14 DAY TRIAL // Starting from mid June, Americans will have to make proof of purchasing a genuine Windows version in order to be granted access to Microsoft's updates.
This authenticating system will be soon functional and will allow users who run pirated copies of the system to have access to patches, but with limited options. The test version of the system was launched in the United States in last year's September.
Security experts are not happy with this decision which might lead to a lower level of security since a lot of computers won't have the latest patches issued by Microsoft.
Microsoft tries to convince its users of the usefulness of Windows Genuine Advantage by offering them hoto Story and Winter Fun 2004. Still, we cannot refrain from asking ourselves what would stop a user that managed to obtain a pirated version of Windows from doing the same with Microsoft's promotion products?
In the same time, Microsoft announced the last developing stages of the latest versions of Windows Update. After several months of testing and 25,000, the company succeeded in unifying the distribution methods for Windows and Office updates, and for other software solutions.
Roger Hollander, responsible for this project, has announced the availability of the Release Candidate version and outlined the end of the testing period. Together with the putting into commission of the system, users will benefit from a single solution for updating Microsoft's products (except the programs aimed at professionals), and only those with genuine copies will be granted access to this service.