WGA does more than collect info...

[Shamrock]

You guys gotta read this.

Some guy over at anand's forums messed up his installation with msconfig.exe, he wanted to re-activate the installation...WHOA what a surprise he got!

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=34&threadid=1877848&enterthread=y

When he called, the conversation faded toward his other 7 PC's connected to his network, but NOT THE INTERNET! They were just installed and hadn't been activated, nor updated, yet. But the Operator knew the entire configuration of ALL 8 PC's, on his network?!?!? The guy's name is Stumps

I have 8(I have 12, but I'm only using 8 ATM, all were purchased legally and are genuine) individual licences for WinXP, they are all registered. it wasn't a simple "oh I see you have 8 PC's running WinXP registered in your name" it was" according to our records you have the following PC's(lists all of the computers names on the network) with the following configurations (lists the major hardware components of each, in order of each machine) with the following products key(lists each PC name followed by it's product key and date of installion).

I asked the operator how they got that info, because even when I register I don't get asked that infomation, only my name, address, ocupation and a few other pointless details.
the operator informed me that this info is collected at activation, this is when the arguement really started to get interesting...I informed the operator that my pc a not connected via then network, nor the network is setup up for them at the time I do activation(which is right after WinXP finishes it's instalation).

There was a breif pause and then the operator tried to tell me that it is collected when the first update (Windows update installer)is applied...I said wrong again for the same reasons...the PC's ARE only connected once they are 100% finished(this saves have a **** up on the network bring the others down)...the phone call then switched to a computer operator which spat out the activation code and hung up...

[SLippe]

That's why I use WinXP Pro Corp. Ed. (pirate)

[Superfly]

I have no problem with that at all - MS can protect their software in whatever way they like as far as im concerned.

Pain in the ass?? - yes of course

legal or justified - yes in my eyes it is.

[RAY16]

Eh, protecting intellectual property is all fine and dandy, but if they can take a snapshot of every computer on your network I imagine they can (and will) do more than just that sooner or later. Give them an inch, and they'll try to take a mile.

There is a point where you have to draw the line between protecting copyrights and just outright assholification.

[rewt]

That's why I use WinXP Pro Corp. Ed.

Corporate edition uses WGA too. You may not have to activate it, but WGA is still there (as long as you've kept it updated anyway).

[SLippe]

Corporate edition uses WGA too. You may not have to activate it, but WGA is still there (as long as you've kept it updated anyway).
Well, regardless, I try not to send any info to Microsoft, even back in the Win98SE days with my HP.

Someone once said that America is becoming more like Russia and Russia more like America. Hmmmm.... Someday you won't be able to fart without it being recorded by someone who probably has no business with you in the first place.

[rewt]

Hi SLippe.

So I take it you have a firewall preventing all outgoing traffic to Microsoft? (BTW Winxp default firewall in sp2 doesn't do this)

The problem here, is that information is being sent to MS without your knowledge or consent.

[flukester]

I have no problem with that at all - MS can protect their software in whatever way they like as far as im concerned.

Pain in the ass?? - yes of course

legal or justified - yes in my eyes it is.


Definitely agree. I personally don't care if my other PC's configurations are in MS DB. That's part of the EULA you agree to when you puchased XP. It's your license agreement.

[Shamrock]

You guys dont get it....Microsoft absolutely SHOULD NOT be poking around the entire network! No matter if it's their product or not. This shows they snooped into his entire network, and that they have a backdoor!

I can understand collecting info for THAT ONE PC, but all 8? What if some of them had Linux, or Mac? Would it then be ok too?

[Peoples-Agent]

Linux ffs, make a real viable alternative will ya.

[Toss3]

http://www.firewallleaktester.com/removewga.htm

This tool should remove it for ya! :)

[Rakeesh]

I'd rather it not be there myself. I actively use pirated copies of windows on two of the five or so PCs on my network. I have more legit copies of XP Pro than I even have computers sitting in my house (I get one or two free copies every year from the retail edge program, albeit these are retail versions and not corporate versions, but there's really no difference between the two other than that licensing agreement that I don't even read) but I am too lazy to use them, and when it comes down to it I don't really care enough about the extras to bother using a legit copy.

[j0j081]

You guys dont get it....Microsoft absolutely SHOULD NOT be poking around the entire network! No matter if it's their product or not. This shows they snooped into his entire network, and that they have a backdoor!

I can understand collecting info for THAT ONE PC, but all 8? What if some of them had Linux, or Mac? Would it then be ok too?
this may not even be true. everyone and their mom likes making up stories about how Microsoft is the source of all evil.

[rewt]

"Privacy is about transparency and choice -- telling the consumer what data you collect, how you collect it, what you do with that data, and whether the consumer can opt out of some of those activities," said Jonathan Penn, an analyst at Forrester. "Microsoft needs to embrace these as guiding principles for all its software and services."

According to Microsoft, the validation tool does in fact send data back to Microsoft, but that the notifications tool is limited to the download of a new settings file which will enable Microsoft to update how often reminders are displayed and to disable the WGA program, if necessary. "No additional information is sent to Microsoft," said a company spokesperson. "Other than standard server log information [whatever that is], no information is collected."

Microsoft has changed the WGA tool to phone home only once every 2 weeks instead of every time the computer is booted.

http://www.sci-tech-today.com/story.xhtml?story_id=021002CEQQ6C