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Microsoft To Begin Checking For Piracy
Curious Yellow 82 writes "Microsoft will begin checking for pirated copies of its Windows software when users attempt to update. Security updates are supposed to be exempt from the check. Upon detection of pirated software the user will be given the oppportunity to purchase a legitimate copy of the software for a discounted price, upon providing proof of purchase etc."
Since when? I recall using an unauthorized version of Windows for a 2nd box of mine and when I attempted to update at windows.com it wouldn't allow me to download anything (including SP1 and SP2.) The only difference I see with this press release is now they will ask you if you want to squeal on your pirated source (Bambino's don't do this) or purchase a legitimate copy. Is this what it has come to for MS? A sub-standard online satellite program and now a ho-hum press release on Windows?
What happened to the days of Balmer dancing to "Get on your feet"? now THAT was newsworthy.
"Simplify, simplify, simplify!" Thoreau
the user will be given the oppportunity to purchase a legitimate copy of the software for a discounted price, upon providing proof of purchase (!!)
That will be an interesting feat.
And, jokes aside, "proof of purchase" of what? If they mean a possible purchase of a machine with, or a standalone copy of, a counterfeit version of Windows, assuming the user purchased it legitimately in good faith, how in the hell is this the user's responsibility or fault? I'm not talking about someone who got Windows from a guy in an overcoat for $10 on a street corner (not to mention you probably wouldn't have a "proof of purchase" for that kind of sale); I'm talking about purchases reasonably believed to be legitimate. No, this doesn't mean that a software company has to honor pirated or illegal copies even if the user believed it to be legal for whatever reason, but it seems like this really sticks it to the user (not to mention the internet community as a whole by not providing OS updates, the fact they claim to be providing security updates aside[1]) as opposed to working to target the entities they believe to be illegally selling Windows...especially if the customer has a "proof of purchase" of an illegitimate copy of Windows in the first place, which presumably contains some element of contact information for the source if it can reasonably considered to constitute any semblance of "proof of purchase". They should be offering amnesty and/or discounts to people who are running straight-up pirated versions of Windows with no "proof of purchase" at all, if this is any attempt to reach out to people running unlicensed copies!
(Make no mistake: I'm not saying Microsoft is obligated to honor illegally purchased copies of Windows, whether they're pirated, or even ones purchased innocently and in good faith. But they'd be a hell of a lot better citizen of the internet community if they didn't withhold updates in either instance.)
[1] Windows Service Pack 2 would apparently not be included in this, for example, because it's not a "security update"; but it can be strongly argued that SP2 did more for general Windows XP security than any "security update" ever has. In other words, not updating the multitude of for-whatever-reason non-legal copies of Windows out there does everyone involved a major disservice, not the least of which is the rest of the world surrounding them.
So if your copy of Windows is pirated, they'll prevent you from breaking it by not allowing you to install new service packs :)
Security updates are supposed to be exempt from the check.
Didn't they say otherwise just a few months ago?
Got to find that link...
The difference between spam and poop is that you don't have to dig through septic tanks looking for real food. -- Me
So if you're found to have a pirated copy, you need to show proof of purchase? If I have proof of purchase then it's not pirated, and therefore, I wouldn't need to buy it again at a discounted price.
How exactly do they check for it being a pirated copy? I mean other then checking their database of registered windows users and comparing it to the computer, how do they know the difference?
"Upon detection of pirated software the user will be given the oppportunity to purchase a legitimate copy of the software for a discounted price" Wait, so all I have to do to get Windows at a discount is download a pirated copy and fail the detection test? Sounds good to me!
I wrote about this earlier today on bitsofnews.com. I'll save you the click and paste my thoughts here.
I am not sure how MS expects to keep pushing this down people's throats.
Most people don't want to be treated as thieves, and I can see some general backlash coming to MS from this.
I really don't see how this will, in the long run, benefit MS. Most people in the 1st world buy a computer from a major distributer, and use the (usually) legit copy of Windows from that. I'm guessing that that one-third number includes nations like India and China, where people can't afford the 1st world pricing scheme of Windows.
Oh, wait, silly me, why don't these poor people just use XP Starter Edition? Right. That's the ticket.
Do they seriously think this will decrease piracy in the 3rd world? All they've really done is cripple their product. They now have several issues to deal with.
This "Genuine Advantage" program is tantamount to legitimizing "pirated" XP. To many, I suspect it sends the message: "Ok, use pirated XP if you want, we'll just give special benefits to those who pay us." It's almost like a "shareware" model of distribution. Seeing how they are trying to push "XP Starter Edition", I seriously doubt this is their intent -- but it looks like they've emasculated that product entirely.
Simply, Pirated XP Home/Pro is still less crippled than XP SE. So for the 3rd world market, it's a choice between paying for a highly crippled OS, or getting a slightly crippled OS for free. I don't see many people paying for the privilege of less features.
This is also a potential gold mine for alternative OS's, such as the newer GNU/Linux systems pushing ease-of-install; Ubuntu, Mepis, Mandravia, Fedora spring to mind immediately, and there are many others.
