The Windows Blog Gets Genuine!

I am pleased to see the Genuine Windows Blog added as the newest member of the Windows Blog community. Software piracy is a major contributing factor to the high cost of licensed software. The Genuine Windows Team does not restrict their activities to piracy. They also provide helpful information on product activation.

Reproduced below are links to helpful documents from the former location of the Genuine Windows Blog that were included in the introductory post by Alex Kochis, Director, Genuine Windows. Windows XP users who are moving to Windows 7 will find the information on activation helpful.

• Activating Windows 7: A video that outlines the customer experience of product activation and why it's important.
• Windows Activation Technologies - Activation and Validation in Windows 7: Read more about the next generation of product activation technology that started with Windows Vista and has been updated for Windows 7.
• The Surprising Risks of Counterfeit Software in Businesses: Key research that our team supported; a white paper about the risks businesses face when counterfeit software exists within their computing environments.
• What's the risk?: Foundational research that documents the risks customers might face when searching for free or heavily discounted software online.

Remember - "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
May the wind sing to you and the sun rise in your heart...

Microsoft Office Genuine Advantage (OGA)

Microsoft moved to the next stage of anti-piracy in its release of the Office Genuine Advantage (OGA) update. It was released last week as an Important update and checks Office XP, Office 2003 and Office 2007 installations.

"Office Genuine Advantage Notifications (KB949810) Download size: 712 KB Update type: Important Office Genuine Advantage Notifications is part of Microsoft’s effort to reduce software piracy. Installing this software will help confirm that the copy of Office install on this computer is genuine and properly licensed. If the copy of Office installed on the computer is not genuine, the software will provide periodic reminders to help you take appropriate action and protect yourself from security threats posed by counterfeit software."

Regardless of whether you have Automatic Updates set to automatically download and install, it is necessary to approve the license agreement before the OGA installation will continue. Note that OGA cannot be removed after installation nor can the messages be stopped if your Office installation fails the anti-piracy test.

Accept the license terms and click Finish to install

In the event you receive a "This copy of Microsoft Office is not genuine" message after installing OGA, please visit Genuine Microsoft Software and click on Validate Office, then restart your computer.

Be careful to avoid the pitfalls described in the predictions described by Tom Kelchner of Sunbelt Software.

"-- A news story in the next few weeks about somebody’s discovery of a mechanism to defeat or sidestep OGA security.

-- The availability of patches, or entire reverse engineered Windows operating systems and Office versions that suppress or evade the OGA nag screens. The pirated apps will probably attempt to evade updates. The net result will be that they also will avoid patches for newly discovered vulnerabilities.

-- Trojanized Windows Office versions that are distributed as apps that evade the Windows Genuine Advantage mechanisms.

-- Malicious spam advertising the above.

-- Yet more bot-riddled machines in China."

Only get Microsoft updates from Microsoft Update or Automatic Update, not third parties. Remember, Microsoft updates are never sent via e-mail nor are they advertised or available on non-Microsoft websites.

For additional information on OGA Notifications, please visit Genuine Office Support.

References:

• Microsoft Genuine: Genuine Microsoft Software
• Microsoft KB 949810: Description of the Office Genuine Advantage Notifications application
• Press Pass: Safety First: Beefing Up Anti-Piracy Features in Microsoft Office
  
  
  • "As the piracy trade becomes more sophisticated, the Microsoft Office Genuine Advantage program adopts an end-to-end approach to protect Office customers from the risks of counterfeit software."

• Security Fix: Microsoft Expands Office Anti-Piracy Program
• Sunbelt Blog: Microsoft rolls out next phase of Office Genuine Advantage

Clubhouse Tags: Clubhouse, How-to, security, update, Office

Remember - "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
May the wind sing to you and the sun rise in your heart...

Activating Windows 7

The Genuine Windows Blog created a brief video demonstrating the product activation of Windows 7. The process is the same as Windows Vista but new to people who will be replacing Windows XP. Activation will be required in order to confirm that the installation is properly licensed and genuine.

(Microsoft Silverlight Needed)

Product Activation in Windows 7

From the Windows 7 RC FAQ:

"When you download the RC, you'll be given a product key. (See Installation Instructions.) Be sure to use the product key to activate the RC within 30 days, or you'll start getting persistent reminders to activate. Your product key will work for up to three separate computers, so if you want to install the the RC on another PC, you can re-use the same key."

Remember - "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
May the wind sing to you and the sun rise in your heart...

