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Microsoft Talks Daily With Your Computer

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the what-could-go-wrong dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Microsoft Corp. acknowledged Wednesday that it needs to better inform users that its tool for determining whether a computer is running a pirated copy of Windows also quietly checks in daily with the software maker. The company said the undisclosed daily check is a safety measure designed to allow the tool, called Windows Genuine Advantage, to quickly shut down in case of a malfunction." The EULA is suppose to disclose this daily call-in feature. Lauren Weinstein, who is co-founder of People for Internet Responsibility, was one of the first people to notice the daily communications to Microsoft. Report from Yahoo.com"

9 of 686 comments (clear)

  1. I'm protected. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    *wraps computer in tin foil and duct tape*

    BRING IT ON!!!

  2. XP Phone Home! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    XP Phone Home!

  3. Ooops! by kozumik · · Score: 5, Funny

    I guess they forgot to disclose that in the EULA. Honest mistake, stuff happens. Now let's go back to not worrying about DRM or Net Neutrality because Big Bussiness is looking out for our best interests.

  4. Talks daily to whose computer? by Entropy · · Score: 5, Funny

    TFA says "your computer", but aren't all Windows installs "my computer" on the desktop? Shouldn't it say "your my computer"? Or is it "my your computer"?

    Ah screw it! And screw Microsoft, too.

    --
    The sea changes color, but the sea does not change.
    1. Re:Talks daily to whose computer? by Bob+Cat+-+NYMPHS · · Score: 5, Funny

      Several times, after telling someone to "Click on My Computer", I was put on hold while they ran over to the server, picked up the extension, and then asked me "Where should I click?". I'm not making a joke here. Mod this "Sad".

      --
      The latest Slashdot meme.
  5. OMG! Everyday?! by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I knew my PC was cheating on me after I got a Mac. But Microsoft...

  6. ...the hell? by AWhiteFlame · · Score: 5, Funny

    Here at Microsoft, we care about the Customer Experience. As a result, we've taken the following measures to make sure your experience is as pleasant and beneficial to you as possible.

    - Our new operating system, Windows Vista, requires only the best high-end hardware so that, even on a system well beyond the power you should ever need, you'll still get the true Windows Experience(TM)

    - The new Windows Media Player 11 features all-new and exclusive DRM, or Degradation Resistment Technology by Microsoft, which not only provides wonderful sound in the new and improved WMA format, but protects your rights as well.

    - Our operating systems now report back with system information and other information which we feel should be collected from your system at any given time to improve your computing experience.

    Microsoft: Where do we want to take you today?

    --
    "Everything worth innovating today will go to court tomorrow."
  7. Bug in Windows Update? by Savage-Rabbit · · Score: 5, Funny

    TFA says "your computer", but aren't all Windows installs "my computer" on the desktop? Shouldn't it say "your my computer"? Or is it "my your computer"?

    I got a totally different result myself. When I ran Windows Update on my parents laptop about an hour ago Windows Update renamed 'My Computer' to 'All your computer are belong to Microsoft' and changed the system name to 'Skynet subnode 3964270017356334576934-X371N02'. Has anybody else experienced this?

    --
    Only to idiots, are orders laws.
    -- Henning von Tresckow
  8. Re:What kind of bullshit excuse is this? by jargoone · · Score: 5, Funny

    And since I run a legit corporate copy, it's staying blocked.

    ... but if you ran a stolen corporate copy, you'd unblock it? ;-)