Anti-Piracy Windows 7 Update Phones Home Quarterly 819
Lauren Weinstein sends in news of a major and disturbing Microsoft anti-piracy initiative called Windows Activation Technologies, or WAT. Here is Microsoft's blog post giving their perspective on what WAT is for. From Lauren's blog: "The release of Windows 7 'Update for Microsoft Windows (KB71033)' will change the current activation and anti-piracy behavior of Windows 7 by triggering automatic 'phone home' operations over the Internet to Microsoft servers, typically for now at intervals of around 90 days. ... These automatic queries will repeatedly — apparently for as long as Windows is installed — validate your Windows 7 system against Microsoft's latest database of pirated system signatures (currently including more than 70 activation exploits known to Microsoft). If your system matches — again even if up to that time (which could be months or even years since you obtained the system) it had been declared to be genuine — then your system will be 'downgraded' to 'non-genuine' status until you take steps to obtain what Microsoft considers to be an authentic, validated, Windows 7 license. ... KB971033... is scheduled to deploy to the manual downloading 'Genuine Microsoft Software' site on February 16, and start pushing out automatically through the Windows Update environment on February 23. ... [F]or Microsoft to assert that they have the right to treat ordinary PC-using consumers in this manner — declaring their systems to be non-genuine and downgrading them at any time — is rather staggering." Update: 02/12 02:08 GMT by KD : Corrected the Microsoft Knowledge Base number to include a leading 9 that had been omitted in the pre-announcement, per L. Weinstein.
Who's On First? (Score:5, Funny)
Lauren Weinstein sends in news of a major and disturbing Microsoft anti-piracy initiative called Windows Activation Technologies, or WAT.
Microsoft Phone Support: Thank you for calling Microsoft, all calls may be monitored for training purposes and to ensure quality of service. Now, what seems to be the problem ... ... ? Sir, you have to give me more information.
Customer: That's right.
*pause*
Microsoft Phone Support:
Customer: I'll tell you my problem. WAT is my problem.
Microsoft Phone Support: Sir, I don't know the answer to that question, you haven't told me yet.
Customer: I didn't ask you a question.
Microsoft Phone Support: Then why did you call? Why do you need help?
Customer: WAT's wrong. I can't activate Windows 7 but I just bought it!
Microsoft Phone Support: Okay, let's try to diagnose this problem. What's wrong?
Customer: Yes, I already said that, I know WAT is wrong! That is precisely why I called!
Microsoft Phone Support: Wait, why are you calling?
Customer: WAT!
Microsoft Phone Support: I said, why are you calling?!
Customer: WAT! WAT, GODDAMNIT, WAT!!!
Calling every 90 days (Score:3, Funny)
That means I have at most 90 days left!
I'll start spinning counter-clockwise.
Re:Who's On First? (Score:2, Funny)
You must be a real hit at parties.
Re:Who's On First? (Score:3, Funny)
>enter trapdoor
Yes, probably just as well to give up looking, and heaven knows there's enough packing to do, what with the rest of the family in uproar. Oh well.
*** You have missed the point entirely ***
In that game you scored 0 out of a possible 550, in 3 turns, giving you the rank of hapless Tourist.
Would you like to RESTART, RESTORE a saved game, give the FULL score for that game or QUIT?
>
Say WAT again, I DARE you. (Score:3, Funny)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kw6uZNz3i1g [youtube.com]
Microsoft Licensing, MOTHER FUCKER, do you speak it?
Re:Who's On First? (Score:5, Funny)
Customer: What's your name? I need to talk to your supervisor.
Microsoft Phone Support: Hu.
Customer: (head explodes)
Re:So what do they do (Score:5, Funny)
All the people who made products you may or may not have in your house just want to stop by once a quarter to make sure they get paid for what they produce. You can't just expect them to do nothing and hope that you'll be nice and pay them. Those books you picked up at the "clearing out old stuff event" at the library? The authors deserve to get paid for what they produce. Representatives for Mr. King will be over shortly to conduct an audit. If you are found to be out of compliance, they will rip out all but the first chapter. You can use the 'downgraded' copy to decide if you want to make a full purchase.
Cant we call it... (Score:5, Funny)
Trusted Windows Activation Technologies
Re:Son of WGA (Score:5, Funny)
They'll probably never have to deal with This WAT stuff.
Hmm.. TWAT.. I bet that'll catch on.