Given the choice of a super-crippled SE, a somewhat-crippled XP Home/Pro, or a fully-functional GNU/Linux, GNU/Linux becomes an increasingly "no-brainer" solution.
multifariam.net -- yet another nerd blog
I think it's about time for a Windows license-key and serial-no stealing worm. I'm sure someone will come up with one - possibly one of the smarter pirates. Think about it...
Its kind of funny when you think about it--users steal the software and then go back to get the software maintenance. It's kind of like someone stealing a car from the lot of a dealership, then taking it back a few months later for it's customary 3,000 mile oil change.
Finance tutorials and more! Understandfinance
I seriously hope that this causes no end of headaches for people across the world. I know of at least one system that I have at my office that is 100% legitimate and licensed, but will fail the authenticity check. It's a boxed Dell with the windows xp pro hologram sticker with the cd key on its side. At one point, the system was hosed to the point of needing reinstalling. I had just taken the job and there were no system images or proper cd's around. The sticker said WinXP sp1 and had its cd key. All the cd's at the office were either Compaq branded or WinXP sp2. So, I install with SP2 expecting my hologram'd sticker with the cd key to work. It didn't. Some fairy dust later and everything was installed and running.
So here I had a legitimate paid licensed Windows XP Professional computer which will not pass the windows licensing scheme. I'll have to dig out a SP1 cd sometime and reinstall with the actual key so it will pass.
I'm not saying its Microsoft's fault that the business didn't keep track of the original cd's. I'm just saying that I seriously hope this scenario is played out millions of times across the globe.
I'm off to ssh into my home computer and emerge sync && emerge world -uD right now.
Karma: SELECT `karma` FROM `users` WHERE `userid`=138474;
Corporate XP Pro still works FYI :-)
Microsoft has detected an illegitimate copy of Windows....
The local FBI office is located 65 miles away...is this where you would like to go today?
Perhaps I'm just being cynical, but doesn't this place the incentive on insecure code. Maximizing the number of "security patch releases" will also help (potentially) maximize revenue by quickly identifying "pirated" versions of Windows, causing said "offenders" to purchase legit versions.
;)
If Windows were to become secure and relatively bug free, this would cause their "pirate detection" system to become very inefficient, as there wouldn't be a great need for using Windows Update.
I may be completely off base, but it does seem plausible. Perhaps we need Mythbusters
RFC2119
Sadly, for those of us who constantly change the operating systems on our "hobby" computer, we'll probably get marked that we've pirated their operating systems, even though we're just using it on one system at a time, and bought it legitimately, and have a valid key and everything.
*sigh* as well
Luke
----
Tired of answering tons of basic computer questions for friends and family? Send them to ChristianNerds.com instead!
That's all fine and good for MS, but what about the people who managed to obtain copies of corporate editions of the software? These copies will report tons of hits, undetected by MS.
The only way to tell the difference between a hamster and a gerbil is that the hamster has more white meat.
I'll have to use it for every install now instead of just once, making sure I use a unique key every time.
Really, how are they going to enforce this? Just for the top 5 pirated cd keys or something? Why should JoeWhoever have to buy their software twice because they were ripped off? Dunno.
.. for Open Source :D.
_Vishal www.squad9.com
I mean, we have MS losing money on a pirated copy of windows. Fine. We can argue the merits of software piracy all night. But... when MS releases a patch, they are spending millions of dollars on R&D, advertising, lawyer fees, etc - this is supposed to be for legitimate users only. When you buy any software, you are understanding that this $50/$200/$whatever cost also includes free patches in the purchase price.
It'd be like someone stealing a car from GM - fine, they stole it. But imagine if they later came to GM with their stolen car and asked for the $1000 engine recall upgrade. Nope - that's for legitimate carowners only. The $25,000 GM prices the car takes into account the small chance that they may have to set a recall.
Plus, it's not like the RIAA. Nowhere does it say that MS will be prosecuting every illegal copy it finds. It simply says "hey, if you stole a copy, then that's one thing. But don't try and get free support from us too."
Several sites have the fulldownloads of the service packs and hotfixes etc...
hell there are torrents available that will give you everything that are updated weekly.
A buddy of mine recently offered me a CD of all XP updates including the lestes ones and his colleague at work was making a script to auto apply them all into a slipstream cd image.
it will only stop the clueless casual non licensed software user. everyone else will not be bothered one bit.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
I tried a pirated copy of Windows XP and when I checked it said it was genuine (which it isn't because I used a keygen program under wine to create a license key).
I suspect they have a list of pirated licenses and they just check for that. It has been posited in the past that they don't even know all the genuine keys that are out there and my experience supports that.
I actually do own a copy of Windows XP (came with my machine) but I wanted to see how this works hence installing with a generated key.
The Hassle Factor of using MS products has gone up tremendously in the last 3 years. I legitimately own XP etc, and yet, I'm hassled with crap like "Let MS check to see if you're legit before we fix our mistakes".
