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Microsoft Misrepresenting WGA's Functionality?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the first-time-for-everything dept.

Legal Ethics writes "According to an article on Groklaw, Microsoft is misrepresenting what the Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) tool is to pressure people into installing it. It comes with no uninstall, it fails to disclose many pieces of information it provides to Microsoft, and it misrepresents itself as a 'critical update' when it does not address any security vulnerability, although it remains to be seen if it can create one. ZDNet has a series of screenshots so that you can see exactly how badly it misrepresents itself. Oh, and it also checks for updates, so Microsoft can presumably execute arbitrary code on any machine with it installed, merely by making that code part of a WGA update."

4 of 458 comments (clear)

  1. Re:MOD PARENT IDIOTIC by Nimey · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    You have been trolled. You have lost. Have a nice day.

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    Hail Eris, full of mischief...

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  2. This needs a funny mod.. by plasmacutter · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    I know i'll probably be modded down and lose karma, but i find the parent absolutely hilarious!

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    VLC FOR MAC IS DYING! IF YOU DEVELOP, PLEASE SAVE IT!!
  3. Shelly The Republican by Ayanami+Rei · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    It's a really funny site. Do you enjoy trolling the internet?

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  4. Re:Un-American by marcosdumay · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    "Yes, the economy would take a serious hit if Microsoft, ExxonMobil, and other major players were suddenly replaced by free alternatives..."

    No, it wouldn't. If suddenly lots of products become free, that means that more people will afford them, and no one will stop affording. How is that an economical hit?

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