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Microsoft Talks Daily With Your Computer
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"
Does this really come as a surprise ??? Happily using Ubuntu for 6 months.
What's On Your Network ??? http://www.open-audit.org/
So what's the big deal? The only reason to care is if you've stolen from them. I guess I'm too much a libertarian. I think someone has a right to try to keep people from stealing from them. So sue me.
You sound like you work for Microsoft or have no desire to keep your computer and its contents to yourself. Yeah, Microsoft isn't gonna actually "spy" on you, nor will they look at any of your personal information. But it seems our government over the last 6 years has a problem with properly interpreting Constitutional rights to free speech and privacy. If you question their motives, you're a terrorist. If you continue your thoughts or actions against us, you are allowing the terrorists to win. Bullshit. AT&T allowed the NSA to wiretap lines without notifying its users, who's to say that Microsoft won't do the same? Well, I guess you're just "renting" the use of your glorious operating system anyway...they'll do what they damn well please with it.
You work for Mr. Gates, don't you.
The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
For laptops, SuSE 10.1 is the most complete Linux distro hands down. If you have an ATI or nVidia chip, the Xgl desktop is simply an amazing piece of eye candy that puts anything you've seen on Windows to shame. On that note, if it's a small footprint and performance you're looking for, PuppyLinux 2.0 on 256M of DDR can't be beat but at the cost of looking a bit Win2K-ish. If you're a Linux newbie or want all the bells and whistles, go SuSE. If you want raw speed at the cost of some creature comforts and have played with Linux before, go Puppy.
Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws-Plato
Microsoft is fscking stupid. My friend bought Toshiba laptop, which has that fscking shiny Microsoft Genuine Product sticker on it. He never reinstalled windows (even from the CDs provided by Toshiba).
He tried to install spyware from their web site and he was asked go away telling him that the product is not genuine. I removed Windows from his laptop and installed Ubuntu. He has vowed not to use Windows anymore..
One more convert:P
hilarious
You all know that Firefox, BY DEFAULT, checks for updates and installs them before letting the user know right?
Where are the cries of foul here?
LS
There is a fine line between being a cultivated citizen and being someone else's crop. - A. J. Patrick Liszkie