Microsoft: Pirated Win 7 Causes Malware Outbreak

[Shayla]

Microsoft blames pirated copies of Windows 7 for the high rate of malware infections.

Yesterday Microsoft's Jeff Williams, the principal group program manager for the Microsoft Malware Protection Center, said that there is a direct correlation between the current malware infection rate and software piracy. To be more specific, he said that countries with high piracy rates are more likely to be infected by malicious code because they're reluctant to apply updates.

His theory is based on Windows and the security updates that consumers are neglecting to install through Windows Update. Microsoft's latest biannual security intelligence report, found here, claims that China's piracy rate is more than four times than that of the United States. France and Brazil also have extremely high piracy rates, and each country--including China--use Windows Update significantly less than consumers in the U.S.

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[PurePhoenix]

Lol. Nubs who don't know how to use redistrobutible packages are hilarious.

Either way, it's not an issue if you use decent protecton softwares and take the effort to get the updates applied (regardless of how legitimately you got them).

[truba11a]

this is funny lol a good way to fool the less knowing people but anyone with a brain about computers can tell u that's a lie.

[jonhapimp]

it's possible to use windows update with an pirated copy

[TEX4S]

we all know that -- but most people think if they were to use a pirate copy that Bill Gates and the FBI will come to their house with an axe...and a subpeona

[carmatic]

i thought issuing critical updates for even the pirated computers was done for this specific reason?

but i guess you cant really do anything about people actually refusing to install the updates...

[still1]

lol. Microsoft trying to make pirates buy windows

[Mike415]

How has Windows 7 played a roll in malware through pirating?

Maybe pirated Windows XP and some vista, but not quite a new OS with 3% market share

[splur]

Every time you pirate Windows, a kitten is murdered. There is a direct correlation. Remember that people.

[truba11a]

Every time you pirate Windows, a kitten is murdered. There is a direct correlation. Remember that people.

lmao that was epic!

[Mike415]

Every time you pirate Windows, a kitten is murdered. There is a direct correlation. Remember that people.

Cats almost killed me when I was young so its time to pirate me some Windows

[PurePhoenix]

i thought issuing critical updates for even the pirated computers was done for this specific reason?

I seriously doubt that. The critical updates makes a system immune to the attack.

Pirated copies of windows XP can't even get past the validation check and apply critical updates - unless you apply certain bypasses.

I haven't even tried pirating W7 and getting to do a WU but i'm assuming it's the same deal.

WU and critical updates is and always has been to protect legitimate purchasers from the pirates - who will be infected since the majority can't get the criitical updates.

In a perfect world from microsofts' angle;

1) Symantec and etc would not detect & remove infections that were made impossible by critical updates

2) Windows update & it's redistrobutible packages would not be able to be bypassed so pirates couldn't get the critical updates.

3) Pirates would be continually getting infected until they swalled the hit to the wallet, purchased a legit copy and got their critical updates.

Microsoft have already tried to enforce #2 via the windows Genuine Advantage tool and changes to the way validation occurs in windows update.

If windows itself wasn't such an exploitable product, they'd have been successful too.

As it stands, their current implementation of WU & WGA Validation are both over-ridden by a simple registry change.

[Dance.]

:rofl:.

[jonhapimp]

I seriously doubt that. The critical updates makes a system immune to the attack.

Pirated copies of windows XP can't even get past the validation check and apply critical updates - unless you apply certain bypasses.

I haven't even tried pirating W7 and getting to do a WU but i'm assuming it's the same deal.

WU and critical updates is and always has been to protect legitimate purchasers from the pirates - who will be infected since the majority can't get the criitical updates.

In a perfect world from microsofts' angle;

1) Symantec and etc would not detect & remove infections that were made impossible by critical updates

2) Windows update & it's redistrobutible packages would not be able to be bypassed so pirates couldn't get the critical updates.

3) Pirates would be continually getting infected until they swalled the hit to the wallet, purchased a legit copy and got their critical updates.

Microsoft have already tried to enforce #2 via the windows Genuine Advantage tool and changes to the way validation occurs in windows update.

If windows itself wasn't such an exploitable product, they'd have been successful too.

As it stands, their current implementation of WU & WGA Validation are both over-ridden by a simple registry change.

nope it's different on w7 from what i heard from a friend...

[Argi]

The article is speaking more about China than the US. The fact that people in those countries are less likely to be connecting to Windows Update to keep their systems secure but there's a higher probability that they have a pirated version.

[toadeater]

"Outbreak" is the latest newsmedia meme. Is there really a recent malware outbreak linked to Windows 7? I believe MS has fibbed.

"Everyone panic, it's an outbreak! Remain in your homes! Do not question authority! Computers are scary!"

(It's a still from the movie Outbreak. Don't bother seeing it, it's awful.)

[PurePhoenix]

The article is speaking more about China than the US. The fact that people in those countries are less likely to be connecting to Windows Update to keep their systems secure but there's a higher probability that they have a pirated version.

Chinas' refusal to perform WU's comes more form the fact that their international link is really crappy.

It'd take litterally days for a majority of chinse users to download the 200mb odd of updates from the U.S

[Darrian]

LOL, pirated Windows 7 is the problem here? It was only just released, surely it is the most secure out of the box than any previous version of Windows.

[petrossa]

Well Microsoft did invent FUD, why not stick to it? Worked fine before :D

[+Anarkii Subscriber²]

Pirated or not, as long as your system has good antivirus/spyware, and you update regularly though Windows Update, you won't have any problems.

BTW, sorry Colin, only said what I said to confirm what was just a guess for these guys.

[Syanide]

Pirated or not, as long as your system has good antivirus/spyware, and you update regularly though Windows Update, you won't have any problems.

BTW, sorry Colin, only said what I said to confirm what was just a guess for these guys.

Yeah, but the thing is people who pirate Windows will most likely pirate other software as well. And Windows Update doesn't protect you from browsing crack sites, looking for key generators or downloading software preloaded with viruses. I don't blame Microsoft for this one, it's mostly bad user habits that put the system to risk, so I think it's fair from Microsoft to warn people.

[Eddo89]

The trouble with computers is always the squishy part, at least more often than not.

And the squishy part is not the laptop case or your crazy mouse, the user.

Thing is, you may think pirating is a techy thing in the Western society, but that is not necessarily so in China. Is the norm of getting software. And believe me, there is a fair share of mums and dads who really have no idea what they are doing (yet they can know how and where to obtain pirated software, be it online or not). You also have to add in China probably have more people who tries and exploit you.

[syncvichu]

A person who is pirating an OS would definitely have knowledge of a malicious software. Because, I believe its hard to pirate an OS and wouldn't he have the basic knowledge of softwares which are going to affect his system?

Lets say, he cannot afford the OEM version of windows but he can afford to purchase $30-$60 on a good anti-Virus. He can still protect his system against viruses and malicious softwares.

[x-byte]

lol. Microsoft trying to make pirates buy windows

Worked for me ...

LOL, pirated Windows 7 is the problem here? It was only just released, surely it is the most secure out of the box than any previous version of Windows.

Not when the ones they download are infected with trojan, spyware, virus etc.

[bigmehdi]

meh, I don't understand all the fuss about critical updates.

Before I was just disabling automatic updates, and not caring of them. (well, I changed a bit my habits)

I still have an antivirus & firewall off course. I'm more interested by updates, when it fix some random bugs.

It's legitimate for Microsoft to try to provide an advantage for people that use a genuine copy, but I think Microsoft failed to do that.

At least the FUD might work.