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Microsoft WGA Phones Home Even When Told No

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the huge-shocker-here dept.

Aviran writes "When you start WGA setup and get to the license agreement page but decided NOT to install the highly controversial WGA component and cancel the installation, the setup program will send information stored in your registry and the fact that you choose not to install WGA back to Microsoft's servers."

7 of 403 comments (clear)

  1. Perfect marriage of technologies? by Joe+Random · · Score: 4, Funny

    Sounds like a perfect place to use MS speech recgonition:
    Computer: "Where do you want to go today?"
    You: "Nowhere."
    C: "I heard 'Microsoft Validation Site'. Is this correct?"
    Y: "No!"
    C: "I'm sorry. I heard 'Dear aunt, let's set so double the killer delete all'. Is this correct?"
    Y: "NO!!"
    C: "I understand. So 'Microsoft Validation Site' was correct. Redirecting now. Thank you for using My Microsoft Live Enterprise Genuine Advantage Ultimate. Have a nice day."

  2. Re:So? by spun · · Score: 3, Funny

    You posted a short, one word post with no information content and an inane question in order to get first post. Mods love to bitchslap anyone who does this.

    The question "So?" is redundant because it doesn't need to be asked. If you feel this isn't an important issue, explain why you think it isn't important.

    Software that sends personal information about you back to its master when you say you don't want to install it is generally considered spyware.

    I see your "So?" and raise you a "Because!"

    --
    - None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
  3. Re:Easy enough to deal with by drinkypoo · · Score: 4, Funny

    From the image in TFA, it looks like they're sending back the Windows version code, and the installation-unique CSID, along with some other stuff that I didn't recognize. There didn't appear to be any identification of the specific user in there.

    so let me get this straight. the ID that identifies your installation is there, and you don't recognize all of the other information, so you concluded that there doesn't be any identification of the user?

    Truly, your intellect is astonishing.

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  4. Re:So? by whargoul · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yeah, and?

  5. Re:Holy cow, this is Bad by MightyMartian · · Score: 5, Funny

    I am no lawyer, but this seems very similar if not the same as wiretapping.
    You're right. You're no lawyer.
    --
    The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
  6. Re:Gibberish by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    The only home software on my computers should have is my home

    Sounds like someone set you up the bomb.

  7. Re:So? by Runefox · · Score: 3, Funny

    I AM a mod, you insensitive clod!

    --
    Screw the rules, I have green hair!