The lockdown mentality of MS has already made me choose that Longhorn/Vista will not be on my PCs. "Asta la vista baby!". Sure they have every right to 'enforce' their anti-piracy efforts, but, they've made it difficult to deal with them.
The only PT Boat Journal on the web: http://www.PT171.org
Let me get this straight... if you're caught with a pirated version you're offered a discount? (or a free version altogether) Seems like a great way to shop!
Only suckers will pick up a boxed copy from the store from now on...
"they can still fill out a counterfeit report and receive a copy of Windows XP Home Edition for $99 or a copy of Windows XP Professional Edition for $149, Lazar said.
Windows XP Home normally sells for $199 and Windows XP Professional Edition usually costs $299."
------ The best brain training is now totally free : )
So now, I can't download the update at work, where we have broadband, and transport it home (via CD or thumb drive) because I can't validate my home installation!? I have two machines at home. One is connected via dialup, and the other (an HTPC) is not connected to the internet at all.
Do you know how long 266 MB takes to download over dialup!? OVER 11 1/2 HOURS!!
Xesdeeni
Also, an a Limited-User account, with all the activex security turned up (this is my current WinXP account for day-to-day tasks) the Genuine Advantage Tool fails to run, and requests a) Administrator rights and b) that I set my ActiveX security to Medium/Low. It then accuses me of having failed the test, and of having a counterfeit copy of Windows. So, I predict more security problems as people who have taken sensible security precautions are forced to abandon them for this tool.
I hate to reply to my own post, but I couldn't help but notice the following quote in that article:
:)
"Wall says Vista will be analyzing traffic to its Web site to see what effect the "Windows Vista" name may have on visitors to the site. If the effect is significant--that is, if a surge of visitors comes to Vista.com looking for information about Windows Vista--the company may decide to take legal actions over the trademark."
Think Slashdot has the power to get the name of the next Windows changed?
This will be grand when employers start having update problems because employess (or even ex-employees) took copies of software home and now the machines in the office can't update.
I Am My Own Worst Enemy
Sorry to demonstrate a solid command of the obvious, but nothing is "genuinely free".
How can they stop you? Well Jim... I suppose they could do a "whois" on 'civilwarflorida.com', and give you a call...
: p
------ The best brain training is now totally free : )
I was at an accounting software vendor's premises about ten years ago. This software had a $4000 price sticker, and they were showing me all the reasons why we should buy it. While I was there, front desk took a support call from a girl at some small business who was using this software. They got her to read out the license key, determined it was reg'd to someone else, and told her the company (ie. her boss) had a choice - put a $4000 cheque in the mail or face a lawsuit.
So, we decided to buy our accounts package from another vendor... Not that we had any intention to pirate anything, but any company which could make demands like that over the phone, without any on-site investigation, was not a company we wanted to have dealings with.
So, they *might* have gained $4k from the caller (assuming they didn't spend big on lawyers first), but they lost $4k from us.
Hal Spacejock: Science Fiction with Nuts
So? You need admin rights to patch the system anyway...
:)
Now requiring admin rights for authenthication just to download additional software is bit more so-so, but even then you probably need admin rights to install them, so the problem is not that big.
Windows is broken in this regard that you pretty much need to run on admin rights to do anything with it
Indeed, but what systems are they downloading these torrents on. I bet the number of "pirates" who have built thier own systems and have not payeds the windows tax EVER are is small compared to the hordes of users who torrent (shiney new verb) on machines they bought that kicked back licensing fees to M$. To shift to a more general sense.. Microsoft, Intel, (insert your broadband provider here) are all making money *in part* by illegal downloading. It is akin to the porn industry motivating video technology or the drug war. We here a lot of clamour about "illegal and immoral" but these markets bolster the economy. What happens when this money dries up becasue of enforcement of the moral and legal standards? Answer: It will never happen.
I just type my sig in the reply form...
If they now actively check for pirated copies and can catch X% of them, will they lower the cost of new software Y% since they are now theoretically reducing their losses, which was justification of the cost to begin with?
Maybe if a new copy of Windows XP Pro didn't cost $140 there would not be as many pirated copies?
Things that make you go... hrmmmmm.....
Most people couldn't produce a "proof-of-purchase" after a few days. I know I couldn't prove my copy of Win2000 is legitimate, even though I legitimately purchased my copy with my PeeCee from my local computer store.
In any event, if there are any hiccups on the validation process and Joe and Jane Doe Computer User get any bit of hassle from Microsoft when they do a Windows Update, I expect there will be a backlash.
Hopefully, Red Hat and other Linux vendors are positioned properly to catch the fallout. "Windows Validation problems? Switch to Red Hat Linux and never pay for your Windowing Operating System again! Free Games with every download!"
http://www.softwarepatch.com/windows/ you dont need to use windows update...
If it detects a pirated version of Windows, disable the TCP/IP stack. From then on they don't have to worry about whether or not to supply security updates or not. Plus, they won't be virus/trojan vectors, and they users' data is still there.
