Internet Explorer Drops WGA Requirement

Kelson writes "The Internet Explorer team has updated the installer for IE7. Mostly they've adjusted a few defaults and updated their tutorials, but one change stands out: The installer no longer requires Windows Genuine Advantage validation. Almost a year after its release, IE7 has yet to overtake its predecessor. Was WGA holding back a tide of potential upgrades, or did it just send people over to alternative browsers?"

Comments

Gone! The only genuine advantage!!!

[jkrise]

of a pirated Windows XP was that it never downloaded and force-installed the crappy IE7. After the sneaky updates, it seems it is the turn of IE7 now to get in on all XP systems. Whatever for?

If IE7 provides more security, then it should be available only for genuine editions. Why incentivise piracy? Now, the Firefox exploits that work only when IE7 is installed will start working on pirated editions of XP.... even though the user may be using FIrefox only. Way to go, I say!

didnt RTFA

[resignator]

does this apply to all MS updates or just IE7?

No WGA means, MS allows piracy

[zukinux]

If MS allows downloading IE7 without WGA, meaning it allows piracy and cannot complain afterwards about people not buying it's OS.
Anyways, whenever I meet a Windows box, the only thing I use IE for is to download firefox.