Windows 7 Beta Activation

Have you activated your copy of Windows 7 Beta yet? The Windows 7 Beta includes a 30 day grace period for activation. During the setup process an option is provided that enables Windows to attempt to activate itself automatically after three days of use.

Following is a summary of the series of events, provided by the Windows Genuine Advantage blog, that will occur if automatic activation is not selected:

• If automatic activation is not selected, after the third day, you will begin to see a message from the system tray that reminds you to "Activate Windows Now" and the time remaining in the grace period.
  
  
• If you take no action and click on "Ask me later", you will be presented with a message asking you to "Activate Now" on a daily basis until the 27^th day. After 27 days, if you have not activated the software you will receive the message every four hours.
  
  
• On the 30^th day, messages will appear every 60 minutes. When you log into their computer you will be presented with a message that asks you to "Activate Windows now" and that the activation period has expired. If you click on "Activate now" you will be launched into the standard activation process. If you click on "Ask me later" you will be presented with a notification that describes the risks associated with using non-genuine software, the benefits of genuine software, and helpful resources.
  
  
• If you do not activate the software within the grace period you will receive
  
  
  
  1. persistent notifications, including a message from the system tray every 60 minutes that reminds you to "Activate Windows Now"
  
  
  2. a persistent desktop notification that Windows is non-genuine, a non-genuine message that appears when the Control Panel is launched, and the desktop will be set to a plain black background. (Note: Even if you change the plain black background to any background, the background will reset to a plain black background every 60 minutes.)
  
  
  This experience will continue until the Windows 7 Beta is activated and you will not be able to receive optional updates from Windows Update unless the copy of Windows is properly activated.

Hat tip: Andre Da Costa, Activation and Windows 7 BETA

Reference: Windows Genuine Advantage : Windows 7 Beta



Remember - "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
May the wind sing to you and the sun rise in your heart...

Is Your Copy of Windows XP Pro Legal?

The Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) Team announced that deployment of the latest version of WGA Notifications for Windows XP will begin this week. This particular update will include a couple of significant updates, the most interesting of which is the targeting of Windows XP Pro as the most pirated version.

• This version of the WGA tool will be via the the Windows Update install prompt.
  
  
• This release will be offered to Windows XP Pro as well as those using editions based on Pro code such as Tablet and Windows Media Center. The plan is to narrow the offering to Pro in future releases.
  

• If Windows XP fails the validation, at the next logon, the desktop will be changed to a plain black and will include a "persistent desktop notification."

Read the complete story and see examples of the "persistent desktop notification" at Update to WGA Notifications for Windows XP Professional.

Remember - "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
May the wind sing to you and the sun rise in your heart...

Windows Vista SP1 Update Information

KB937287 -- "configuring updates stage 3 of 3. 0% complete"

A few people have run into a problem after installing KB937287, of the pre-requisite updates for SP1. The solution for this issue is available in KB949358. If you have any problems following those instructions, please call 1-866-PC-Safety (1-866-727-2338). This phone number is for virus and other security-related support. It is available 24 hours a day for the U.S. and Canada. Should you call that number, be sure to tell the person who answers that you are calling in reference to a Windows Update issue.

Program Loss of Functionality after Installing SP1

Although most programs will continue to work as expected after you install Windows Vista SP1, some programs were reported as resulting in a loss of functionality after SP1 was installed. The programs and the link to the vendors' solutions are available in KB935796.

Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) Changes to SP1

With SP1, "Reduced Functionality Mode" (RFM) has been removed and replaced with a notifications-based experience. For a full report and screen captures of what this entails, see Taking the next step with Windows Vista SP1.

References:

• Microsoft Knowledge Base Articles
• KB949358
• KB937287
• KB935796
  

• Windows Vista Blog
  
  
• Taking the next step with Windows Vista SP1

Remember - "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
May the wind sing to you and the sun rise in your heart...

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 . . .

Remember - "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
May the wind sing to you and the sun rise in your heart...

WGA Improvements Announced

It appears that the difficulties experienced in August with Windows Vista validation issues were sufficiently disturbing to the WGA Team that changes are in the works. This is what the WGA Team has been doing and has lined up for improvements:

Operations, Tools and Processes

• Changes have been made on how updates are rolled out to the back-end servers
• Adding to and improving the tools used to make sure the infrastructure is solid
• Revamped the monitoring that is used to track what is happening within the server infrastructure
• Customer Support changes include implementation of world-wide live support:
  
  • 24x7 customer support in North America
  • Phone based technical support
  • Investigating implementation of 24x7 schedule for outside North America
  
  Note: Free support for WGA-related issues is provided worldwide

Fire-Drills

Considering the world-wide impact of a problem with the WGA servers, it certainly makes sense to conduct drills to test the processes in place for testing the processes in place.

