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Microsoft To Begin Checking For Piracy

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the only-a-matter-of-time dept.

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."

61 of 810 comments (clear)

  1. Uhh by daveschroeder · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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.

    1. Re:Uhh by Ingolfke · · Score: 5, Insightful

      If I bought a new DeWalt drill for really cheap of the Internet, it broke, and I went to get it repaired only to find out that I had purchased a knock-off product I wouldn't expect DeWalt to fix it. I'd go to the vendor who sold me it and take whatever action I could against them. Why is Microsoft any different?

    2. Re:Uhh by Ryosen · · Score: 4, Insightful

      >>Recieving stolen goods is also a crime

      You have to be proven to have known that the goods were stolen, otherwise there is no crime.

      What the GP is talking about isn't someone buying the PC out of the back of a truck. It is someone who buys the computer from a retailer, in **good faith**, and the retailer, unknown to the purchaser, is using pirated copies of Windows. This is a common occurance with white box PCs and isn't limited to EBay sales.

      The people affected by this aren't the ones buying and installing XP themselves. They are the ones that bought "no-name" PCs with XP pre-installed where the retailer is not a valid OEM licensee.

      --

      Ryosen
      One man's "Troll, +1" is another man's "Insightful, +1".
    3. Re:Uhh by Pharmboy · · Score: 3, Informative

      Recieving stolen goods is also a crime.

      In most states, KNOWINGLY receiving stolen goods is a crime, but not just receiving them. The usual standard is the old standby: "You knew or should have known" or "a reasonable person would have known".

      For instance: You could have bought a computer at a flea market, from a long time dealer, and had good reason to think it was not using pirated software, and not be guilty of crime, even though you received the goods.

      --
      Tequila: It's not just for breakfast anymore!
    4. Re:Uhh by BVis · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Your DeWalt drill doesn't cause problems for other people if it breaks. Windows installations missing security patches (as people will shut off automatic updates for fear of being caught) become zombies very quickly, adding to the spread of viruses, spam, etc.

      Also, the copy of Windows in question isn't likely to be a knock-off, it most likely is the same OS that you can buy off the shelf. A better analogy would be if you bought a genuine DeWalt drill from someone who wasn't an authorized DeWalt dealer, and the (genuine OEM DeWalt) batteries had a habit of exploding and hurting people around the user. More than likely DeWalt would issue a recall on *all* batteries, and more than likely they'd be pretty lenient about making sure the drill was purchased through authorized channels. In essence, the safety of the community would take precedence over the other factors involved. (Also, the effort to check where the drills came from would cause serious headaches, logistically. It would be more expedient to just replace the battery when it's sent in and not worry about the legitimacy.)

      Granted, we're talking about risk of physical injury vs. network security, but IMHO the obligation is the same: if you put out a broken product, you have an obligation (IMHO) to put out a fix. Anything less is corporate irresponsibility that could subsequently expose the company to liability, should a loss occur.

      Of course, MS doesn't care about that, since they have better lawyers than just about anyone else.

      --
      Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.
    5. Re:Uhh by leereyno · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Your analogy breaks down because software can be perfectly duplicated, a drill cannot. The software is not corrupted, lessened, or otherwise affected in any way by the copying. There is, from a technical standpoint, no difference between your copy which was created by a dishonest 3rd party, and a copy created by Microsoft itself. There are no additional technical hurdles or gotchas incurred when Microsoft provides updates to this illegal copy. If anything it helps them because that is one more system that is less likely to become a zombie, and security is one area where the company needs all the good PR it can get.

      I personally think that Microsoft is shooting itself in the foot. They're losing money to piracy to be sure, but not nearly as much as they'll lose from making piracy more difficult. The reason is that there are alternatives to Windows out there. The vast majority of this piracy takes place in the 3rd world. By making things difficult for people in Bombay and Shanghai, Microsoft is simply encouraging the adoption and use of Linux, and the economic effects of this are far more severe for the company than losing some $$$ from a licensing fee.

      This is an example of being penny-wise and pound foolish.

      They should of course take steps to deter piracy, but this is not a valid means of doing so.

      Lee

      --
      Muslim community leaders warn of backlash from tomorrow morning's terrorist attack.
    6. Re:Uhh by c · · Score: 4, Funny
      But they'd be a hell of a lot better citizen of the internet community if they didn't withhold updates in either instance.


      Or, better yet, shut down all networking capabilities on any on any infringing copy.


      Or non-infringing copy, if you wanted a +1 Funny.


      c.

      --
      Log in or piss off.
  2. Nice... by op12 · · Score: 5, Funny

    So if your copy of Windows is pirated, they'll prevent you from breaking it by not allowing you to install new service packs :)

  3. Re:Yawn by MoonFog · · Score: 4, Informative

    If you used the Security Center and set it to receive Automatic Updates automatically it would work, even with a counterfeit version of Windows.

