Linux Passes the Microsoft WGA Test

Wil writes "Here's a good one for the Linux fans -- running Wine on Linux and attempting to download a Windows Genuine Advantage protected file from the Microsoft website works just fine. It seems that Bill Gates has a soft spot for Tux after all, or at least isn't bothered about him downloading updates."

Comments

Wine shows up as Win98

[FlameboyC11]

Wine (as mentioned in one of the links) shows up as Windows 98 to microsoft, which, as far as I know, isn't even supported anymore. So, I guess since it isn't supported, it won't be validated or not validated and just lets the user pass through as if it was.

WINE Piracy

[chucks86]

I wonder if a pirated copy of Windows could use Cygwin running WINE to bypass the WGA...

Re:Why should we care?

[FlameboyC11]

Wine doesn't even use MS code, so that's why it's kinda interesting.

Doesn't anybody here read WINE's site?

[rincebrain]

This was noted on there awhile ago. WGA checks for Wine's registry key, and initially, demonstrated the behavior initially noted; that is, claiming non-valid Windows.

A bit after WGA was initially released, however, the WGA authentication dialog started accepting WINE-generated WGA codes with no explanation.

I don't know if WGA still checks for WINE, but if it does, it's something Microsoft can disable on their end quickly and easily, any time they want.

This isn't newsworthy, and it's not even news. The above comments about how WINE is being checked for were noted in the first March issue of WINE's newsletter, and the fact that Microsoft began accepting WINE-generated WGA validations was noted a few issues thereafter, though Google can't seem to find it.

Re:Unnecessary

[DrHanser]

This is quite true. Most slashdotters don't actually use Linux. Read the "Operating Systems" portion.