Microsoft sued over Windows Genuine Advantage It is 'spyware' claimBy Nick Farrell: Friday 30 June 2006, 07:51 SOFTWARE giant Microsoft has been sued over its Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) anti-piracy tool.Los Angeles resident Brian Johnson is seeking 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.Vole installed the WGA software on consumers' systems without providing consumers any opportunity to make an informed choice about that software, the suit alleges.A spokesvole said that the suit "baseless". He said that spyware is deceptive software that is installed on a user's computer without the user's consent and has some malicious purpose. But WGA is installed with user consent and seeks only to notify the user if a proper license is not in place, he said.The legal outfit involved in the case is Scott Kamber of Kamber & Associates which was also involved in taking Sony to the cleaners over its rootkit software. A spokeslawyer for the outfit said that people had a right to know what's on their computer.
Microsoft denies WGA will ever kill machines Been tested on animals and everyfinkBy Nick Farrell: Monday 03 July 2006, 07:50SOFTWARE GIANT Microsoft has officially denied that it will switch off the machines of punters that refuse to install its super soaraway , Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA).Volish help-desk users were telling punters that if they did not install WGA then in Autumn, Microsoft was going to install a feature that switched off the operating system of non-WGA users.Initially Vole refused to confirm or deny the move, however this week, a SpokesVole was much more forthcoming."Microsoft antipiracy technologies cannot and will not turn off your computer," a spokesVole squeaked. However she indicated that Windows Vista operating system, will force companies to activate their software differently in a bid to sink pirates.
Microsoft admits WGA cock up Privacy Vole wonders what they were thinking ofBy Nick Farrell: Tuesday 04 July 2006, 07:27 THE VOLE in charge of Microsoft's privacy strategy has admitted that the outfit dropped the ball when it came to Windows Genuine Advantage anti-piracy tool.Peter Cullen has been selected as a PR firefighter and to sooth customers who have been upset at the way that Microsoft has presented WGA.Talking to Arcon 5 he readily admitted that the software maker stuffed up its handling of the affair. He said that it was possible for Microsoft to make the argument that for the good of the user and even the good of the ecosystem, Automatic Updates should be turned on by default. People should have patched machines. However, that idea was contrary to Microsoft's belief that users should have some choice.He said that although the press had focused on WGA being an anti-piracy tool it was mostly about protecting the privacy of users against hackers. However WGA neglected the area of notifications, he admitted.