  4. one question by Bananatree3 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    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?

    1. Re:one question by NineNine · · Score: 3, Insightful

      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?

      300 people using the same single user registration key/serial number is a pretty damn good indication.

  5. Some thoughts. by AnObfuscator · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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
  6. Somewhat interesting user behavior by ChrisF79 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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
  7. I really hope that this is a pain in everyones ass by SeanTobin · · Score: 5, Interesting

    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;
  8. Checked it this morning.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    Corporate XP Pro still works FYI :-)

  9. *scanning your copy of windows* by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    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?

  10. Trustworthy Computing? by Helmholtz · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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
  11. Pirated by GuitarNeophyte · · Score: 4, Interesting

    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!

    1. Re:Pirated by rpdillon · · Score: 4, Interesting

      This might sound like it's way out in left field, but this has happened to me. Twice. I have this second hard drive that alternates between holding my rips of DVDs and being a Windows drive for gaming. That only worked three or four times (switching back and forth, I mean) before it wouldn't let me use my key anymore. No message explaining why, just the standard "Invalid Key" dialog. Pisses me off. One of the reasons I use Linux. Oh, and no plans to buy Longhorn/Vista either...

    2. Re:Pirated by Nqdiddles · · Score: 5, Informative

      I tried to use my store bought copy. I really did. But after a few hardware changes it stopped working and I had to call Microsoft (who don't seem to speak english very well) to get a new key. And then ten minutes later realised I still had an archive HD in the box. I took it out and got the same message again. I wasn't making another phone call, so I inserted a cracked windows cd and reinstalled the OS. Should the illegal version really be THAT much more user friendly than the store bought copy?

      --
      And that kids is how I met your mother.
  12. Guess the CD Key Generator Program will be popular by YukiKotetsu · · Score: 5, Interesting

    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.

  13. MS isn't doing anything wrong... by BTWR · · Score: 4, Insightful
    I don't see this as anything wrong.

    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."

  14. wont stop anything by Lumpy · · Score: 5, Informative

    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.
  15. Their check didn't work when I tried by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    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.

    1. Re:Their check didn't work when I tried by Peyna · · Score: 3, Interesting

      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.

      That's pretty much how they were doing it before, with the "optional" checks you could do whenever you tried to download something off their site. (for various Windows add-ons). They just have a list of the some of the most pirated licenses that they use to check against.

      I always wondered though, how many people are using a university copy of XP on their machine when they never actually went to that university? (The version MS distributed through the program requires no authentication ever). Also, some university agreements only allow you to use it while you are enrolled and then you're supposed to go buy it when you are done, but again, if there is no authentication, how would they know? These are the CDs and CD keys that "pirates" should get ahold of.

      --
      What?
  16. Want XP? ( Pirate it first for a discount ) by popo · · Score: 4, Insightful


    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 : )
  17. No-Broadband Users Screwed? by Xesdeeni · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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

    1. Re:No-Broadband Users Screwed? by Mr.+Flibble · · Score: 3, Informative

      Yeah, Microsoft USED TO offer a update CD:

      http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/c d/order.mspx

      No questions asked either. I ordered one of these CD's when I worked as a tech, and it was great to have for fixing machines.

      However, I will bet that you can still find images of the update CD around - mind you it won't have ALL the patches anymore. Also, if the copy of windows is pirated and has a well known serial number, it will refuse to install (which only makes sense).

      You should see if you can track down a image of one of these CD's, or, perhaps Slipstream a copy once you have the patches. Pain in the ass? Yes.

      --
      Try to hack my 31337 firewall!
  18. Re:I really hope that this is a pain in everyones by thesp · · Score: 5, Informative

    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.

  19. Re:Yawn by Solosoft · · Score: 5, Informative

    Not that I pirated my windows :/

    Service Pack 2 is a breeze. I have the first copy of XP. All you have to do is Download this and copy it to the root of your C drive. Open up the "Command Prompt" and goto your root of the drive. Type in "cdkey xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx" as in x's are your SP2 compatable CD key. Once you press enter you should see nothing come up. (if somthing does then find a working key). Once your CD key is changed then Goto this site and click "Download and Deploy Service Pack 2 for multiple Computers". Once you are done that install SP2 and your done.

    Hopefully this is some help.

    --
    Solosoft.org - Your Online Resource to Nothing
  20. Re:Yawn by BarryJacobsen · · Score: 5, Funny

    If you used the Security Center and set it to receive Automatic Updates automatically it would work, even with a counterfeit version of Windows.

    Reference or proof, please?

