might pay for some other windows software. Maybe the pirated windows and bought an EA Sports game. Doesn't help Microsoft directly, but every windows program sold makes a small difference.
Microsoft probably has the power to completely disable every internet-connected PC with pirated MS software on it. But imagine if today all pirate copies of windows stopped working. You would have a large large number of people with useless computers. They would all follow one of two courses of action. Either go to the store and buy windows for $100+ or download a linux or some such for free. More people would do the latter than Microsoft would like.
The GeekNights podcast is going strong. Listen!
even if someone has pirated copy of Windows, it is more important to keep him safe than it is to be concerned about the revenue issue.
Of course Microsoft don't care about being kind to their pirates, but to save their asses and get a better rumor about providing secure operating systems.
Beware: In C++, your friends can see your privates!
Microsoft will allow people to install SP2?
I hate to bring it up, but Apple does it the smart way. Install all the patches that you want, but if your key is considered invalid, the next time you try to run it... it prompts you for a valid key. Problem solved and all software is secure(but possibly not working).
It does suck because a few of my "Hi-End" software does not work, but you get what you pay for(troubles).
Great, so now we have to have MP9 on our computers if we want SP2. The only media players i use are winamp for audio and media player classic for films. and ocasionally vlc if mpc doesn't work.
I hate windows media player with a passion as it is horrible bloatware that takes seconds and seconds to startup. Instead of 1s like media player classic.
SURELY NOT!!!!!
Yes, but having fixed quite a few "pre-installs" of XP on various manufacturer's (Sony, Compaq, HP, e-Machines, Toshiba, etc) computers by re-installing from a "Real" XP home edition OEM CD, the CD-keys provided with those machines are generally perfectly compatible with it.
This means nobody should be whining about having to use a pirate key -- yours *should* be ok. Although I'm willing to entertain exceptions, I do have doubts about their existance.
If you could be told what you can see or read, then it follows that you could be told what to say or think - BoC
it actually might be, but enforcing that is another matter. That being said I'd be more pleased if MS started accepting liability towards their REGISTERED users instead of allowing those who install pirated copies to upgrade. In fact the 'upgrade' issue would probably go away all by itsself because MS would have to make sure they sell a solid product. Way too much money being lost. TCO studies historically look at things like purchase price, not at value of time/money lost because of sloppy products, which can be several orders of magnitude larger than the license cost of the original product.
MP3 Search Engine
Since SP1 didn't stop anyone from using pirated copies neither will SP2 even if they tried, so spin it like they care.
SP1 did stop people from using pirated copies; it wouldn't install if the registration key was one of two red-flagged ones (for example, that one that starts with "F...").
Of course, the day after that, out come all those programs which automatically change your Windows key to a new, un-flagged one.
If I were running Microsoft, I'd give up on copy-protection altogether. It's a waste of resources, because it simply does not work and never will. Except maybe with NGSCB, since Microsoft will be administering your computer and not you.
Before SP1 came out, copies of XP Corporate Edition (which doesn't require on-line activation) had been circulating along with a few known keys or key blocks. It was a simple matter to block that relatively small set of keys in the SP1 software package.
Now, key generators have been out for some time. While Microsoft could graze the newsgroups looking for key lists, the number of "known keys" would be enormous. Combined with the fact that the key generator is widely available, disabling pirated copies in an off-line version of the service pack would be impossible without including all known (and ever-to-be-generated) keys in the new service pack.
It might be more complex than that, but if the goal of your key generation algorithm is to not require you to record every generated key (i.e., it's effectively just a string and a checksum), then this is bound to happen eventually. Best to just roll with the punches, and assume that the pirates probably wouldn't pay for the product if they had to.
-Scott Hutton
You would think you had the right to use the product as you wish, but the software industry has created this whole new added feature to copyright where you don't actually buy what you buy.
Microsoft have sold you (through Sony) what they call an OEM version of the software which they purport to only allow you to use on the original hardware you bought it on.
This type of limitation on sales of product was attempted with books and the resulting court case resulted in the formation of the First Sale Doctrine where once you purchase the work you can do with it what you see fit unbound by limitations by the copyright holder, in that particular case it was to resell a book at a price not set by the copyright holder.
Unfortunately this right has fallen largely by the wayside in software and the courts, congress and the executive haven't done anything to prevent this erosion of rights - in fact most have been actively promoting this erosion.
So you don't currently have the right according to the license agreement to use that copy of the software anywhere other than the computer you bought it on.
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I think you have an unrealistic view of the OS and all of the related components that it comes with.
Facts is facts, there are Linux security issues, FreeBSD security issues, even OpenBSD security issues (although much more rare), as well as other miscellaneous bugs and compatibility issues.
Face it, when someone releases a completely secure general purpose operating systems, it won't be for current technology.
While MS products could (and should) be better, and I agree with your assesment about TCO, we need to keep in mind that Linux also needs upgrades and patches installed, and security holes plugged. Often it can be more time consuming to patch Linux, too - find and download RPM, potentially requiring you to find and download dependencies, etc., and installing, while in Windows, for most users, it's "click on Windows update button."
I guess the conclusion is they should both be better. I do agree that once a Linux machine is patched it seems to run and run without any problems, while Windows clients seem to have continuous problems (for whatever reason - we have a large network and computers seem to keep losing connections and having all sorts of connectivity problems that cause a lot of wasted time). But, we need the Windows software.
Stupid sexy Flanders.