Comment removed based on user account deletion
But it is.
The implementation of this process is the same net effect as the gas company shutting off people's heat in the middle of the winter. It's burdensome and causes harm to the public at large through security issues. Other posters have pointed out how SP2 is denied via this process. The non-presence of SP2 on XP installations legitimately may be considered a security problem, given the many improvements incorporated in that service pack.
This is why regulations exist to not permit such things to happen in legally sanctioned monopolies, such as utility companies. In most jurisdictions, the gas company can't shut off the heat in the middle of the winter, even if you don't pay the bill.
So why is Microsoft, convicted monopolist operating under court-ordered sanctions, allowed to do this?
HBI's Law: Frequency of calling others Nazis is directly correlated with the likelihood of the accuser being Communist.
The ActiveX test on their site just told me that my copy was pirated. I'm 100% certain it's valid as this (work) Dell laptop had an sp2 slipstreamed version installed about two months ago (at my hands), and the registration code pasted to the back of the laptop allowed the install.
:)
Should I report Dell?
But legal M$ users have been suffering these problems for years, and they haven't cleaned-up their act. Even after you announced what you had done, no one could tell if their copy had been deliberately boobytrapped, or was just a normal copy of Windows.
Censorship is telling a man he can't have a steak just because a baby can't chew it. --Mark Twain
Unfortunately most legal systems (American included) do not allow companies to "boobytrap" products. So Microsoft would become liable for any damage done to your computer (if the pirated copy happened to float back over from China).
If you could keep total secrecy about the operation and then just claim some malicious hackers have released compromised versions of Windows, then you could probably get away with it. (I think Microsoft already claims that this happens, and cites it as one of the reasons you should not pirate their software).
For example Banks "boobytrap" money with an dye bomb to mark robbers. But the law protects the banks because the dye is not intended to harm the robber. If your trojan-ized "pirate's version" of Windows intentionally damaged data, made long distance phone calls or damaged the reputation of an individual then you'd have serious problems in courts. If the pirate's version just signaled home and disabled further activity on the system (without damaging data, or preventing access to it, such as encrypting the drive), then that would be allowable.
Microsoft doesn't own the data on your drive, the creator of the data does. And it is likely that you've at least created a tiny bit of your own data. So at least a small part of your computer content belongs to you and you alone.
“Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
How exactly do they check for it being a pirated copy? I mean other then checking their database of registered windows users and comparing it to the computer, how do they know the difference?
Just off hand I guess they they might check the license keys (obviously) if 10.000 plus people are using the same license key something is obviously wrong. In this case you probably woudl get som sort of nag screen stating: "Your license key has been compromised please contact your local Microsoft representative to get a new one... bla... bla... bla..." Secondly they could simply check for the digital signatures of various cracks and hacks available like a virus or spyware program does before any patch is installed. In that case you would get the "Purchase offer". It's not as if these Cracks are terribly hard to come by and I would be disappointed if Microsoft does not have a whole team of engineers and coders collecting Windows cracks off the internet and analyzing them. Whatever else they do I don't expect it to be terribly bullet proof but it will be scary enough and work well enough to persuade alot of pirate consumers to buy a Windows OS "Academic Edition" CD/DVD. In future versions of Windows one should expect them to use some far more formidable DRM technology.
Only to idiots, are orders laws.
-- Henning von Tresckow
In fact, I think MS should prevent pirates from getting security updates.
Anything to make piracy of MS products as difficult as possible!
MS always blathers on and on about TCO, but nobody ever mentions the marketshare that MS has gained through piracy.
Home users will be more willing to consider alternatives if the actual cost of Windows is figured into their calculation.
WhiteWolf666 an exBush supporter. All you new-school,compassionate,save the children Republicans can rot in hell
...we don't get French benefits?
-Those who dance are considered insane by those who can't hear the music.
Years ago, cable companies would use a similar tactic to bust people who were actively stealing cable services.
Basically on the "pirated" boxes (blackboxes) or those who were "piggybacking" cable on their neighbor's connection junction, they would broadcast a "contest" for the next 100 people to call in. People who were letitimate customers and subscribers would never even see the "contest" broadcast.
If you called in to win the "t-shirt" or "trip to Jamaica", or whatever, they collected your address and other details. When you went into the cable company location to claim your prize, they gave you a nice shiny pair of bracelets and a trip to the local police department.
Don't fall for the "discount" on any Windows product. Use this as a means to get a "discount" on the whole thing, switch to Mac OSX or Linux.
We won't treat you like a criminal.
The Fujitsu Lifebook comes with a system image installed on the hard disk, with instructions buried in an appendix in the manual saying that it might be a good idea to make a backup. If you don't make a backup, and if you're unlucky enough to score a hard disk crash, then Fujitsu's official standing is that you're fucked. Totally fucked. They say you have to go out and buy another copy of Windows, and never mind the completely valid license key on the hologram sticker on the underside of the system.
