Microsoft Sued over Windows Genuine Advantage


Recommended Posts

A computer user is suing Microsoft Corp. over the company's Windows Genuine Advantage anti-piracy tool, alleging that it violates laws against spyware. The suit by Los Angeles resident Brian Johnson, filed this week in U.S. District Court in Seattle, seeks class-action status for claims that Microsoft didn't adequately disclose details of the tool when it was delivered to PC users through the company's Automatic Update system.

Windows Genuine Advantage is designed to check the validity of a computer user's copy of the operating system. But the tool became a subject of heightened controversy earlier this month, after PC users began noticing that it was making daily contact with Microsoft's servers without their knowledge, even if their software was valid.

Full Article at Source

Can ask I why so many people are fretting over this.... If you have a legal copy of Windows, then why worry so much ?

All it's checking is whether Windows a legal or not.....

Ok, fair enough, MS may have done this on the sly, but why worry so much ?

It's not searching your HD for illegal content !

I can't wait to see where this goes. Anything that runs in the backround of my computer without me knowing is something that I don't want. I wish Microsoft would just accept the fact that their software will always be pirated. I do own a legal copy of windows though.

Can ask I why so many people are fretting over this.... If you have a legal copy of Windows, then why worry so much ?

All it's checking is whether Windows a legal or not.....

Ok, fair enough, MS may have done this on the sly, but why worry so much ?

It's not searching your HD for illegal content !

I can see the voice for concern over this and in one way I do agree with you, but the matter of the fact is Microsoft did not inform their end users of this which is why which has come about in the first place.

Both my OS on my laptop and desktop are all genuine so I do not have a problem.

I think the people who are not running genuine copies are going to get more upset over it because they have something to hide

yeah loads of illegal software... :)

Oh and off the topic your link to your forum is showing error 404... just thought i would mention it. :whistle:

it would be funny that because he filed the law suite he is found to have an illegal version of windows and has to pay $100,000

I do not doubt he might be one of them. In this world, you hear weird sh*t happening everyday.

/EZ

I dont think its exacly going to the point. I to have a legal copy of Windows, always have, and if MSFT asked me first before starting to contact home i would be happy for it to. Also, if other companies see Microsoft doing it...well does that make this ok? Other companies might just collect personal details and more? Sure it must be hard for software companies to keep track of there software i understand this, but keep looking for a different way MSFT sorry you dont have my support on this one.

I can see the voice for concern over this and in one way I do agree with you, but the matter of the fact is Microsoft did not inform their end users of this which is why which has come about in the first place.

Both my OS on my laptop and desktop are all genuine so I do not have a problem.

Yeah, like I say, Microsoft did make this move on the sly, and although I do not agree with what they did, but for peeps with genuine copy's, they shouldn't have to worry to much - It's not monitoring what you do, all it's monitoring is whether you've paid for your copy of Windows.

Bottom line is that they didn't put it in the EULA. That makes it spyware. There is no denying this. Fact is Microsoft screws everyone else, so now it is their turn. I hope the guy wins.

Did they put Paint in the EULA? It's not spyware... it's more like confirmware... they're just making sure you have a legal copy. There isn't much of a case... how is this actually harming the user's computer, data etc? They're not even getting statistical data off of your computer...

Did they put Paint in the EULA? It's not spyware... it's more like confirmware... they're just making sure you have a legal copy. There isn't much of a case... how is this actually harming the user's computer, data etc? They're not even getting statistical data off of your computer...

This is exactly what i'm trying to say..... They are not gaining anything from what you do with your PC, they are only making sure that you paid for something that they have made !

Anything that runs in the backround of my computer without me knowing is something that I don't want.

Without the assistance of google or other sources, provide an intrinsicly detailed desription of each and every one of these processes.

post-42104-1151626602.jpg

Then a detailed description of each and every dll in your system32 folder.

Good luck.

most likely, like warwagon said it would be hilarious if his copy isn't genuine

Many people who bought Windows can't get WGA to authenticate, isn't that like "wrong"?

