Beware - Microsoft Steps Up Piracy Checks

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 28 Apr 2006 9:57 am

Starting Tuesday, the Microsoft will push out a test tool that checks whether the copy of Windows a PC is using is properly licensed. It will be sent to millions of people in the United States, United Kingdom, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand. It will extend its
'Windows Genuine Advantage' program to send alerts directly to users of pirated software, the company said yesterday.

Starting April 26, 2006, however, Windows XP users in the United States who have set up automatic security updates will receive
the anti-piracy tool. After installation and reboot, they may find their computers popping up an alert that reads: 'This copy of Windows
is not genuine; you may be a victim of software counterfeiting.' These popup notices will occur as they logon and while they are working with their computers. The popups will continue to occur until such time as the computer owner installs a valid license code, which may require a phone call to Microsoft support.

Read the rest of the story on my Blog, under the topic Steps Up Piracy Check."

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Bob "Wiz" Feinberg
Moderator of the SGF Computers Forum
Visit my Wiztunes Steel Guitar website at: http://www.wiztunes.com/
or my computer troubleshooting website: Wizcrafts Computer Services,
or my Webmaster Services webpage.
Learn about current computer virus and security threats here.
Read Wiz's Blog for security news and update notices
[This message was edited by Wiz Feinberg on 01 May 2006 at 08:06 AM.]

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 28 Apr 2006 11:31 am

You don't have to install it. I always set Windows Update to manually install, and I always do a "Custom Install" so that I only get the patches that are relevant to me.

They always want to update Outlook Express, for example. I don't use Outlook Express at all. I delete its icon as one of the first things I do with a new system. It's useless to me. So I uncheck the box that would download an update to it.

You can do the same with the new "fix" that checks for "illegal" copies of Windows. Since most of my copies are under a rather strange corporate MSDN license, I don't want to take the chance of Microsoft declaring my system to be "illegal". I won't be downloading that "update" any time soon.

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<img align=left src="http://b0b.com/b0bxicon.gif" border="0"> Bobby Lee
-b0b- quasar@b0b.com 
System Administrator 
My Blog

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 28 Apr 2006 11:38 am

Seems like several times my settings (same as b0b's--notify me but don't download anything until I check it out) have changed to fully automatic mode. Any insight into why/how? Or is it just one of those wonderful magical computer quirks that we have to live with?

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 28 Apr 2006 12:18 pm

Seems like several times my settings (same as b0b's--notify me but don't download anything until I check it out) have changed to fully automatic mode. Any insight into why/how? Or is it just one of those wonderful magical computer quirks that we have to live with?

All your computer are belong to us (Microsoft)!

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 28 Apr 2006 12:38 pm

If you turn OFF auto update, will MS still notify you that there are NEW updates?

My Windows Update is currently set at: "Notify me but don't automatically download or install them".

Yet when I chose, recently, not to install a DL for OE, which I also do not use, the install shield would still keep popping up wanting me to DL - a nuisance.

Wiz advised me to just go ahead and install it and forget it. I did, but I think I would rather just go now with manual install.

Thing is, if I'm not always reminded of new DLs, I'll forget to check.

Can ya just set it where they let you know there are DLs.

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 28 Apr 2006 1:38 pm

My Windows Update is currently set at: "Notify me but don't automatically download or install them".

Chip;
Your security settings are already set to the least intrusive notification level. The next level down turns off automatic updates altogether, with no notification at all.

Use that level if you prefer and remember to check for Windows Updates manually. I usually Post here announcing upcoming updates, and I also post this info on my blog (see link below).

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Bob "Wiz" Feinberg
Moderator of the SGF Computers Forum
Visit my Wiztunes Steel Guitar website at: http://www.wiztunes.com/
or my computer troubleshooting website: Wizcrafts Computer Services,
or my Webmaster Services webpage.
Learn about current computer virus and security threats here.
Read Wiz's Blog for security news and update notices

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 28 Apr 2006 2:21 pm

Some of the "free" downloads that Microsoft offers requires the "Genuine" validation take place before you can download them.

I would suspect there are many "corporate" or "educational" copies running around. The I.T. staff should take care of those.

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 28 Apr 2006 5:31 pm

OK - Thanks Wiz. I think I'll re-try manual
updating. That's the way I always used to do it.

I don't see why you should be forced to DL stuff you don't want or use.

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 29 Apr 2006 8:57 am

Manual updates almost always allow you to de-select any update you don't want. It is the Automatic Updates that force things on you.

All your base are belong to us!

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Bob "Wiz" Feinberg
Moderator of the SGF Computers Forum
Visit my Wiztunes Steel Guitar website at: http://www.wiztunes.com/
or my computer troubleshooting website: Wizcrafts Computer Services,
or my Webmaster Services webpage.
Learn about current computer virus and security threats here.
Read Wiz's Blog for security news and update notices

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 29 Apr 2006 9:01 am

I suspect ultimately ANY Windows XP update will require the "Genuine" validation. Just a matter of time.