The best answer I got was completely unofficial, from a Fujitsu engineer attached to my work - he said, just borrow a copy of Windows and install it with the valid license key. By that time I'd already made my own arrangements that, coindicentally, corresponded fairly closely to that recommendation...
So, dear daughter is now running an illicit copy, but with the original license key.
For anyone that missed it the first time, Fujitsu doesn't give a shit about you losing your one and only system install disk. They don't include a CD because: "it's installed from an image CD in the factory", and they don't care enough about their customers to include a CD of that image. What's the cost of an image CD these days?? About $0.50?? That's too much for Fujitsu to spend...
Any Fujitsu employee wanting to dispute these facts should supply an email address, so that I can forward the emails I exchanged with Fujitsu "you're screwed, fuck off" Support.
...called it stolen property and went off on the "sick (sic) the cops on each and every person using a pirated copy" as you put it. It's INFRINGEMENT and it's not theft- it's duplication of an intellectual work without the permission of the duplication/production rights holder. Different crime- and you can own a copy, you just can't be making and giving out or selling them yourself in the US.
Please, please, please don't be propagating the falsehoods that the RIAA, MPAA, and similar organizations have been putting forward to futher their cause. Don't be making the Lie the Truth by repeating it for them.
I am not merely a "consumer" or a "taxpayer". I am a Citizen of the State of Texas
This has puzzled me since it was originally disclosed (over a month ago). I don't understand why MS is choosing this route.
The knee-jerk reaction is money. But how can it be? MS is the richest non-financial company in the world in terms of money in the bank. Additionally their 4Q-2004 financials proved excellent. Their gross and net income increased from 4Q-2003 despite all the money paid in anti-trust cases. Taking this stance on the basis of money makes no sense.
The only thing I can think of is to start the move. This is a traditional tactic w/ MS--start looking in the direction you want to go before you need to be there. This way, by the time trouble presents itself, you have history behind you and thus less opposition.
In my opinion, this decision will only serve to promote Linux. By far the biggest reason for Windows' current market position is easy access. Tried-and-true "hook-line-and-sinker" and/or "bait-and-switch" tactic. Most people use Windows because it's easy. "Easy" doesn't only refer to operation, but also acquisition. Requiring people to part w/ their money only serves to force the user to ask: Is it worth it?
On a computer or under a hood.
Microsofts Windows Genuine Advantage system is unable to actually identify pirated copies of Windows. Anyone who installed Windows XP using a unique key created by a key generator, which is everyone who didn't just download an ISO and use the CD key in the .NFO, skates neatly through the piracy check. Note also that anyone who ISN'T running a unique key can also change it, via instructions that are conveniently placed on the Microsoft website.
Last I checked, there was also a fallback verification system you could use if you refused to let them install their ActiveX controls that asked you questions about what your CD key looked like. This was easily passable by anyone who had ever even SEEN a Windows XP retail CD.
In fact they'd be useless, because when you connect to their database the cd-keys you generated wouldn't be there. Get it? They don't check if the key is ok, they check if they made the key.
You misunderstand.
According to Microsoft, running Windows with any kind of security is NOT an authentic authorized use of their software.
Therefore you are in violation.
- For the complete works of Shakespeare: cat
The best answer I got was completely unofficial, from a Fujitsu engineer attached to my work - he said, just borrow a copy of Windows and install it with the valid license key. By that time I'd already made my own arrangements that, coindicentally, corresponded fairly closely to that recommendation...
So, dear daughter is now running an illicit copy, but with the original license key.
No, your daughter is running a perfectly legal copy. There's no difference between a borrowed CD or a backup you burn from the hard drive... Your Windows installation isn't tied to a physical CD, it's tied to the license key.
Now if it was the other way around-- you kept the disk but lost the license key and had to "borrow" that-- that WOULD be an illicit copy.
When a decent chunk of your future developer (developers developers developers, the FUTURE of our company, yadda yadda) force is students, dropping $100 on an OS is like giving up beer for a month! Bye bye win32!
Keep in mind this is probably a prelude to a larger anti-piracy scheme to be phased in over the next generation(s) of Windows.
They'll likely employ the same tactic that online games use.
Every copy that's printed gets a code, same with OEM. Those codes are all recorded and shoved into a database. When you connect, you MUST have one of those codes, and ONLY ONE of those codes can be active at a time.
If this is implemented properly, there's really no way around it. The only thing you can do is buy a legit copy.
Having said that, this method is prone to all sorts of problems. For instance, many companies Ghost all of their machines, and deploy a standard image. They use the same key on all the machines, but have a stockpile of keys (usually larger than the number of actual deployed machines).
Obviously this would break that system. But, workarounds will be found. It would be easy to add (maybe it's already there?) functionality so that when a newly ghosted machine boots up on the network the server sees it has the "newly ghosted key" and assigns it one from its pool or something.
Who knows, but the point is, if Microsoft gets smart about this, there's no way you'll be able to pirate Windows anymore.
