Posted on 01/26/2005 1:59:43 PM PST by Happy2BMe
Aiming to crack down on counterfeit software, Microsoft plans later this year to require customers to verify that their copy of Windows is genuine before downloading security patches and other add-ons to the operating system.
Since last fall the company has been testing a tool that can check whether a particular version of Windows is legitimate, but until now the checks have been voluntary. Starting Feb. 7, the verification will be mandatory for many downloads for people in three countries: China, Norway and the Czech Republic.
In those countries, people whose copies are found not to be legitimate can get a discount on a genuine copy of Windows, though the price varies from $10 to $150 depending on the country.
By the middle of this year, Microsoft will make the verification mandatory in all countries for both add-on features to Windows as well as for all OS updates, including security patches. Microsoft will continue to allow all people to get Windows updates by turning on the Automatic Update feature within Windows. By doing so, Microsoft hopes it has struck a balance between promoting security and ensuring that people buy genuine versions of Windows.
"We think that the best foundation for the most secure system is genuine software," said David Lazar, director of the Genuine Windows program at Microsoft. "We want to urge all of our customers to use genuine software. (At the same time), we want to make sure that we don't do anything to reduce the likelihood that a user will keep their system up to date."
The program, known as Windows Genuine Advantage, also offers perks to those who verify their copy of Windows. Those who do can get free software as well as discounts on other Microsoft products and services. Microsoft is upping the ante a bit, adding some additional discounts on MSN Games as well as on the company's recently announced Outlook Live subscription service to the existing list of benefits, which includes free access to the company's Photo Story 3 program.
Customers do appear to be interested in double-checking the status of their operating system. Some 8 million people have been asked to participate in the program since testing began, and more than 5 million have taken part.
And those numbers have come with very little recruiting on the part of Microsoft, Lazar said.
"More and more we will be marketing the offers to broaden the participation," he said. "People do like free stuff."
Piracy is a major problem for Microsoft and others in the software industry. One software industry study estimated that more than
a third of software is pirated, costing the industry $29 billion a year. Microsoft won't put an exact figure on its losses, but said it is certainly in the billions over the past 10 years.
The validation effort is just part of Microsoft's threefold program, which focuses on educating users, engineering products in ways that minimize piracy, and enforcement through the legal system.
As for the added security risk, Directions on Microsoft analyst Michael Cherry said that people are putting too much of the blame on the software maker.
Cherry said it is not necessarily Microsoft's responsibility to protect people who aren't paying the company for its products. He likened the situation to buying a fake Rolex and then expecting warranty service if the product breaks.
The problem with that analogy, Cherry acknowledged, is that a broken Rolex doesn't put other watch owners at risk, whereas vulnerable computers connected to the Internet threaten all PC users. However, Cherry said that many of the computers that are at risk are using genuine, but older versions of Windows.
"There's a growing chance that the people whose machines are being taken over are running older systems which aren't really securable," he said.
Cherry said he thinks the company is acting appropriately, noting that making sure people are running genuine Windows is important for all customers.
"I think they are entitled to do this, and I think it is in customers' best interest to know that they have a genuine version of the software," he said. Counterfeit copies could contain their own bugs or viruses, and there is no way to guarantee that security patches will work, even if the user can download them, he said.
While Microsoft is the obvious beneficiary if piracy rates go down, Cherry said programs like Genuine Advantage also help level the playing field for smaller computer builders who play by the rules and find themselves undercut by dealers offering PCs with bogus copies of Windows.
"Those are the people I hope the program is helping," Cherry said.
They also ought to lower the price for home networks. It stinks to have to fork out $100 per pc for WinXP. Take the price for additional license down to $20 per additional pc. Not a lot of homes would have more than say 5 pc's so MS could limit the amount of additional licenses per cd sold.
Tried like hell to get my USB drive to work, couldnt do it, just messed up my whole install and had to start over ...
There is also a few Linux exploits. It's just sexier to run with the "Bad Microsoft" angle.
The cost of the monitor and keyboard would be less than $100.
It's dual boot setup with FAT32 so 98SE can see XP. I've heard NTFS is far superior and so I've been looking into the possibility of using third party software that lets 98 see NTFS.
One thing I don't have is graphics problems. This machine runs Half-Life 2 like a dream.
This is why MS will be successful with this , XP sends your PC setup to MS and checks to see if you have the same hardware installed, so unless you have a duplicate machine of your stolen XP key they will be able to shut you out from getting updates.
I first started with Linux four years ago. All the command-prompt stuff turned me off. Then a few months ago I read about the newer, better Linux... and it was better.
I installed it without a hitch. Connected to the 'net, no problem.
The problem is, as you stated, in its ease of use. This is STILL an incredibly difficult OS.
clock speed can be compared between the g4/5 and the x86 architecture.
19 inch monitor
19 inch monitors run from 175-300$
a gig of memory and DVDR
So a mac mini with 1gb, DVDR, and a 17 inch monitor runs 1,050 a touch more than the dell but its the equal.
A malware program that must be manually installed by someone who can manually give the application administrator privaleges, and that can't self-replicate isn't a virus.
This has been debated hundreds of times in various forums, there simply isn't a single virus that will effect OS X.
Yes - if you aren't aware of what your machine is doing.
The version of SP2 I have installed is illegal for me to have. It was listed on many bittorrent sites, and is far superior. I also take rather extreme steps in other areas, where my PC is concerned.
I wonder how this will handle corporate versions ?
I'm impressed that you took the time to type that, considering the lame result.
One small point: my Dell came with 5 USB inputs... your Apple coaster has one. Minor point.
You've just changed the definition of "virus" to something else that now excludes about 9/10ths of all viruses out there.
All worms, trojans, viruses and so forth are classified as "malware" since they all have malicious intent in mind. Viruses don't have to transmit themselves over the Internet -- that is a "worm." A virus simply has to launch or to execute code once the user triggers an action. A worm can carry a virus as a payload but the worm is what propagates over the Internet.
And the description you gave was for Renopo-A, the varient that does not jump across networks, while Renopo-B does.
Please, please, please, piss people off and reduce your share of the installed base.
I hate your products, especially your crappy, unstable, insecure operating system. I do my home computing on Mac, but unfortunately I have to use your Microsoft crapware at work, and it is always crashing and freezing thanks to the countless viruses and spyware programs which you seem to be totally unable to prevent.
I wish to see your company overrun by the likes of Linux and Macintosh. I can't think of a more helpful way to turn people off Windows than to institute this kind of on-line verification.
Do it Bill! Pull the trigger, you buffoon!
-ccm
No I haven't. I'd recommend you read up a bit on the difference between malware, trojans, and viruses. Viruses by their definition must be able to reproduce themselves (just like "living" viruses")
Try: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&oi=defmore&q=define:computer+virus
Definitions of computer virus on the Web: A computer program that can reproduce by changing other programs to include a copy of itself. It is a parasite program, needing another program to survive. (Eth, Gr. 8) www.dpi.state.nc.us/Curriculum/computer.skills/lssnplns/glossary/total.htm
That bit of Mac-Head mythology will get you in trouble. More proof Mac's are more of a religion than a computer platform
Time to wake up and smell the coffee!
If it hasn't been thrown in your face already...
BTTT
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