Help for Victims

The WGA Team has also been making changes in how legalization kits are provided to people who have been duped into purchasing non-genuine copies of Windows operating systems.

See the full report by the WGA Team in Learning and Improving.

Remember - "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
May the wind sing to you and the sun rise in your heart...

Windows Vista Validation Issue Fixed

As I was reading new blog posts in my RSS feed this morning, I came across a somewhat alarming entry at Certified Bug, by fellow MVP Tashi indicating

"Microsoft’s WGA server went down August 24th 2007, and installations were being flagged as counterfeit because they could not be validated."

As Tashi and I are in different time zones, I hoped that by this morning the problem had been rectified. Heading to the Windows Genuine Advantage blog, I found and update by Alex:

"We've been receiving reports on our forum and through customer service starting last night that Windows Vista validations have been failing on genuine systems. It looks now as though the issue has been resolved and validations are being processed successfully.

Customers who received an incorrect validation response can fix their system by revalidating on our site (http://www.microsoft.com/genuine). We encourage anyone who received a validation failure since Friday evening to do this now. After successfully revalidating any affected system should be rebooted to ensure the genuine-only features are restored."

Update 28 August 2007

• See: Windows Genuine Advantage Team Blog post, Update on Validation Issues
  
  "This validation failure did not result in the 30-day grace period starting and no one went into reduced functionality mode as a result. The experience of a system that failed validation in this instance was that some features intended for use only on genuine systems were temporarily unavailable. Those features were Windows Aero, ReadyBoost, Windows Defender (which still scanned and identified all threats, but cleaned only the severe ones), and Windows Update (only optional updates were unavailable; security and other critical updates remained available). Also, the desktop message about failed validation appeared. And as I indicated, these features return to normal and the desktop message disappears when an affected system is revalidated at our site."
  

Remember - "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
May the wind sing to you and the sun rise in your heart...

Major Counterfeit Software Bust

Updated 25July2007 -- Link to Windows Genuine Advantage Blog article with samples of counterfeit Windows Vista DVDs: Biggest Counterfeit Bust ... ever. The included photographic sample illustrate why it is so easy to fool people with the counterfeit.

As reported by the FBI:

"For Immediate Release
DATE: July 23, 2007

INTERNATIONAL INVESTIGATION CONDUCTED JOINTLY BY FBI AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES IN PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA RESULTS IN MULTIPLE ARRESTS IN CHINA AND SEIZURES OF COUNTERFEIT MICROSOFT AND SYMANTEC SOFTWARE

A joint investigation conducted by the FBI and authorities with the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) Ministry of Public Security (MPS) has resulted in multiple arrests and the seizure of more than a half billion dollars worth of counterfeit software, announced J. Stephen Tidwell, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI in Los Angeles, and Steven Hendershot, the FBI’s Legal Attache in Beijing, China.

The operation, codenamed “Summer Solstice,” began in 2005 and since then, law enforcement in both countries have worked closely by sharing information to jointly investigate multinational conspiracies by groups who manufacture and distribute counterfeit software products around the world. This unprecedented cooperative effort led to the arrest of twenty five individuals, the search of multiple businesses and residential locations, asset seizures by the Chinese government worth over $7 million, and the seizure of over 290,000 counterfeit software CDs and COAs (certificates of authenticity) in China. The counterfeit software has an estimated retail value of $500 million. In addition, Agents with the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office executed 24 searches and asset seizure warrants, yielding approximately $2 million in counterfeit software products, in addition to assets seized by the U.S. government worth over $700,000.

Operation Summer Solstice encompasses multiple investigations currently being conducted by the FBI in Los Angeles and the MPS, Economic Crime Investigation Department (ECID), in which criminal organizations responsible for manufacturing and distributing counterfeit software have been identified in both Shanghai and Shenzhen; as were distributors located in the United States.

As much as I protested WGA (Windows Genuine Advantage) being added to Windows XP, I have no objections to it being included as a part of Windows Vista. My reasoning? WGA was not part of XP when the license was purchased and the initial software caused many headaches. However, with a brand new operating system in Windows Vista, it is known that WGA is included from the start.

Complete report at Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Via Todd Bishop's Microsoft Blog

Remember - "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
May the wind sing to you and the sun rise in your heart...

