This article applies to the version of Microsoft Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) Notifications that is distributed during the pilot program. For example, this version is included in the pre-release version that accompanies the Microsoft Software License Terms. To safely and easily uninstall the pilot version, you must install the general release version of WGA Notifications. If you do not install this version, you can follow the steps in this article to disable or uninstall the pilot version.
Emphasis mine.
That KB article does not pertain to the current/newer version of WGA being distributed right now--only the earlier version.
Their best bet is either selling it En masse to computer manufacturers as an alternative to linux
I dunno, there this little company up in Redmond, Washington that also sells an alternative to Linux and they have been having a tough time breaking the Torvalds/Tux monopoly on the PC desktop.;)
Let the world be glad that these are only toxic toads and not Battletoads. Of course if there was a world-wide rat infestation we would probably be very thankful for their help in eradicating the rodents.
Seen in the groklaw comments thread:
Microsoft's definition of spyware:
spyware
Software that can display advertisements (such as pop-up ads), collect information about you, or change settings on your computer, generally without appropriately obtaining your consent.
Pop-ups ads? That pop-up bubble is annoying and is just as bad. Check.
Collects info about user? Collecting info about my hardware and my installation without my consent is close enough. Check.
Change settings on my computer? You cannot remove it without some hack. Check.
Doing all this without "appropriately obtaining your consent"? Hell yes check.
WGA is spyware by Microsoft's own definition.
Legitimate question: I wonder if it is still possible to get the updates yourself and manually apply them? I will find out myself when Patch Tuesday arrives, but so far not having WGA installed has not prevented me from installing patches manually; security patches I'm refering to here. I mean there are those that don't use automatic updates and that is how they keep their Windows boxes updated. Or does not using WGA period bar you from applying the updates even manually? Security updates also? I would hope not. Why put up with nonsense like that? Another vote for moving to OS X or even better, a Free Operating System such as Linux and BSD.
Apple got its dominate position by creating a effective and user freindly UI to a useful and stylish bit of hardware.
I think we are at a point where it seems like everyone has an iPod and nobody wants to feel left out so they buy one to be apart of the crowd. Two of my friends recently purchased iPods specifically because they saw others on campus using them--nothing to do with UI and how stylish the hardware is. IMO, most people buying iPods these days are buying it to feel a belonging to a "movement"/culture or because it is some kind of new fad going on. Sheep indeed...
Project leader Theo de Raadt was quoted as saying 'I don't think anybody else does this, developers suspend their lives for a week to focus entirely on just development.
...and Half-Life 2 has prompted a lot of story-light brainless shooters.
Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, Quake, Duke Nukem 3D and a host of other FPS that were released way before Half-Life 2 have had little to no story at all. HL2 changed nothing.
The best strategy that MS could do to improve security would be to bundle an intro into the OS that explained the basics of its new security features.
And I'm sure that most users will skip it, quickly launch IE, and begin downloading all the malware-infested apps that they feel they can't live without. And if they can't skip the "intro" by pressing Cancel/Exit/Skip, they will get up and do something else until it is over. The average Window (l)user just does not take security seriously and no video tutorial will change that. It's people like that, that keeps money depositing into my bank account.;)
E.g., they never had a problem giving away IE or MS Media Player,
Bad examples. Does giving IE and WMP away for free cost Microsoft $4 Billion plus in losses like the Xbox did? The Xbox & 360 continue to incur Microsoft expenses with the manufacturing of each new unit. There is no additional cost for Microsoft to make more copies of IE and WMP.
Remember, Microsoft donates to both major political parties so it is a win-win situation for them either way regardless if its a Republican or Democrat administration in power. They have learned their lessons from what their competitors pulled in the 90s USDOJ anti-trust case against them.
there is still time to do it. Just provide a no harddrive version but allow the customer to add in their own harddrve later on and drop the PS3 down to $399 or about. Of course the most likely option will be Sony trying to prevent anyone from adding their own harddrives and instead sell expensive proprietary upgrade options; leaving one to get their PS3 modded in order to add their own harddrives (usually the massive storage drives). Sigh, one can only hope.
