14 DAY TRIAL // An updated version of the controversial Windows Genuine Advantage antipiracy tool will be pushed via Automatic Updates to all systems running Windows XP. WGA's facelift is yet again related to the criticism the tool has been generating, but is limited only to the Notifications component of the tool.
Microsoft has revealed that WGA Notifications will deliver an overhauled installation procedure. With this move, the Redmond Company has scraped the license displayed at installation in favor of a more explanatory process designed to inform users of the antipiracy tool's functionality in an introduction to WGA Notifications made accessible in plain English.
"We received a lot of feedback that people wanted more information when the package came down through Automatic Updates and was offered to them," explained David Lazar, director of the Windows Genuine program at Microsoft, adding that users will be explained the consequences of running pirated software.
Microsoft has added to the revamped installation wizard a gray area for the validation results. In this context, a copy of Windows XP will no longer be regarded only as genuine or non-genuine, as "indeterminate" is the third category introduced. In fact, the indeterminate option is designed to resolve the problems Microsoft has had with WGA generating false positives. Moreover, Microsoft will no longer accuse "This copy of Windows is not genuine" via the WGA. Instead, the Redmond Company has opted for the nuanced "Your system did not pass genuine validation."
One fact that remains unchanged is the optional status of the WGA installation. Microsoft's antipiracy tool will only install on a system if the users manually accepts its deployment.
"In addition to delivering the latest anti-piracy capabilities, this update incorporates customer feedback to improve the user installation and validation experience," stated a Microsoft representative.
According to Lazar, Microsoft will continually update the WGA antipiracy tool at intervals of three to four months. "It is necessary because we continue to discover new, compromised product keys", Lazar added. "We want to update our notifications and validation tool from time to time to also check for those compromised keys."