The funny thing about all of this is, I think it's actually against their best interests to do this. One of the biggest reasons Windows is so widespread is due to piracy. Many many people are simply not willing to pay for Windows. If they succeed in doing something like this, I think we'll see interest in alternative operating systems rise yet again.
He wants to put earnings on the front page of the WSJ so his stock sales (which I expect to accelerate) don't depress the price untill he has sold out more shares.
Go back to day one of microcomputers. Gates knew he could become richer then the pope by setting defacto standards then using them to beatup his compitition. This is OVER, Bill knows it. The market has matured.
Knowing he won't get better growth from MS then the market in general Bill would be moron to not continue diversifying as fast as possible.
John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
In the United States, any monopoly that lacks government sanction is illegal.
HBI's Law: Frequency of calling others Nazis is directly correlated with the likelihood of the accuser being Communist.
Riiight, like I'm going to let an ActiveX applet from Microsoft scan my system. What do they want next, a retina scan? DNA check? I don't encourage piracy (I *do* own a legit copy of XP), but forcing users to submit to this crap so they can get updates (I know, I know, *not* critical updates, but still) is just wrong. Anyway, use the links above and just say NO! to Microsoft ActiveX scanning.
Condemnant quod non intellegunt.
[Customers can] fill out a counterfeit report and receive a copy of Windows XP Home Edition for $99 or a copy of Windows XP Professional Edition for $149, Lazar said. Windows XP Home normally sells for $199 and Windows XP Professional Edition usually costs $299.
Check it out everyone! Forget buying XP at the store, just get a pirated copy, file a counterfeit report, and get Windows XP for 50% off!
They should call it the "Piracy Rewards Program".
Guess what ... microsoft solved that with it's Corporate Version of Windows XP. (btw that's the copy you see on the internet and you might know it as "Devils0wn")
;-).
u rrentVersion\WPAEvents ... the "Activate me crap" dies ... and for all you tinfoil hats you don't need to reg your Windows XP. You think MS would of made it so easy if they didn't want people to pirate there OS. They would of made it so if some file isn't downloaded from there (encrypted of some kind) the OS simply won't work etc etc. No ... it's some silly regestry hack that takes less then 2 minutes to do and lasts the lifetime of the product. I know that the activation thing I mentioned above works in Windows XP MCE and Windows XP x64, im not sure about XP Pro ... if someone tries and has luck I wouldn't mind knowing.
One key works for everyone. Remember the key FCKGW-yada yada
Wikipedia Article
But if you use the CD key thing as I mentioned above it changes the Windows XP to another key such as the one the anonymous user above gave, service pack 2 will install and there is no annoying blocking of Windows Updates.
Microsoft only wanted to stop the "casual pirater" considering every version of windows is already cracked. Not to sound like a mad pirate but to disable the activation is sadly VERY easy.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\C
That's frickin it
Hope ive been some help
Solosoft
Solosoft.org - Your Online Resource to Nothing
But I'm not fucked.
When the hard disk completely goes and I have to replace it, I'll be able to reinstall Gentoo Linux without paying anyone anything. ;-)
As copyright owner of this comment, I authorize everyone to defeat any technological measure which limits access to it.
Another, more effective approach, is to deliberately distribute 2 versions of each software package: (1) regular and (2) deliberately virus infected (i.e. boobytrapped by Microsoft itself).
IIRC Microsoft had distributed a warez version of Visual Basic 6.0 with a warez group nfo file due to the wrong cd going to the presses.
I'm just saying . . .
Can I get an eye poke?
Dog House Forum
Microsoft is a multi-billion dollar coroporation. That corporation must increase profits at the cost of everything else (known as externalizing cost). That means that it must increase profits regardless of who gets hurt, what governments topple, or even if it means the end of the world. The documentary, "The Corporation" made a great case for this and "proved" that The Corporation (any Corporation) is a psychopath, as a result of treating it as a person (which the law does).
Some points:
The Corporation here has hurt the user-base, yet again, for no real gain. This is where they could be charitable and recognize that the multi-billion dollar company can eat the "loss" (of which, we know, there is no serious value).
I swear to god that if we don't start taking Corporations down and make them accountable to human decency (and a Corporation, being a psychopath, doesn't care about its negative impact on the world), then things will keep getting sadder and sadder until we're all in the third world, save the Bill Gates' and Steve Ballmer's.
This sig used to be really funny...
Windows.XP.Security.Updates.Nov19.2005.X-Force
I'm Rick James with mod points biatch!
Unfortunately most legal systems (American included) do not allow companies to "boobytrap" products.
Why is this unfortunate? I have no interest in living in a society with what amounts to a privatized judicial and law enforcement system.
I suspect that most of you don't either.
For example, suppose a car manufacturer produced cars that exploded when consistently driven above the speed limit. Well, that may well be justifiably smacking a criminal, but I don't really have any interest in letting private companies dispense whatever "justice" they feel like taking part in.
What if spyware had an EULA saying that you couldn't remove it, and it took malicious action if you tried to do so?
Any program relying on (nontrivial) preemptive multithreading will be buggy.
