Microsoft draws fire for stealth test programme

...changed its approach on trial software, under which it does not send out unfinished code without an enrollment stage, he said.

"It is not a change in policy," he said.

The WGA Notifications programme is a precursor to the antipiracy features Microsoft is building into Windows Vista, the new version of the operating system set for release in January 2007. In Vista, certain operating system features will only work as long as it is a properly licensed copy.

Following download and installation of the WGA Notifications tool, people who use a pirated copy of Windows will see alerts at start-up, login and during their use of the operating system. The alert reads: "This copy of Windows is not genuine; you may be a victim of software counterfeiting." Those who use a legitimate copy of the software won't see any messages, Microsoft has said.

Microsoft has said that there is a real benefit to its users in validating a copy of Windows. Only "Genuine Windows" users can download additional Microsoft software, such as Windows Defender, for example. Also, if a Windows copy is deemed pirated, it will only download "critical" updates, not less urgent fixes. Hackers, however, have repeatedly found ways around the checks.

"Our experience is that customers — as long as the process is understandable, unobtrusive, quick and painless — appreciate not only their copy of Windows more, but also appreciate Microsoft more. Now they have something that is more valuable than before," Lazar said. "They appreciate... the confidence that they got what they paid for."

Declining is an option
When Microsoft launched the original WGA programme in September 2004, it asked for validation only if people were downloading from Windows Update and the Microsoft Download Center Web site. Validation was optional and 56 percent of people opted in, Lazar said.

People can also decline the more recent WGA Notifications download, but 60 percent have chosen to install it, he said.

Although people can decline the WGA Notifications install, they can't remove the program once it is running. Also, those who decline the installation may receive reminders to run the tool. That's especially true for Windows Live OneCare security subscribers, who will see an alert that their system might be at risk because of the missing Microsoft update.

Microsoft is looking into the OneCare issue, Lazar said, particularly at "whether or not OneCare should be urging you to install WGA Notifications".

The installation concerns are only the latest criticism for the WGA programme. Last week, Microsoft provided a public mea culpa for not disclosing that the WGA Notifications tool pings a Microsoft server every time its starts up. One critic had likened the tool to spyware for its undisclosed behavior.

In response to the earlier criticism, Microsoft plans to release an update to WGA Notifications this month that phones home only once every two weeks. A final release with worldwide introduction and no more calls to Microsoft is slated by year's end.

Microsoft has not yet decided whether running the application will remain optional or whether it will become mandatory.

"We're considering opt-in versus making it a requirement," Lazar said.