WGA Changes and Updates

There have been a few changes announced on the WGA (Windows Genuine Advantage) Blog. Both the Windows Validation Assistant and the Office Validation Assistant have been replaced with the the Windows Comparison Guide (WCG) and the Office Comparison Guide (OCG). The primary difference is the WCG and OCG do not have the the web-based validation. The web-based validation is now located at http://www.microsoft.com/genuine.

With piracy being very costly to companies, and the unsuspecting victim as well, Microsoft has updated and added substantial information to the "How to Tell" site. There are around 600 products covered, including illustrations of the physical anti-piracy features released with Microsoft products.

Remember the questions that arose about the hologram on the Windows Vista DVD? What if you don't see the hologram? Go to the "How to Tell" site linked below. There are also samples of recent counterfeits for comparison.

References:

• "How to Tell" -- http://www.howtotell.com/ and www.microsoft.com/howtotell
• Windows Genuine -- http://www.microsoft.com/genuine
• WGA Blog -- http://blogs.msdn.com/wga/default.aspx

Remember - "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
May the wind sing to you and the sun rise in your heart...

Remove Trojan Posing as Windows Product Activation

Just as I initially learned about the trojan posing as windows product activation last Friday from fellow MVP, Donna, when I was reading the post made yesterday at the Windows Genuine Advantage blog, I saw that Donna had located Removal Instructions for Trojan.Kardphisher at Symantec's blog.

Way to go, Donna! You have again reaffirmed why a few months ago I wrote: It is no wonder that Donna deserves to be in the spotlight.



References:

• Donna's Security Flash: Symantec blogs removal instruction of Trojan.Kardphisher

• Symantec: Removal Instructions for Trojan.Kardphisher

• WGA Blog: Malware posing as Windows product activation

No Charge for Windows Genuine Advantage

I learned from fellow MVP, Donna Buenaventura, that Symantec has identified as Trojan.Kardphisher. The Trojan is installed when the PC is restarted. A window appears that has been designed to look like the Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) Activation Form.

There are two options presented on the form -- activate now or later. According to Symantec, it isn't possible to run Task Manager or any other applications. Choosing no results in immediate shutdown of the computer. Selecting yes presents an activation window, but not quite what is provided by Microsoft.

The trojan window requests credit card information. Microsoft does NOT request credit card information for WGA Activation. Do not be tricked into providing credit card information. Instead, update your antivirus software and run a full system scan. If you need assistance, visit one of the ASAP Member Sites.

WGA Team, What Have You Done Now?

I was not a fan of the rollout of the WGA (Windows Genuine Advantage) Tool for installation on computers that had been purchased many years ago and already validated through other means. However, I expected that WGA would be incorporated in any licensed version of Windows Vista and accept that as part of the Windows Vista license.

The story linked below, however, certainly implies that the WGA Team has sunk to a new low. Please tell me there was a mistake.

WGA - The “A” stands for Advertisments by ZDNet's Adrian Kingsley-Hughes -- Just when you think that WGA can't possibly get any worse, it suddenly does.

Trackback

Important for Vista Users -- WGA Activation Issues

Having just finished reading a series of articles by Ed Bott's Microsoft Report regarding Vista WGA (Windows Genuine Advantage) problems, I am hoping others will spread the word to Vista users to install update 931573, described in Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 931573, "You may be prompted to activate Windows Vista on a computer on which Windows Vista activation was not previously required", last reviewed 15Feb07.

KB 931573 rather obscurely advises users that activation prompts may unexpectedly occur on a Windows Vista computer if the user does one or more of the following:

• Install a device driver
• Install a program
• Run a new program
• Remove a program
  

Since those are pretty ordinary activities performed by a computer user, I am disappointed that Microsoft has not released KB 931573 at least as an "Important" update. First and foremost, if you operate Windows Vista, visit Windows Update: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com or the Microsoft Download Center for Windows Vista:

• Update for Windows Vista 32-Bit Systems
• Update for Windows Vista 64-Bit Systems
  

Before I send you off to read Ed Bott's articles, if you have experienced this issue, be sure to pay attention to the cause, in particular the "Note", as well as the resolution reproduced from KB Article 931573. This is an important update for Windows Vista users.

CAUSE

This problem may occur because a specific system setting is removed when a program runs with administrative credentials. The removal of this system setting may cause a BIOS validation check to fail. The BIOS validation check is part of the system activation process. Therefore, you may be prompted to activate Windows Vista, even though the system did not previously require activation. For example, this problem is known to occur when you use Intuit QuickBooks 2007. However, this problem may also infrequently occur when you install other programs or device drivers.