Re:New Upgrade Path (Score:3, Funny)
wow (Score:5, Funny)
i've been reading and posting here a long time, and i don't remember anyone coming right out and saying "microsoft employee here"
i never expected someone to rip off their clothes, douse themselves in a1 steak sauce, and walk into the hyena enclosure
you are very brave sir
how well read is slashdot at microsoft?
Re:Who's On First? (Score:5, Funny)
If you're too stupid to spell it out, you're too stupid to deserve the oxygen you're breathing.
So you're that guy that repeatedly stood up in the grade school auditorium during the Abbott and Costello sketch and yelled, "The man that is on first has an uncommon given name of 'Who' resulting in the confusion that is unfolding between the two of you. Now that that is cleared up, carry on with the dialogue."
Re:False Positives? (Score:5, Funny)
Well, at least it would be better than Vista.
Re:WAT is Voluntary and Doesn't Impact OS Usage (Score:2, Funny)
cool...at least you're not using linux :)
Re:So bend over and bark like a dog (Score:3, Funny)
I would run OSX... but I can't bend over that far.
Re:Son of WGA (Score:2, Funny)
Wait what! Your actually stoked because your software overlords allowed you the priviledge to use software you paid for on a new system you bought? Really? Are fucking kidding me? Talk about low expectations.
You should try OSS your mind would be blown. Get this I know you won't believe me but the software is free and there aren't even any activation rituals. Oh and your really not going to believe this for a second but you even get the source code to read or modify if you like. I know I can see you shaking your head in utter disbelief. But try googling for Ubuntu and see for yourself.
Re:WAT is Voluntary and Doesn't Impact OS Usage (Score:2, Funny)
Yes, we at at Microsoft are SUCH ASSHOLES :) read the statement:
A Letter from Marc Whitten: Discontinuation of Xbox LIVE for Original Xbox Games
Dear Xbox LIVE Members,
On April 15 we will discontinue the Xbox LIVE service for original Xbox consoles and games, including Xbox v1 games playable on Xbox 360 and Xbox Originals. I want to start by saying this isn’t a decision we made lightly, but after careful consideration, it is clear this will provide the greatest benefit to the Xbox LIVE community.
Seven years ago we laid out our vision for the connected console when we launched Xbox LIVE. We believed then that the power of the Internet to connect people would revolutionize living room entertainment. It started with amazing multiplayer games, and we’ve since seen that bet pay off again and again with the launches of Xbox 360, Marketplace, Netflix and powerful social features like Facebook, Twitter and Last.fm. None of this would have been possible without the success of LIVE as a multiplayer gaming network.
There’s no greater example of the power of the Xbox LIVE community than the “Halo” franchise. “Halo 2” has had an amazing run on LIVE, with a dedicated community more than five years after launch and well into the next generation of consoles. It has fundamentally changed the way we play video games. And while it’s difficult to see that run come to an end, the “Halo” franchise continues to act as the benchmark for multiplayer gaming in this generation, with “Halo 3,” “Halo 3: ODST” and soon “Halo: Reach” on Xbox 360.
Your Xbox LIVE community has grown to 23 million strong. And as we look down the road, we’ll continue to evolve the service with features and experiences that harness the full power of Xbox 360. To reach our aspiration, we need to make changes to the service that are incompatible with our original Xbox v1 games. We will contact the Xbox LIVE members directly impacted by this change and if this includes you, I encourage you to check your LIVE messages and associated e-mail account over the coming weeks for more details and opportunities. We view you as a partner in this process.
We’ll share more details soon, but in the meantime I want to assure you that the best is yet to come for Xbox LIVE. I believe we’ll look back on 2010 as a landmark year in gaming and home entertainment, and I couldn’t be more excited about what we have in store with “Project Natal” and LIVE. The LIVE community is the driving force behind everything we do, and it’s because of the community that ground-breaking experiences on Xbox continue to be possible.
See you on LIVE,
Marc Whitten
Gamertag - Notwen
www.twitter.com/notwen
play in offline mode (Score:1, Funny)
I only play windows 7 single player. This way I avoid the multi-player activation.
Re:Note to self.... (Score:1, Funny)
yeah, you can do that... there's usually a list of the hotfixes included in service packs, just download them manually. and if they don't hand out a list willingly, demand it. this is after all ur software that's being updated; if u want to know what changes are being made i'm sure u can obtain the legal right to know.
Microsoft achieves its primary purpose. (Score:1, Funny)
Just my opinion, but I'm not the only one.