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If you have automatic updates turned on--you'll get the following

Size: 1.0 MB

The Windows Genuine Advantage Notification tool notifies you if your
copy of Windows is not genuine. If your system is found to be a
non-genuine, the tool will help you obtain a licensed copy of Windows.

More information for this update can be found at
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=39157

DO NOT INSTALL THIS

It will continuesly phone home to Microsoft-some reports say HOURLY.

The web is considering this SPYWARE.

Either click cancel or x to exit (can't remember which I did) you'll get another box that you can check NEVER INSTALL THIS AGAIN

Of course you have to have your auto upgrade to "automaticly download but prompt before install"

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4418, old post ID:35495

I'm kinda surprised this took so long to hit iceteks.

Allow ZDnet and Ed Bott to take you through our little WGA debacle:

Microsoft presses the Stupid button
Is Microsoft about to release a Windows "kill switch"?
The WGA fiasco continues
No WGA "kill switch," says Microsoft

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4418, old post ID:35498

Hence why I dont use automatic updates. Heck, we dont even do that on the servers at work, its one of the first things to disable.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4418, old post ID:35499

Red Squirrel wrote: Hence why I dont use automatic updates.  Heck, we dont even do that on the servers at work, its one of the first things to disable.

Ditto. I always do my updates manually. Of course, I didn’t consider this update important enough to download. (Microsoft did though. It showed up again even after I made it hidden.)

According to NationMaster, 22% of software in the United States is pirated. That’s the lowest on the list. I’d like to see statistics on how many people in the United States are unknowingly using pirated software.

Could you imagine what would happen if all the pirated copies of Windows were disabled at the same time?

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4418, old post ID:35503

Yeah MS could easily do that too. scarry. Microsoft thinks my copy of windows is legit though, so I'd be ok. WGA always works for me, run util, enter code, get download.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4418, old post ID:35507

The problem with manually downloading--How do you know what to download?

That's why I have mine set to download but to prompt me before install.

Then I can catch stuff like this--but the rest I just install.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4418, old post ID:35509

manadren wrote: I'm kinda surprised this took so long to hit iceteks.

Allow ZDnet and Ed Bott to take you through our little WGA debacle:

Microsoft presses the Stupid button
Is Microsoft about to release a Windows "kill switch"?
The WGA fiasco continues
No WGA "kill switch," says Microsoft

If you were aware of this--why didn't YOU post it--------HHHHHHHHMMMMMMMMMMM??



Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4418, old post ID:35510

what? nobody here reads /.?

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4418, old post ID:35515

manadren wrote: what? nobody here reads /.?

WELL--- HELL--LET'S JUST PACK IT IN THEN



Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4418, old post ID:35516

richardj wrote:

manadren wrote: what? nobody here reads /.?

WELL--- HELL--LET'S JUST PACK IT IN THEN

What does the "N" stand for? and why is it on a tv? and why does the tv have wings?

-- no wait! I know what it is, it's the second coming! He's returned to lead his flock back to the path of righteousness! It's...




Captain N!
And he's on a sacred mission to protect our way of life from evil terrorists like Mother Brain!

... now where's my zapper....

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4418, old post ID:35517

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Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4418, old post ID:35518

Hahaha captain N, thats great.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4418, old post ID:35519

RemoveWGA

There is growing concern that the anti-piracy feature in Windows XP called Windows Genuine Advantage presents a security and privacy risk because it "phones home" at regular 14-day intervals. Others call WGA a "nuisance."

RemoveWGA blocks Windows Genuine Advantage from reporting back to Microsoft. The tool alerts you if the WGA notification is active on your system, stops WGA from activating when you turn your PC on, and removes it.

For the record, Microsoft says Windows Genuine Advantage is designed to check whether you are running a licensed copy of Windows XP.

Download RemoveWGA
CLICK FOR DOWNLOAD FREE

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4418, old post ID:35559

My updates are set to prompt also...some things I don't need. MS can phone home all they want, I'm legal and it's not something for me to fret over.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4418, old post ID:35560

Good to know that you're legal. But what about your copy of windows?





Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4418, old post ID:35564

Wren wrote: My updates are set to prompt also...some things I don't need. MS can phone home all they want, I'm legal and it's not something for me to fret over. 

Microsoft Hit With Second Lawsuit Over WGA

Class-action suit filed in Seattle alleges Windows Genuine Advantage is spyware.

Jeremy Kirk, IDG News Service
Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Microsoft has been hit with a second lawsuit over Windows Genuine Advantage, its antipiracy program that checks if the Windows operating system on a machine has a valid license.


The class-action suit was filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Seattle, just four days after the first one. The new suit lists its plaintiff as Engineered Process Controls and Univex, along with citizens Edward Misfud, David DiDomizio, and Martin Sifuentes, who are listed as owners of licensed copies of Windows XP running WGA.

Microsoft Accused of Misleading Customers

The suit alleges WGA is spyware and that Microsoft mislead consumers by labeling it as a critical security update. The plaintiffs maintain Microsoft did not make users aware that WGA frequently contacted its central servers.

"WGA gathers data that can easily identify individual PCs, and WGA can be modified remotely to collect additional information at Microsoft's initiation," according to the filing.

WGA collects a computer's IP address, BIOS data, system version and local language and settings information, the suit says.

Company Tries to Placate Users

Microsoft acknowledges WGA collects hardware and software data but maintains it is only used to verify that only one copy of an OS has been registered on one computer. If Microsoft finds a discrepancy, WGA can notify users their OS may be unlicensed through pop-up warnings.

Users have complained WGA is flawed, identifying legitimate copies of an OS as fraudulent. Microsoft blocks the download of some programs but allows security patches if an OS is judged to be invalid.

Last week, Microsoft changed some features of WGA, including adding an option that let users turn off warnings that their OS may be invalid and the frequency with which WGA communicated with its servers.

The suit asks for compensation and for Microsoft to warn users of the risks of WGA and produce a tool to remove it.

The tool in the previous post will tell you if this is on your system--at least find out if it is.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4418, old post ID:35565

MS has a bigger legal department then most legal firms, so I doubt any lawsuit against them from a minor organization/person will do anything. Sad but true, since MS is in the wrong by doing this update.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4418, old post ID:35566

Red Squirrel wrote: Good to know that you're legal. But what about your copy of windows?

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4418, old post ID:35567

Ok, my Windows Home Edition of XP is legal. If I have a problem, my tech will handle it.

Rich', WGA is not active on my system.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4418, old post ID:35569

Wren wrote: If I have a problem, my tech will handle it.

MY TECH??????-----WHO'S 'MY TECH'?

YER SUPPOSE TO BE YER OWN TECH!


Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4418, old post ID:35570