What's to keep Microsoft, if they choose, from grabbing the IP addresses of pirates attempting the Windows Update, and going after them RIAA-style? It seems like that would be real tempting to their legal department...
They say the first thing to go is your penis. Well, it's either that or your brain. I forget which...
Oh, I fully agree with you that it won't be for current technology. No such thing is possible in my view. We'd need to forget about performance as goal #1, but go for robustness instead. How was that old joke ? If carpenters built stuff the way programmers do the first woodpecker to come along would destroy civilization. Count me in the micro kernel camp (the plan 9 way, not the 'hurd' way). Something solid, no eye candy but functionality. I find it amazing how much time goes into 'theming' and all kinds of nonsense and how little goes into the foundation, the hardware interfaces and so on. But progress takes time, and for now in a practical sense Linux seems to have the momentum behind it to make some change, long term it is not the be-all-end-all of computing, a more drastic change will need to be made.
MP3 Search Engine
It would only be retaining the forum's balance, look how little time it took for a Microsoft astroturf post to hit +5. The difference of course is the paranoids aren't paid to post, their opinion, deluded as it might be, is an honest one.
There's an English version and a German version, but the english is 13 megs heavier. Anyone know why? Perhaps some nasty little bit of snoopware they know they couldn't get away with in Germany?
But I don't agree with your statement about Apple: Microsoft is selling their OS with the hardware, too. Okay, they're not selling the hardware themselves, but you're paying the Microsoft tax on almost all garden variety x86 machines (the kind that most home users buy). And that's why others' copyright violation is such a good deal for Microsoft; home user 'upgrades' to the next version of Windows by copying it from a friend, computer runs too slow, user buys new computer, Microsoft tax paid ;-)
The spinning grows tighter and faster. Those complaining were defending Microsoft, acting as apologists for the company's insecure OS. That your inaccurate post is modded up is once again ample evidence that Slashdot as an OSS tool is dead, it's becoming a wing of MS marketing by way of astroturf moderation. Yes, you are obviously new here.
Has MS ever lost from piracy?
I hear constantly how Microsoft is supposedly pro-piracy for dominance purposes, yet never an explanation why they added activation to Windows XP, Windows 2003, Office XP, and Office 2003.
And why did SP1 not install on invalid keys?
Clearly, this is simply a turnaround based on the fact that the keygens out there make it impossible to detect an invalid key, and the need to plug certain holes that have been spreading things is more important than making sure the user has paid for what's running. Their own dominance through piracy is becoming a security clutch, and this is their answer.
As a satisfied Mandrake user, I'd love to completely agree with you, but my experience has been daunting so far as finding worthy candidates for OSS. Here in Ohio there are a lot of people who have a limited concept as to what a computer is, how it can be used, and what it takes to maintain one. Many of them get ahold of an old Pentium or *gasp* 486, and then come to me to see if I can get them hooked up to the internet.
"[So-and-so] told me you might be able to get me online with that free e-mail... Jeeno... Jano..."
"Juno."
"Yeah, that's it! So can you help me out?"
With those old machines, I could install a non-licensed copy of 95/98/Me, but they don't want to put any money into it at all. (I don't even think anyone offers free access anymore.) Hense, I've adopted a "Sorry, I'm using Linux" line that gets me off the spot.
As for those people who go out and buy new machines, it automatically comes with the MS tax preinstalled, so their system is legit and qualified for the updates no matter what. Occasioanlly they still come to me crying about some problem, and once again I tell them, SIUL. To be honest, I don't really know the XP environment enough to be of significant help like I was for the 95/98/Me versions.
Now could I "convert" them over to Linux? DOUBTFUL. They get so branded, that they act lost and on the verge of tears if they can't find those familiar icons to their spyware infested programs and proprietary internet connections.
Again, they are cheap to the point that even with OSS you can't make the machine useful. (I'm sorry, but without internet access, I fail to see a computer as anything but an orphaned box in the middle of a wasteland.)
It's not about the rabble wanting to break the law. They just want the internet for nothing, and that's just not the way it works... Even with OSS like Linux.
If anyone ever shows genuine interest, I'd be more than happy to share Lycoris, Mandrake, Knoppix, or any other free OSS with them, set them up, and help them along when they got stuck... But this is Ohio. I might as well teach Shakespear to chimps.
In the next batch of banned keys will be yours included.
All they have to do is check their Windows-Update logs, to see that more than one machine is using the same key _simultaneously_. They can even track down your ip and make a request at your ISP.
I don't know about elsewhere, but I don't recall seeing even one single `legal' version of Microsoft (or any other thing) software in my country, during the past eight years. Although that the world is not my country (Iran), but it is still a part of the world. And I quite beleive many third-level countries are the same. The security issues as far as I concern, is over having your Yahoo! ID hacked or similar over here. It is also very stupid for companies to run Windows or any other pirated software, because that they won't be able to receive complete support. They don't have [= can't afford] the code, so they can't tell their clients: ``I am really sorry that your entire buisiness website was replaced with ..... Probably Microsoft will fix it some time.''. Even if they do so, Microsoft will have to give away their patch again. And, sometimes, one comes back to think: Do these things really help security? Or are they written with such a haste that they even waste what you have already? I am not against Microsoft, but anyone that wants `guaranteed' security should come to OSS. At this point of time, the Iranian Government has elected Linux as the national OS, but there is still a `way' long way to go. Already, many of the Universities and webservers have switched to Linux.
Face It: Untill the time that Little Jimmy and her Grandmother are sitting behind PCs, there will be _no_ security available to anyone at the PC level.