Sherman Antitrust Act, 1890:
Section 2. Monopolizing trade a felony; penalty
Every person who shall monopolize, or attempt to monopolize, or combine or conspire with any other person or persons, to monopolize any part of the trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations, shall be deemed guilty of a felony, and, on conviction thereof, shall be punished by fine not exceeding $10,000,000 if a corporation, or, if any other person, $350,000, or by imprisonment not exceeding three years, or by both said punishments, in the discretion of the court.
Google for your favorite copy of the act. There's more in there.
HBI's Law: Frequency of calling others Nazis is directly correlated with the likelihood of the accuser being Communist.
1. Check Windowsupdate for what updates you need
2. Just go for the microsoft.com website and download any security update manually.
Microsoft must always allow this, because many servers do not have internet, thus one must be able to download updates manually and e.g. burn them on a CD.
Seriously, I find that the release quality of pirated software is, in a surprising number of ways, depressingly higher quality than those from the original software company.
For example, take the standard conventions of putting software description in a standard location in a standard format, the (not completely standardized, but pretty close) practice of placing patches at a standard location on the CD, the practice of distributing software in standardized chunk sizes to provide for more recoverable transfers.
The pirates, competitive though they may be, do a better job of cooperating with each other and putting out "industry" conventions and sticking with them than all but a few software companies do. I still don't believe that the Windows world's equivalent to RPM is the godawful InstallShield -- argh.
Oh, and when there *is* a packaging mistake, the updates are generally quite prompt.
Applying copy-protection-disabling patches to a piece of software distributed by the large pirate groups is a more standardized and user-comfortable process than wading through the jungle of installers that the software companies out there put out.
Oh, and there are standardized (free) places that list and provide for download the latest cracks for various software, like gamecopyworld. While Linux has had Freshmeat (and a slew of advanced automated methods to check for updates and update software), and MacOS has had VersionTracker, Windows has had essentially nothing by way of centralized update information. Yet the pirates managed to pull it off.
Oh, and I've even seen stabs at PKI systems for ensuring integrity of distributed pirate software. While the Linux world enjoys this, the Windows world (aside from a few Microsoft-centralized systems limited to very small components of the Windows system) hasn't even seen a peep of interest from commercial vendors in providing this level of service.
Any program relying on (nontrivial) preemptive multithreading will be buggy.
I really don't get why people bash Microsoft so hard and, in the same breath, talk about using an unlicensed copy of their OS. If you really think their product sucks that much, why not use another product? I can at least somewhat understand stealing something when it's good, but why would you want to steal something that sucks?
Unless you're running some very specialised custom software that's not cross-platform, there's really nothing that you can do with a Windows box that you can't do with an alternative OS.
Xfce: Lighter than some, heavier than others. Just right.
My engineering program at my school allows us to download free legit copies of Windows XP Pro for home use.. But it makes us call Microsoft for approval.
My laptop has a Windows XP key on a sticker on the bottom - but first, the key doesn't work with any copy except the Toshiba recovery CD that formats my computer and installs a bunch of Toshiba crap and AOL advertisements. And, then I would have to call Microsoft.
So, I'm being like totally a software pirate because I don't feel like talking on the phone to some douchebag at Microsoft.
--- We need more Ron Paul!
Here is one for you:
I am running a copy of Windows 2000 at home--it is a LEGITIMATE copy IMHO but I'm not sure how MS would treat it. The install CD in question is from a former employer which closed up shop and let us all go. My boss was a pretty good guy and made sure we all got our final paycheque but couldn't pay out our remaining vacation time (in my case it was four figures in range) so he compensated us with company assets that weren't due to creditors. So my "vacation pay" consisted of hardware and software including a Celeron PC and an unused, still-shrinkwrapped NFR copy of Windows 2000 (NOT OEM--we bought it separately from any of the computers--and it was NOT a resale legally or technically).
I installed this on the PC (it is now a Linux server since I got another PC and put it on there), but this was before product activation and I NEVER have registered it with Microsoft. It has never been on more than one PC at a time, but MS can't have much of a record.
My guess is that they hav amassed a list of product keys or serial numbers that are floating around the P2P networks, and have also been "spying" on us for while to collect keys via Windows Update--if a single key shows up on clients from hundreds of diffferent IPs from around the globe and it isn't a known good corporate key then you are shut out.
Anyways, I'll be curious when I run Windows Update next and see if they have decided I'm a pirate.
Actually, smart shoppers should already be grabbing OEM copies of the operating systems. These require a hardware purchase to be legit, so stock up on 99c case screws!
Big! Strong! Wow! Tada-O!
Hasn't this topic come up several times before? And not just here? This isn't really new news.
And besides, can't say I'll shed many tears for software pirates getting slammed.
Microsoft actually reverse engineered the reverse engineering. They can tell what keys were generated and what weren't because of the algorithm that the older keygens used.
There are newer keygens, however, that are based off of the Genuine Advantage software itself, that can give you a passing key.
This is according to legitimate news sources, so don't blame me.
