14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has yet to kick off the automatic distribution of the Windows Activation Technologies Update for Windows 7, an update designed to detect more than 70 known activation exploits for Windows Vista’s successor considered dangerous, but the refresh is already available for download. KB971033 is already live on Microsoft Support, namely the article for the Update for Windows Activation Technologies. The resource also contains two download links, one for Windows 7 for x86-based systems, and one for Windows 7 for x64-based systems.
“Windows Activation Technologies helps you confirm that the copy of Windows 7 that is running on your computer is genuine. Additionally, Windows Activation Technologies helps protect against the risks of counterfeit software. Windows Activation Technologies in Windows 7 consists of activation and validation components that contain anti-piracy features,” an excerpt of the update’s description reads.
Obviously, there is consistent criticism against Microsoft for offering the Windows Activation Technologies Update for Windows 7. The update is capable of detecting copies of the OS that have been illegally activated with more than 70 bypass techniques, throwing the platform into non-genuine state, and notifying the end users that a genuine license must be purchased. The refresh was scheduled to go live on the Microsoft Genuine website yesterday, and on the Microsoft Download Center today, February 17th.
“This update for Windows Activation Technologies helps detect validation errors and activation exploits. This update also detects any tampering attempts made to important Windows 7 system files. Be aware that some counterfeit copies of Windows include malware,” Microsoft reveals. “When this update is installed, it performs a validation process for the copy of Windows that is running on your computer. However, this validation process does not affect the functionality of Windows. The update process exits silently if it detects no validation errors, activation exploits, or tampered files.”
Users with pirated versions of Windows 7 that apply the update will find that the OS begins to offer the non-genuine experience, namely the background goes black, a watermark of the platform’s state is displayed on the desktop and period notifications are triggered informing the customers of the state of the machine. Microsoft underlined that the update was voluntary, users having the choice of not installing it. However, if they do deploy the refresh, it will persistently check their machines against cracks, and will phone home to Microsoft to get additional updates for exploit signatures every 90 days.
“Validation errors and activation exploits try to bypass the Windows activation process and are sometimes included with counterfeit copies of Windows. If a validation error or activation exploit is detected, you will be directed to more information on the Internet for resolution of the activation exploit or the validation error. When validation errors or activation exploits are removed, you may be asked to use a valid product key to activate the copy of Windows 7 that is running on your computer,” Microsoft adds.
Customers that believe they might have been tricked into buying a pirated copy of Windows, activated illegally via a crack, can download and run the update in order to see whether they are the victims of software counterfeiters. Users that don’t want the Windows Activation Technologies Update for Windows 7 are free not to download the refresh, and also hide the item when it is delivered via Windows Update later this month.