In an effort to crack down on counterfeit software, Microsoft will require customers to verify that their copies of Windows are genuine before downloading security patches. The company has been testing a tool that can check whether a particular version of Windows is legitimate and from the middle of 2005 the process will be mandatory in all countries for Windows updates and add-on tools.
However, Gartner is warning IT administrators that WGA will result in more unpatched Windows systems and therefore an increased threat from compromised PCs -- especially for companies that do not patch regularly.
According to Gartner analysts, "the WGA program will inevitably result in more unpatched Windows systems available on the Internet, so you must continue to improve your patching processes to protect your systems against worms and other malicious-code attacks spread by unpatched systems."
Nitin Acharekar, industry manager of security & services at Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific, said that WGA is a positive move by Microsoft because more companies will have genuine updated copies of Windows. However, he sees the increased threat described by Gartner as "theoretical" rather than likely.
"Lots of compromised and zombie PCs exist now -- there are lots of illegal copies of Windows out there and not many consumers are savvy enough to keep their computers up to date. Theoretically, there is more of a threat but practically I don't think it will have much of an impact because not many consumers patch their computers and so the risk already exists," said Acharekar.
Munir Kotadia reported from Sydney for ZDNet Australia. For more ZDNet Australia stories, click here.
Talkback
This move will have one major effect on MS. Customers will be immediately inclined to think about going to competitors for their complete systems.
MS, you brought this on yourself and you are not learning.
D.J.S.
So how is it a bad business practice to provide patches for customers that actually BOUGHT the product?
I think that this is a bad move altogether. Most of the people who have taken the time to find the pirated software can find a way around the validity check, its really not that difficult. So just in that aspect you have already failed in your primary objective before you start. The people who are going to get hit are thoes who bought "homebuilt" PCs from the guy next door who cut his cost by using a pirated copy to install the OS with a blacklisted key. This user may not really even understand why he cant get the updates, if he even knows how to update. The piracy issue has to be stopped on another level. And denial free updates are not it.
This is a very dangerous path for MS to go down, for more than one reason.
If it wasnt possible to copy windows from day one, do you think MS would have the biggest share of home operating systems ???
The idea of making patches only available to genuine windows users is gonna have a larger affect on microsoft than it may think.
Lots of unpatched machines sitting on the net, just waiting for someone to make some kind of exploit that targets MS with a DOS attack, that just wont stop. Until they are forced to give away a free patch to stop it, which defeats the purpose of his genuine advantage program.
Then you are going to have lots of people swop operating systems, because they cant have windows for free.
Bills idea may have put a smile on linux programmers faces tho :)
Best way to stop piracy of any piece of software is to sell it at a REALISTIC price, thats affordable to EVERYONE.
The 199ukp price tag that was on windows xp pro is just ridiculous and GREEDY.
Windows OS is just a interface to use other programs, maybe microsoft shouldnt forget that :)
Let's say your car was stolen, would you be obliged to provide auto repairs for that car. It seems this is the same problem Microsoft faces, someone steals Window XP and we think Microsoft should continue to supply fixes for the stolen property. Only in America
Most Microsoft flaws is mostly two programs, Their web brower and office. I use Mozilla forr my web browser and OpenOffice for my office suite. And they are both free. I either download for free and not have to pay a arm and a leg for them.
Its time that Microsoft slashed their prices for "boxed" products and equalled them to OEM prices and dropped those too. An office with 5 or 20 computers will look at the price of legitimately bought software when upgrading or reinstalling and see that it is considerable, the price of one or two whole new computer systems.
Microsoft can afford to give them the option to go legal. Their sales would go up more happily than by muscling THEIR CLIENTS.
Microsoft's anti-piracy policy will only benefit the large manufacturers who are already well tied into the market, in detriment of average computer shops.
MS's price policy is just plain wrong, i think the price is extremly high, esp. for young, developing countries like Romania, India and other 3rd world countries where a whole monthly average wage can buy you a geniune copy of xp pro. I see that this opinion is shared by customers all over the world, i've found many posts on the net, from people in the uk or usa, stating that the price is too high, and this is the main cause why consumers choose to pirate their windows.
The fact that Microsoft products are way
overpriced is a reason piracy thrives, sure
there will always be piracy but more people
would buy the genuine copy if it is more
affordable, stealing is always fueled by
demand for a thing not attainable by honest
means.
Well if they own a business then they can purchase a genuine copy of windows. It's too easy...Now move out...
It's one thing to ask the customer to verify their genuine copies.
I have found that once it is done (registered and activated) the "reminder" does not go away. (I repeated the process to keep them happy).
Windows will not open until I click NO on the request for activation.
The Two icons are constantly on the Start bar telling me I have x number of days to activate this copy. How annoying is that!!!
If they inserted a file into my computer to "check", why are they not clever enough to recognise when it's done?