Note This problem does not occur because of an issue in the installed program or device driver. This problem is caused by a system problem in Windows Vista.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem if it has already occurred, use one of the following methods:

• If you have been prompted to activate Windows Vista, and you have not used the product key to manually activate Windows Vista, install update 931573, and then restart the computer.
  

• If you have been prompted to activate Windows Vista, and you have used the product key to manually activate Windows Vista, install update 931573, and then activate Windows Vista by telephone. For more information about how to activate Windows Vista, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 925616 Error message when you start Windows Vista: "Your activation period has expired"

Enough of the boring stuff. Now read Ed's articles:

• A brief history of anti-piracy at Microsoft by ZDNet's Ed Bott -- "I’m revisiting Microsoft’s Genuine Advantage program this week, in light of the introduction of a new WGA Notifications tool for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. As background, I thought it might be interesting to post a brief history of how Microsoft’s anti-piracy programs have evolved over the past 25 years."
  
  
• Problems arise with Vista’s validation by ZDNet's Ed Bott -- "Microsoft announced its new anti-piracy measures for Windows Vista last fall with an assurance that its tight integration into the operating system would reduce the number of false positives. But its own message boards tell a different story, with at least four third-party applications now known to cause validation problems and even outright activation failures."
  
  
• Vista WGA problems confirmed by ZDNet's Ed Bott -- "I've seen Vista's new WGA problems up close and personal, and I've got the screenshots to prove it. Why are some programs able to convince Windows that the operating system has been tampered with? Why is Windows Defender allowing them to do it? And what can you do if you're caught in the crosshairs?"

WGA Team Reports Vista Hack

Representing the Windows Genuine Advantage Team, alexkoc reported a newly discovered hack of Windows Vista. This particular hack is a rather involved process used to reset the pre-activation clock. It is known as the 'timer crack' or '2099 crack' since the time period is reset to 2099. It certainly does sound complicated:

"Implementing this hack requires the user to implement a 23-step process that involves modifying/replacing kernel level files, making manual registry edits and other serious changes that could have destabilizing consequences. Our team is actively reviewing the reports of this workaround now, and I expect we'll take corrective action soon."

That is the news on the hack and I suspect with something that complex, the Microsoft Team will find a way to prevent it. What is disconcerting is that it was reported that the hack was posted at popular Engadget. Although not exhaustive, I made an effort to see the posting there but did not locate it. I am hopeful that contact with Engadget personnel resulted in the posting being removed.

Update on Windows Vista 'Frankenbuilds'

The Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) team blog published information on on the steps planned to deal with what Microsoft insiders refer to as "Frankenbuilds". This term was first made public by the WGA team in November when they reported the first sightings of such counterfeit versions of Windows Vista. A "Frankenbuild" is constructed of files from an RC build with an RTM build, creating a hybrid that bypasses activation.

From The 'Frankenbuild' monster:

"Windows Vista will use the new Windows Update client to require only the "frankenbuild" systems to go through a genuine validation check. These systems will fail that check because we have blocked the RC keys for systems not authorized to use them. In other words, the wrong key is being used. The systems will then be flagged as non-genuine systems and the experience will be what we announced back in October (direct link to doc)- including losing certain functionality (e.g. Aero, ReadyBoost) and the system will have 30 days to activate with a good product key. If they don't produce a new product key within 30 days, they will then only be able to access their system in what we call reduced functionality mode - a mode which limits their use to one hour with their default web browser. I want to be clear here that even though they can only use their browser for an hour, we will never limit their access to their data. A user can always -boot their PC into what is called Safe Mode. Safe Mode is a mode of using Windows that has limited driver, display and networking support - but allows a user access to all their files."

Before you buy your next computer, make certain it is Geunine. For a listing of vendors currently in litigation for allegedly dealing with pirated/counterfeit Microsoft software see the Microsoft Piracy Alerts.

This Call's For You, WGA Team!

It appears that a recent call to Microsoft's Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) has been missed.

In Ed Bott's report of "Another WGA Failure", he indicates that he was working with his Microsoft contacts to obtain a pirated Volume License Key (VLK). His purpose in doing this was to provide a report of what a user would experience if they had a "non-Genuine" Windows key. When the Microsoft-provided license key was unsuccessful installing, Ed reports that in about fifteen minutes he located a bunch leaked VLK's through a Google search . Reportedly, those keys have been publicly posted for almost two years!

