Hi we are Microsoft… we secretly watch you… sorry we didn’t mention it earlier
Posted in Tech by Chad at 11:25 pm
This post was published 3 years 9 months 7 days ago which may make its actuality or expire date not be valid anymore. This site is not responsible for any misunderstanding.
Microsoft Corp. acknowledged Wednesday that it needs to better inform users that its tool for determining whether a computer is running a pirated copy of Windows also quietly checks in daily with the software maker.
Seems that the Windows Genuine Advantage software we all remember hitting the PC scene a while back had some dirty little secrets.
Once installed, the program checks to make sure the version of Windows a user is running is legitimate, and gathers information such as the computer’s manufacturer and the language and locale it is set for.
Oh is that all?
[switches currency to Francs, and Timezone to Asia]
The good news is in the future they won’t spy on you and your system nearly as much :D
Lazar also said the company plans to tweak the program soon so that it will only check in with Microsoft every two weeks, rather than daily.
So what? :\ It’s just a way to see where illegal copies of Windows are showing up most. Trust me, Microsoft isn’t watching you look at porn. ;)
no the problem is that Microsoft is not a trustworth company… if they have been doing this much what else are they doing?
You know what? This website tracks your broswer, your IP, your country, and even your OS! And so does every other website in the world. OMG! Conspiracy!
Microsoft is very trustworthy, they are too big, there are way too many lawyers and governments who want a piece of the microsoft pie for them to do something stupid. And I am not a brainwashed microsoftie… I am typing this on my newly acquired macbook! So let’s ease up on the paranoia. Now open the blinds everyone and look outside, it’s beautiful ;)
You know, I bet Google knows more about you than Microsoft — email, calendars, spreadsheets, what you search for, and with the latest firefox plug-in google knows your cookies, surfing history and favourites.. complete identity theft kit?
Get Linux, I would suggest Ubuntu… After you have installed it, there is no way turning back. And after the installation, http://easyubuntu.freecontrib.org/ helps you with enabling some features that arent enabled by default.
I found it odd, that people wont even care for this big corporation receiving data from home computers back to their servers… It would be somewhat ok, if I could see a warning “Yes, this software you are forced to install to get updates is calling home every week. The data includes the IP, GUI, Your locale settings, e-mail address book and pictures from your “My pictures” folders.”
I dont have the WGA software installed so im not concerned my privacy, as a matter of fact im running SP2 without any major updates (Excluding the patch for WMF vulnerablitiy).. Why should I, because XP is installed just because some games I like to play wont run in Linux.
And yes, this is Linux that I’m using right now…
” [Microsoft] plans to tweak the program soon so that it will only check in with Microsoft every two weeks, rather than daily.”
Oh! Well… thats a lot better! Instead of not spying on me, Microsoft promises to spy on me less!… At least they are honest :D
I agree with Roy on this one… Its not that what Microsoft admitted doing is so bad, but that they are just now telling us! I like the way Roy sums it up: “If they have been doing this much what else are they doing?”
i think microsoft needs people to run the os illegally.. its the only way they can stay on top of the popularity game. i just wish we could ifnd out how they get the info! i havent read anywhere about ethereal or firewalls sniffing hidden MS traffic… dun dun dun