The problem here is not that what WGA does is necessarly bad but users have to be aware, through an EULA or some sort of documentation about what the software is doing. Does it say anywhere that WGA regularly contacts Microsoft? If it doesn't, then he still doesn't stand a chance (cause it's Microsoft) but it doesn't mean he's wrong.

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • The biggest issue in this version of Win 11 context menu, from usability standpoint, is the movable row with basic commands. Think of a car analogy...if You turn the week left the infotainment screen will move right and vice versa. With how it works now Microsoft made something forbidden in designing in any UI, software or hardware. I can't grasp who were the morons within Microsoft suggesting it was a good idea and gave it a green light.
    • LibreOffice 26.2.4 by Razvan Serea LibreOffice is the free power-packed Open Source personal productivity suite for Windows, Macintosh and Linux, that gives you six feature-rich applications for all your document production and data processing needs: Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, Math and Base. Support and documentation is free from our large, dedicated community of users, contributors and developers. You, too, can also get involved! Choosing Between LibreOffice Still and LibreOffice Fresh: LibreOffice Still is a good choice if you value stability, a longer support cycle, and a more conservative approach to software updates. It's suitable for businesses and organizations where reliability and compatibility are crucial. LibreOffice Fresh is ideal if you're an enthusiast or an early adopter who wants to stay on the cutting edge of LibreOffice development and is willing to accept more frequent updates and occasional minor issues. Features: Writer is the word processor inside LibreOffice. Use it for everything, from dashing off a quick letter to producing an entire book with tables of contents, embedded illustrations, bibliographies and diagrams. The while-you-type auto-completion, auto-formatting and automatic spelling checking make difficult tasks easy (but are easy to disable if you prefer). Writer is powerful enough to tackle desktop publishing tasks such as creating multi-column newsletters and brochures. The only limit is your imagination. Calc tames your numbers and helps with difficult decisions when you're weighing the alternatives. Analyze your data with Calc and then use it to present your final output. Charts and analysis tools help bring transparency to your conclusions. A fully-integrated help system makes easier work of entering complex formulas. Add data from external databases such as SQL or Oracle, then sort and filter them to produce statistical analyses. Use the graphing functions to display large number of 2D and 3D graphics from 13 categories, including line, area, bar, pie, X-Y, and net - with the dozens of variations available, you're sure to find one that suits your project. Impress is the fastest and easiest way to create effective multimedia presentations. Stunning animation and sensational special effects help you convince your audience. Create presentations that look even more professional than the standard presentations you commonly see at work. Get your collegues' and bosses' attention by creating something a little bit different. Draw lets you build diagrams and sketches from scratch. A picture is worth a thousand words, so why not try something simple with box and line diagrams? Or else go further and easily build dynamic 3D illustrations and special effects. It's as simple or as powerful as you want it to be. Base is the database front-end of the LibreOffice suite. With Base, you can seamlessly integrate into your existing database structures. Based on imported and linked tables and queries from MySQL, PostgreSQL or Microsoft Access and many other data sources, you can build powerful databases containing forms, reports, views and queries. Full integration is possible with the in-built HSQL database. Math is a simple equation editor that lets you lay-out and display your mathematical, chemical, electrical or scientific equations quickly in standard written notation. Even the most-complex calculations can be understandable when displayed correctly. E=mc2. LibreOffice also comes configured with a PDF file creator, meaning you can distribute documents that you're sure can be opened and read by users of almost any computing device or operating system. LibreOffice also comes configured with a PDF file creator, meaning you can distribute documents that you're sure can be opened and read by users of almost any computing device or operating system. Download: LibreOffice 64-bit | LibreOffice 32-bit ~300.0 MB (Open Source) View: LibreOffice Website | Screenshot | Release Notes Get alerted to all of our Software updates on Twitter at @NeowinSoftware
