WGA Changes In Windows Vista SP1

Microsoft announced a major change in the anti-piracy approach of Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) for Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1). With exploits of the activation features the "Grace Timer" and "OEM BIOS", a future release of the Beta SP1 will result in those features being disabled. Rather than reducing the functionality of the operating system as occurs now, systems identified as counterfeit will be presented with clear and recurring notices about the status of their system and how to get genuine.

Thus, even though access to functionality or features will not be lost, it will be very clear to the use when a copy of Window Vista is not genuine. These changes will also be added to Windows Server 2008 when it is released next year.

For complete information on the anticipated changes, see the Press Pass interview of Microsoft Corporate Vice President Mike Sievert.

References:

• Press Pass: Microsoft Anti-Piracy Approach Evolves to Meet Ongoing Threat
• Windows Genuine Advantage Blog: Evolving WGA . . .

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