So, with keys in hand, he figured he was golden and would achieve his goal of providing his readers with the messages they would receive with pirated or illegal VLKs. The problem, however, is that the keys did NOT fail the WGA test. In fact, the passed over and over.

I am sure the WGA Team is working very hard to iron out any problems with the WGA software. In the meantime, if you run into difficulties with the WGA tool, you can learn more at the Genuine Microsoft Software website. Help is available at the Microsoft WGA help forum, "Speak to Us at Microsoft!"

Trackback

Garden Phone May "Call Forward"!

I expressed my original concerns with regard to Microsoft's "Windows Genuine Advantage" (WGA) software tools last month in "Garden Phone?". This morning I was reading a post in the Microsoft WGA Forum, entitled, "Is MS making my PC phone home?". A link within that thread led to discovering the following statement located in the "Microsoft Genuine Advantage Privacy Statement":

"How is this data used?

We use the information to

• Help prevent improperly licensed use of the software
• Improve our software and services
• Develop aggregate statistics.

We may also share aggregate data with others, such as hardware and software vendors and volume licensees to help protect their license keys." {Bold added}

To be certain that I was not misunderstanding the definition of "aggregate", I checked the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary:

"Main Entry: ¹ag·gre·gate
Pronunciation: 'a-gri-g&t
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English aggregat, from Latin aggregatus, past participle of aggregare to add to, from ad- + greg-, grex flock
: formed by the collection of units or particles into a body, mass, or amount"

Aggregate is not defined as a summary but as being formed by the collection of units. In the context used by Microsoft in the privacy statement quoted above, I am certainly led to believe that such an aggregate will include all information collected by Microsoft with the WGA tools.

You might ask what information Microsoft collects. Again from the "Microsoft Genuine Advantage Privacy Statement":

"The tools collect such information as:

• Computer make and model
• Version information for the operating system and software using Genuine Advantage
• Region and language setting
• A unique number assigned to your computer by the tools (Globally Unique Identifier or GUID)
• Product ID and Product Key
• BIOS name, revision number, and revision date
• Hard drive serial number

In addition to the configuration information above, status information such as the following is also transferred:

• Whether the installation was successful
• The result of the validation check
  
  . . . To help protect your privacy, only a non-unique portion of your IP address is used and retained with the information collected above."

Microsoft legal beagles have certainly left their footprint on the privacy statement. It is extremely general, with absolutely no limitation or indication of which hardware and/or software vendors this collection could be shared with. Will the data be sold to the highest bidder? Will the recipient vendors maintain the data secure or publish it for their own marketing purposes? Imaginary headline reading: "XYZ Software Company holds market share of Microsoft customers with their XYZ Software! Statistics follow."

Marketing departments could further benefit from this information, targeting their software based on region, narrowed by IP Address. After all, even though Microsoft retains only "a non-unique portion of your IP address", coupled with the region and language, that would be sufficient for vendors to target advertisements to areas not using their product based on the aggregate data collected by Microsoft.

Microsoft is not the world police force and, in my opinion, does not belong providing any data to other vendors. Message to Microsoft: Stick to protecting Microsoft license keys, not those of other vendors!

More on the Garden Phone

Several weeks ago, I wrote about the discussions surrounding Microsoft's Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) tool in Microsoft's fight against anti-piracy. WGA continues to be controversial:

MS says WGA has caught 60 million Windows cheaters by ZDNet's Ed Bott -- According to a Microsoft manager, 60 million people have failed the Windows Genuine Advantage validation test. Microsoft claims the tool is nearly perfect at rooting out improperly licensed copies of Windows, with "only a handful of actual false positives." But the numbers don't add up.

At this point, I continue to agree Ed that the numbers just don't add up. However, Microsoft's WGA Team has a different point of view. Microsoft is claiming that

About 1 in 5 of the 300 million PCs that have run WGA validation fail.

Microsoft's claim means that the WGA Team believes that between yourself and four of your friends, family or workmates, one of them is operating a computer with a conterfeit operating system. Microsoft isn't claiming it is intentional in every case, but counterfeit, nontheless. Should you be among the "one in five" who hits a snag with WGA, see the WGA Team's suggestions in "What should customers do when they're given counterfeit software?".

Read the WGA Team's point of view in their blog at Windows Genuine Advantage.

Follow Ed Bott in his blog at "Windows and a whole lot more"