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 29 Apr 2006 10:26 am

In case any of you are wondering what the WGA Notification Popup says during logon, here is a screen capture:

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 30 Apr 2006 6:45 am

Such a wierd phrase - I had to look it up.

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<img align=left src="http://b0b.com/b0bxicon.gif" border="0"> Bobby Lee
-b0b- quasar@b0b.com 
System Administrator 
My Blog

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 30 Apr 2006 7:09 am

I only came across it a couple of years ago--the compu-game thing was never my scene. Cracks me up.

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 30 Apr 2006 8:26 am

I had faith that the two of you would have your curiosity raised enough to look up my phrase. It sure does fit perfectly in that notification language, doesn't it?

For those not in the know, here is the story line:

In A.D. 2101
War was beginning.
Captain: What happen?
Mechanic: Somebody set up us the bomb.
Operator: We get signal.
Captain: What !
Operator: Main screen turn on.
Captain: It's You !!
Cats: How are you gentlemen !!
Cats: All your base are belong to us.
Cats: You are on the way to destruction.
Captain: What you say !!
Cats: You have no chance to survive make your time.
Cats: HA HA HA HA ....
Captain: Take off every 'zig' !!
Captain: You know what you doing.
Captain: Move 'zig'.
Captain: For great justice.

Links:
http://allyourbase.planettribes.gamespy.com/story.shtml
http://allyourbase.planettribes.gamespy.com/video1_view.shtml
http://www.classicgaming.com/rotw/zerowing/ [This message was edited by Wiz Feinberg on 30 April 2006 at 09:27 AM.]

Peter · Post by **Peter** » 30 Apr 2006 11:44 am

Does Microsoft have a genuine licence to copy that phrase?

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 1 May 2006 3:25 am

That kind of gibberish shows up all the time in foreign products. One of my pocket calculators had this line in the instruction manual...

"Do not in unit leave batteries too long for will cause corrode!"

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 1 May 2006 6:47 am

Do not in unit leave batteries too long for will cause corrode!

ROTFLMAO !

BTW: I added the AYB text to the bottom of the "not genuine notice." It is a joke (sort of, and sort of not).

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 2 May 2006 4:31 am

Although not quite as bad, i just updated the firmware in my NEC DVD burner. At the end of the firmware update it requires the PC to power down (and then power up).

When you click the "power off" button (in the firmware update window) another window pops up with "PC Will have Powerdown". [This message was edited by Jack Stoner on 02 May 2006 at 05:33 AM.]

Ray Riley · Post by **Ray Riley** » 2 May 2006 6:32 pm

Great Information Wiz, I'm the Wiz, I'm the Wiz Thanks Ray

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 4 May 2006 1:49 pm

I have Blogged about the counterfeit Windows XP software notifications here, outlining the reasons behind this initiative by Microsoft and a temporary workaround. I have provided a solid, legal solution to converting a counterfeited Windows XP installation into a licensed and activated installation here.

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Bob "Wiz" Feinberg
Moderator of the SGF Computers Forum
Visit my Wiztunes Steel Guitar website at: http://www.wiztunes.com/
or my computer troubleshooting website: Wizcrafts Computer Services,
or my Webmaster Services webpage.
Learn about current computer virus and security threats here.
Read Wiz's Blog for security news and update notices[This message was edited by Wiz Feinberg on 04 May 2006 at 02:51 PM.]

John Gretzinger · Post by **John Gretzinger** » 6 May 2006 6:45 pm

b0b - The ability to use the Custom update with a copy of Windows that does not pass the validation has gone away. For those with legal copies this is not an issue, but for those who fail this test they will still get the critical updates via Windows Update but cannot do a manual download of most things and definately not anything from a custom update.

The place where I've seen this the most is where a company has a huge site license and the ability to create their own serial numbers. These will work fine and do not need to be activated (just like the Volume Edition) but fail the Validation Tool.

Wiz's solution for adding in the new codes works. Kind of a pain, but easier than rebuilding the system from scratch.

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MSA D-10 w/Nashville 400
'63 Gibson Hummingbird
16/15c Hammered Dulcimer

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 7 May 2006 9:29 pm

Most all the issues are related to using a Win xxx machine on the net.
Don't go online, no hassle,
and your machine runs as it was set up.

Yeah, you own the hardware,
but not any programming that makes it run.

This partly allows them to not be blamed
because you lost data from a virus.
It's THEIR software not your's,
so it's not your's to sue them over.

But because the net attacks your PC,
they then use the neccesary updates to
make sure they get a profit from you or else.

I NEVER take my one Win 2K machine online.
It does it's job, and the Mac's go online.
No issue for me,
besides I believe my OS is PROPERLY LISCENCED.

But I also see logging on the net with it as an unnessesary risk.

There is more bootleg software here than anywhere else,
I expect they will be looking for any programs they have a MS component within,
to see if they got their pennys on the dollar
from the developers sales too, in the future.
if not happening now already.
[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 07 May 2006 at 10:32 PM.]