Whoa! That is one expensive rootkit! Seriously, I might have to go with the lay-a-way plan if I hope to buy this console anytime soon. The Wii--despite the weak name--might be first on my list and the PS3 later on when it comes down in price.
Why oh why does this crap even come up when there are more pressing issues to deal with. We can try to vote these idiots out but they are replaced with more bought or idiot canidates. Why doesn't he propose taxing all that money the US oil companies are bringing in? Have them help fund schools. If you are going to propose a tax on video games because some of them may be "bad" and alot of kids buy video games, then why not tax violent movies for that matter(leave the pr0n alone though...wait I don't pay for that anyways) or even family movies--alot of people watch that crap. Games are getting more expensive with each new generation of consoles now we can possibly pay even more. Geez...
I realize parent was modded funny, but mplayer (with up to date codecs) will play the video just fine. VLC on my Debian box can play it somewhat with audio intact, but the video is fuzzy.
Because, on the whole, americans are rather short-sighted - ignorant of what goes on in the world outside their little patch.
I'm pretty sure that the citizens of the United States are not the only group of people who buy cheap products and have businesses that invest in China. Switch out Americans and replace it with citizens of the "free world". And I'm willing to bet that it is not becuase most people are ignorant, but they don't really care as long as they get what they are looking for at a cheap price.
Just because it is MS does not change the fact that this is a patent-system absurdity, another reason why it should be overhauled.
Yet Microsoft continues to apply for frivolous patents and Ballmer hints at launching patent suits again competing OS that just happen to have their source code open for all to see. Gee, I wonder how many patent violations Windows has in its closed up proprietary self. We can only speculate unfortunately...
Slashdot Mirror
That KB article does not pertain to the current/newer version of WGA being distributed right now--only the earlier version.
Apple has already implemented that feature in their older ibook line of lapt...I mean notebooks ;)
Let the world be glad that these are only toxic toads and not Battletoads. Of course if there was a world-wide rat infestation we would probably be very thankful for their help in eradicating the rodents.
Just as I thought. I'm sure autopatcher would also continue to work without WGA being installed too. Thanks.
Link to their glossary: http://www.microsoft.com/security/glossary.mspx#s
Collects info about user? Collecting info about my hardware and my installation without my consent is close enough. Check.
Change settings on my computer? You cannot remove it without some hack. Check.
Doing all this without "appropriately obtaining your consent"? Hell yes check.
WGA is spyware by Microsoft's own definition.
Debian developers do this. It may not be a week at a time but several weekends a year and it eventually evens out.
http://wiki.debian.org/BSPMarathon
Oh why in the world is the parent poster marked troll? Someone needs their mod privaleges revoked. What the parent posted was insightful.
Remember, Microsoft donates to both major political parties so it is a win-win situation for them either way regardless if its a Republican or Democrat administration in power. They have learned their lessons from what their competitors pulled in the 90s USDOJ anti-trust case against them.
there is still time to do it. Just provide a no harddrive version but allow the customer to add in their own harddrve later on and drop the PS3 down to $399 or about. Of course the most likely option will be Sony trying to prevent anyone from adding their own harddrives and instead sell expensive proprietary upgrade options; leaving one to get their PS3 modded in order to add their own harddrives (usually the massive storage drives). Sigh, one can only hope.
Whoa! That is one expensive rootkit! Seriously, I might have to go with the lay-a-way plan if I hope to buy this console anytime soon. The Wii--despite the weak name--might be first on my list and the PS3 later on when it comes down in price.
Why oh why does this crap even come up when there are more pressing issues to deal with. We can try to vote these idiots out but they are replaced with more bought or idiot canidates. Why doesn't he propose taxing all that money the US oil companies are bringing in? Have them help fund schools. If you are going to propose a tax on video games because some of them may be "bad" and alot of kids buy video games, then why not tax violent movies for that matter(leave the pr0n alone though...wait I don't pay for that anyways) or even family movies--alot of people watch that crap. Games are getting more expensive with each new generation of consoles now we can possibly pay even more. Geez...
I realize parent was modded funny, but mplayer (with up to date codecs) will play the video just fine. VLC on my Debian box can play it somewhat with audio intact, but the video is fuzzy.