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Dvorak on Windows Genuine Advantage
PadRacerExtreme writes "Vista includes the much maligned 'Genuine Advantage' layer inside, which ensures that your copy of the OS is legit. If you're running a non-validated copy you get no upgrades, no security protection, nothing. That's all well and good, but what happens if a cracker tweaks that Genuine Advantage layer for its own good? Dvorak sees a huge problem, just waiting to happen. What's the vulnerability?" From the article: "I suspect the policeman [WGA] will actually be hacked before the OS. It might actually be easier for the pirates to create a fake cop that constantly authenticates fake versions of Vista than it will be to create a Vista imitation that can pretend to be a legitimate version. There is some irony to that idea. But that's none of my concern. I'm more worried about some joker creating a virus or exploit that turns the good cop into a bad cop, and I can only imagine the destruction and hassle that will ensue."
Isn't Dvorak basically just an Internet whore? Why does slashdot link to his articles?
Most of us don't expect MS to release secure and bugfree software. What we don't expect is such blatent reaming of their customer base. Treat the user as a criminal, and they have to become one anyway.
MS is turning into an *AA in their business practice: Their cash cows are dying and instead of looking for new interpretations to their products, they refuse to believe their model is incorrect and enact strongarm tactics to keep people locked in. WGA, legal courses and even not-so-subtle threats documented as research.
It's not working for the *AAs; it won't work for their software.
Yes, but this particular method has added irony of turning the tables on "the man" which fits in rather nicely with whole ethos of the malware authors and their fellow travelers.