    • Amazon eero Pro 6E mesh Wi-Fi system 2-pack is 27% off by Ivan Jenic The Amazon eero Pro 6E mesh Wi-Fi system is currently $239.99 on Amazon for the 2-pack, down from $329.99. That's 27% off and $90 saved for a solid Wi-Fi solution that covers your entire home (purchase link down below). The 2-pack covers up to 4,000 square feet (372 square meters) and supports 100+ connected devices, which handles the vast majority of home setups without breaking a sweat. Wi-Fi 6E brings access to the 6 GHz band for lower latency across the network, and the 2.5 Gb Ethernet port supports gigabit+ internet plans if your ISP offers them. eero's TrueMesh technology handles traffic routing automatically, so you're not manually managing which devices connect to which node. You set up the entire thing through the eero app, and the entire process takes a few minutes. The system also receives automatic security updates in the background, so once you set it up, you don't have to worry about compatibility issues. If you're covering a larger home or want more nodes, the 3-pack is $329.99 and the 4-pack is $479.98, both at similar discount levels. It's worth mentioning that a newer model exists, which is likely the reason for the discount, but the Pro 6E is still perfectly capable hardware for most homes. Amazon eero Pro 6E mesh Wi-Fi system 2-pack - $239.99 | 27% off on Amazon This Amazon deal is US-specific and not available in other regions unless specified. This is a first-party seller link (at the time of article publishing); ensure that you also purchase from a first-party seller link only. If you don't like it or want to look at more options, check out the previous deals that we have covered, OR you can also visit Amazon US deals page. Get Prime (SNAP), Prime Video, Audible Plus or Kindle / Music Unlimited. Free for 30 days. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
    • On Tuesday, Microsoft drilled another hole in the duo's sinking relationship with the debut of its MAI-Thinking-1 AI model, a midsize model that the company said is intended for high-efficiency, low-token-cost situations...... https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/article/microsoft-and-openais-relationship-continues-to-crumble-183330195.html  
    • Ladybird Browser is no longer accepting outside contributions thanks to AI by David Uzondu The Ladybird Browser Project has announced it will no longer accept public pull requests and will limit changes to those made by its maintainers as it works towards its first alpha release. According to Ladybird's creator Andreas Kling, this is "not a change we make lightly," but the rapid shift in AI capabilities forced their hand. Previously, a massive PR implied that the person behind it put a lot of care into the code and is ready to "answer for the consequences." Now with AI, anyone can generate a PR without even understanding the bug fix or feature they want merged. The blog post goes on to say that the team is closing all open public pull requests immediately, and that maintainers will not treat external forks as a review queue for upstream Ladybird. Instead, the team wants outside contributors to focus on reporting bugs and running tests. Kling started Ladybird back in 2019 as LibHTML, a simple HTML viewer for his hobby operating system, SerenityOS, but by September 2022, it had turned into a full-fledged browser project. What sets Ladybird apart from the likes of Google Chrome, Apple Safari, or Mozilla Firefox is its totally independent engine, which does not rely on pre-existing codebases. The project maintains a strict policy against default search engine deals or user data monetization, keeping development funded entirely by donations and sponsorships. Generative AI is forcing open source project maintainers to rethink how they handle public code contributions (and the whole open-source thing in general). One month ago, a leak about the National Health Service (NHS) suggested the organization was planning to take all of its public repositories private ahead of a May 11 deadline, thanks to Mythos (an AI model that Anthropic believes is too dangerous to be released to the public) and its ability to find and write exploits for zero-day vulnerabilities. Thankfully, the Government Digital Service (GDS) issued a counter-report titled "AI, open code and vulnerability risk in the public sector" that stopped the shutdown by pointing out that hiding code does not improve security.
  • Recent Achievements

    • Week One Done
      I2D earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Week One Done
      Dr Jared Dental Studio earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Week One Done
      RG INVESTMENT GROUP earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Very Popular
      The Norwegian Drone Pilot earned a badge
      Very Popular
    • Very Popular
      s0nic69 earned a badge
      Very Popular
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      484
    2. 2
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      258
    3. 3
      Skyfrog
      84
    4. 4
      FloatingFatMan
      64
    5. 5
      Michael Scrip
      63
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!