    I submit that Microsoft always tries their best to make things better, but overlooks some Monday detail that ends up shooting them in the foot. Yes, I'm aware that's just hearsay and conjecture, but those are kinds of evidence, your Majesty.

    --
    Track your TV Shows with your iPhone - FREE
  21. Note to Microsoft by nizo · · Score: 4, Funny
    The more you tighten your grip, Bill, the more systems will slip through your fingers.

    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
  22. Re:What about keygens? by popo · · Score: 5, Funny


    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 : )
  23. Re:Yawn by Tassach · · Score: 5, Informative

    It's "mundane detail", not "Monday detail". If you're going to quote Office Space, at least get it right.

    --
    Why is it that the proponents of "one nation under God" are so eager to get rid of "liberty and justice for all"?
  24. Not so bad by Spacejock · · Score: 4, Interesting

    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
  25. Re:Yawn by Kenja · · Score: 5, Insightful
    "Bambino's don't do this"

    Sorry, but if I buy a computer that comes with a pirated copy of the OS (from a white box OEM) I will go after them tooth and nail should I find out.

    I write software for a living. So long as I expect to get paid for my work it would be very hypocritical of me to support the illegal software trade.

    --

    "Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
  26. They better get this right by rabel · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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!"

  27. Look I already found a way around by Evil+Trigun · · Score: 5, Informative

    http://www.softwarepatch.com/windows/ you dont need to use windows update...

  28. Simple solution by Rick+Zeman · · Score: 4, Interesting

    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.

  29. Re:Yawn by Stone+Cold+Troll · · Score: 5, Funny

    Uh oh. Looks like someone has a case of the mundanes!

  30. If MS wasn't an illegal monopoly, this is true. by HBI · · Score: 3, Insightful

    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.
  31. Re:Two-Pronged Approach is Best by indifferent+children · · Score: 3, Funny
    After a while, the pirated-software-loving folks who use these boobytrapped packages will suffer huge losses: lost sales (due to spontaneous e-mailing of company data to a competitor), injured patients (due to altered patient data), etc.

    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
  32. Re:Two-Pronged Approach is Best by OrangeTide · · Score: 3, Informative

    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
  33. How to check for pirates? by Savage-Rabbit · · Score: 3, Insightful

    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
  34. Good! by WhiteWolf666 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    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
  35. Whaddya mean... by 72beetle · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...we don't get French benefits?

    --
    -Those who dance are considered insane by those who can't hear the music.
    1. Re:Whaddya mean... by The+Ultimate+Fartkno · · Score: 5, Funny


      Hey, lay off! For all intensive purposes he was right!

  36. Re:I really hope that this is a pain in everyones by surprise_audit · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Sounds a lot like my daughter's Fujitsu Lifebook laptop. The hard disk died, neve mind why, and Fujitsu Support's response was: "you'll have to buy a new copy of Windows to install on the new disk. Or, pay us $200 and we'll install a new disk and a new copy of Windows." Yep, that was their response, swear to God!!.

    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.

  37. Re:Yawn by vinohradska · · Score: 5, Informative

    The Globe and Mail has a pretty good story on the privacy implications of this. To quote from the article: "The company will scan machines for a variety of information, including product keys or software authorization codes, operating-system version and details on the flow of data between the operating system and other hardware, such as printers."

  38. Will not detect pirated copies by Alereon · · Score: 3, Insightful

    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.

  39. There's more going on here... by flithm · · Score: 3, Insightful

    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.

  40. Re:MSDN Universal??? Certified Training Partners?? by Solosoft · · Score: 5, Informative

    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")

    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\Cu rrentVersion\WPAEvents
    That's frickin it ... 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.

    Hope ive been some help

    Solosoft

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    Solosoft.org - Your Online Resource to Nothing
  41. Re:Two-Pronged Approach is Best by DA-MAN · · Score: 3, Interesting

    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
  42. Re:Two-Pronged Approach is Best by typical · · Score: 4, Interesting

    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.
  43. HOW-TO BYPASS THIS by fluor2 · · Score: 4, Informative

    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.

  44. Re:Darnit... by kelnos · · Score: 3, Insightful

    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.
  45. I'm running pirated because I'm anti-social.. by brxndxn · · Score: 4, Funny

    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.

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    --- We need more Ron Paul!
  46. Re:Want XP? ( Pirate it first for a discount ) by minvaren · · Score: 3, Informative

    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!
  47. Re:Yawn by Doug97 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I pirate software for a living. So long as I expect to get paid for my work it would be very hypocritical for me to support the legal software trade.

  48. The REAL reason for "Locate Me" by dnorman · · Score: 3, Interesting

    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.
  49. Please by Mensa+Babe · · Score: 4, Informative

    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)

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    Karma: Positive (probably because of superiour intellect)