Still IMing in the stone age?
It's actually pretty obvious and doesn't need explanation - use your brain. Try to think outside of the box.
Whether you are in favor of piracy or not, it's NOT the same.
Hint: can you duplicate a car with a simple copy & paste?
Didn't think so.
We have secretly replaced these Slashdot mods' sense of humor with a rusty nail. Let's see if they notice!!
When the hard disk completely goes and I have to replace it, I'll be able to reinstall Gentoo Linux without paying anyone anything. ;-)
So I assume you've already paid your $699 to SCO for that machine?
________________________________________________
suwain_2
good time to get rid off the priated copy and move to a legal GPL/BSD enviroment. my 0.02cet
MSN Virtual Earth was just released. With a "Locate Me" button that is apparently quite accurate. Tie that with the "Scanning your copy of Windows" feature, and they can just send the feds right to your door. Or, perhaps, mail you a copy and bill your credit card...
It is pitch dark. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.
Well, no. You have to provide proof of purchase first. In other words, tell Microsoft where you bought the pirate copy (or PC with an unlicensed install). Having done that, you get the discount and MS gets to pursue a pirate.
Well, we're off topic but...
The usual practice for street numbering in the USA is to assign each block a 100-number block. Some cities (in Arizona for example) actually make an effort to keep it at 10 blocks to the mile (6 to the kilometer, but that's a side effect). That way a street address actually tells you where the place is physically located. It's not GPS resolution, but less than 1/10th of a mile resolution just from the address isn't bad at all.
Veteran, Bermuda Triangle Expeditionary Force, 1992-1951
First of all here's the offical link on windows validation info:0 5/07-25WGA1PR.mspx
p x?displaylang=en
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2005/jul
All manual updates from windows update are required to validate that its a legit copy.
Security updates through automatic update are still availible, or if you can find the manual link to the update (without using windows update site) you can get security updates that way.
For example, you cannot now get dx9.0c (unless you install it off a game cd) without verification.
BTW, I have all legit versions of XP on my computers, purchased from my school program at a discount, etc.
Now, there's a lot of misinformation and anecdotal stuff going around about SP1 and SP2 and how those can be installed. Here's the correct info.
First of all, SP1 locked out a small number of very well known cd keys that were used in a few of the more common pirated versions. If you had those, windows update wouldn't work period. I think you might be able to use a keychanger in that case, but I never tried it.
SP2 info: during the beta of SP2, MS got really anal and blocked a ton of pirated cd keys (basically all pirated ones up to that point). From what I heard, you had to go through a bunch of hoops with special key gens that verified 50 keys with ms servers before they found one that worked.
They decided that providing security updates was too important and on the actual live release version of SP2, they backed it down so it only blocked the same few common keys that SP1 had blocked. (most SP2 pirated keys were differant by that time from the sp1 ones and I heard of no keys getting blocked by people who copied xp with sp2 release version integrated, etc)
Finally we come to today. Now all windows update downloads, and microsoft update downloads (including security/critical updates) will require validation. This is a little active X control that installs and checks your cd key to make sure its ok.
BTW, this INCLUDES corporate versions. You may be asked to input some info such as what company you got it from. Then they can match against what company purchased that VLK.
Quote from the link at top:
"Validation via WGA will be required for all customers using Windows Update, Microsoft Update for Windows content, and the Download Center (DC). Security updates remain available to all Windows users -- with or without WGA validation -- via the DC or Automatic Updates."
DC being the download center, i.e. manually finding the knowledge base article for that critical update and downloading it. (without using windows update)
Here's the FAQ:
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/downloads/FAQ.as
Quote from there about volume liscense customers:
"Do Volume License customers need to validate?
A: Yes. Customers using a copy of Windows with a valid Volume License will be validated and given full access to all genuine Windows downloads. Volume License keys have been a source of counterfeit in some instances; therefore the WGA validation service is able to recognize and block a Volume License key that is being used improperly."
The complete list of info collected per that FAQ is:
"The complete list of information collected in the validation process is shown below:
* OEM product key
* PC Manufacturer
* OS version
* PID/SID
* BIOS info (make, version, date)
* BIOS MD5 Checksum
* User Locale (language setting for displaying Windows)
* System Local (language version of the operating system)"
Anyway, there's the info, and the source for the official MS stuff on it. So you can verify most of this yourself.
Sadly, for those of us who constantly change the operating systems on our "hobby" computer, we'll probably get marked that we've pirated their operating systems [emphasis added]
And this is surprising?
"As the majority of hobbyists must be aware, most of you steal your software. [...] One thing you do do is prevent good software from being written. Who can afford to do professional work for nothing? What hobbyist can put 3-man years into programming, finding all bugs, documenting his product and distribute for free? The fact is, no one besides us has invested a lot of money in hobby software. [...] Most directly, the thing you do is theft." (William Henry Gates III -- February 3, 1976 -- An Open Letter to Hobbyists)
Karma: Positive (probably because of superiour intellect)
Comment removed based on user account deletion