Microsoft moves against software pirates

McBanjo:

Glad I moved to OS X. At least it's an OS worth paying for. Vista, nya-ah.

Elroy:

Here we go again... "My computer's better than yours"... this was an article about piracy and prevention thereof. Please don't turn the discusion into this Vista vs MacOS garbage.

dragonmeister:

Totally agree !!!
Mac fanboys stay with your own forum.
We all know that Mac's are God's gift to Man.
Please let us PC peasants get on with our lives.
....... This tirade is also reciprocated on the Mac site.
(just to be unbiased)

Reghart:

Now this seems more like the way to deal with piracy...not all the heavy-handed nonsense of before. Of course, most pirates aren't really going to care about the nagging and the lack of background. They'll still have a usable OS. However, the people who will be most affected, if, of course, there are no royal screw-ups on MS's end, are those who bought PC's with Windows already installed on them from small-time PC vendors who may have knowingly installed pirated OSes. Unfortunately, that is a big part of piracy, and probably the worst kind in my opinion. Sleaze balls looking for quick buck, and not buying legitimate licenses. They sell it to consumers saying, "Hey, look at this great deal I've got for you! You'll never find this anywhere else!" Which is true, because they can sell their products cheap when not paying for the licensing. And then the consumer gets it home, and when MS does something like this to catch piracy, these users are the ones who suffer. It's not their fault, they probably don't even know the meaning of the term "software piracy".

But, hopefully, Microsoft has a method in place to help out these unsuspecting folks. Probably they'll make them purchase a license, hopefully at a reduced cost. Many won't, but some probably will. I know lots of people complain about software licensing, and I see both sides of the fence. My point is, the real pirates, the ones only out to stick it to MS, and use the OS themselves, on their own machine(s), probably won't be bothered by this, and will most probably just implement the next workaround when it comes out. But those greedy pirates who try to make as much money as they can illegitimately, are the ones who will be caught by this. Because those folks who end up buying pirated OSes unknowingly will probably report them, and the authorities might take action, that's on their head. Seems like the best of both worlds for MS...they won't scare off their pirate customers, and, ideally, they get rid of the ones who cost them the most cash! Of course, it won't be perfect, it never is, and piracy will always be there.

My biggest fear with this is it will affect truly legitimate users, such as myself, who have OEM versions. But...I'll trust MS not to screw it up.

Bill:

"But...I'll trust MS not to screw it up."

Trust Microsoft??? bawhahahahahahah!!!

Daz:

"But, hopefully, Microsoft has a method in place to help out these unsuspecting folks."

They sure do - discounts on retail copies that make it cheaper to go the piracy -> wga -> retail bargain route!

dragonmeister:

OK Hackers !!!
... Ready ... Set ....

Anonymous10101013:

GO!!!

Bluebeard:

Given that I'm using a fully up to date copy of the original Devils0wn copy of XP that I've used since 2001 as well as a copy of Vista Ultimate with the OEM exploit, I say bring it on, Microsoft.

XP SP1 was supposed to stop piracy. So was XP SP2. So were all the versions of WGA since. Even IE7 and WMP11 were cracked.

Never underestimate the power of millions of devious minds.

tin:

So, if the OEM BIOS method is being closed, is MS telling OEMs to just suck it up and not pre-activate installs?

And does that mean end users of big brands who need to restore end up being forced into the dyslexia testing challenge known as phone activation?

Chalk up another reason to change OS ASAP. I don't really care where you go, but Vista is not the answer.

SimonW:

>So, if the OEM BIOS method is being closed, is MS telling
>OEMs to just suck it up and not pre-activate installs?

Umm, no. It means that MS has implemented a way of checking for that particular crack.

>Chalk up another reason to change OS ASAP.

Ah yes, ignorance; always the best thing on which to base any decision...

halcon:

Microsoft is a pirate company with license to steal the money of those people who need to use an essential program to power up the computers for everyday living.
Bill Gates and gang should be prosecuted for misleading the users into buying frenzy with their not so latest and greatest flop.
These mongrels should go to jail, be deprived of everything TV, food, water and NO computer for a week. perhaps they should learn a very good lesson.
Sure there is Linux, is free, no restrictions of use and you can use in as many computers you like.
The very sad reality is that Linux is not at the same level of Windows in user friendliness, I hope the Linux community around the world do an heroic effort to overcome this obstacle to be a feasible alternative.
And to all the stupid M$ fanboys out there you won't find this laughable because you place your faith in an abhorrent product that has become an anathema of software everywhere in the world

Jay:

Go Linux guys Go who asked to use MS OS , this is a free world , use what ever is avilable for free!

J

Anonymous:):

"The updated WGA still changes the Vista theme but it doesn’t disable any other features. Instead the user is reminded that their copy of Vista is likely to be pirated every time they log in and every hour whilst they remain logged in."

I know my windows is pirated. I have done it myself and on purpose. I don't need reminders about it! :P

billdates:

omg you know piracy sucks if u are the ones making the products and your products get pirated but u know what? bill gates should stop allowing vista to be downloaded from the web and stop giving people vista dvds instead should hire millions of lackies to install visat copies through home visits and on top of that should prevent there employess from cuasing possible leakages of the dvds by assigning authentication ,identity codes for employees so that the vista they install can be corresponded wioth upon enquiry .the point si ms should stop making vista dvds available to everyone and make it available to agents only (believe me there wouldnt be any work arounds to that only customersfrustrated)heheheheh if u dont like my idea screw u and have a nice day mac rocks
linux rocks too

BillboardVista:

A nag screen!

What an incredibly stupid idea. They could have at least made it advertising, Google seem to be able to make a bit of money selling ads for the web why can't Microsoft sell them for the desktop.

thepowersgang:

There is no desktop advertising because you can navigate away from a website but you can't from your desktop.

This move by Microsoft seems to be a good one that won't get on customer's nerves too much, especially if they offer a discount to people who have been ripped off. But, like any copy protection devised so far, this will be worked around in no time.

jhot:

Hackers are persistent...within 2 days a new hack will be found and all the pirates all over the world will still have a perfectly working vista...