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| STORIES ABOUT: WGA |
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| Windows SteadyState for Vista and XP |  | Microsoft has made available for download the Windows SteadyState for the 32-bit editions of Windows XP and Windows Vista. SteadyState is a Windows management tool designed for scenarios in which access to machines is completely unrestricted. The evolution of the Microsoft Shared Computer Toolkit for Windows XP, Windows SteadyState has been designed for the specific purpose of managing shared computers, safeguarding system resourced agains ... [read more >>] | | 10 June 2008, 12:36GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia |
| Microsoft Anti-Piracy Tools Expose Windows and Office Pirates |  | Microsoft's online validation tools designed as anti-piracy mechanisms are increasingly applauded by the company for contributing to identify pirates of its software products. The Redmond giant has made available both the Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) and the Office Genuine Advantage (OGA) to protect its flag-ship products, the Windows platform and the Office System. As a result of feedback provided through the anti-piracy ... [read more >>] | | 10 June 2008, 06:54GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia |
| Even with Vista SP1, Hackers Still Crack Windows Genuine Advantage |  | The fact that Microsoft has relaxed its antipiracy mechanism built into Windows Vista concomitantly with the release of Service Pack 1 failed to stop hackers from providing a crack for the latest version of Windows Genuine Advantage Validation. Various reports point out that Genuine Advantage Validation and Notifications versions 1.7.69.1 (1.7.0069.1) and 1.7.69.2 released in March 2008, following the March 18 availability of Windows Vista ... [read more >>] | | 01 April 2008, 15:02GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia |
| Microsoft "Kills" the OEM BIOS and Grace Timer Cracks Outside of Vista SP1 |  | Microsoft's former marketing chief, Michael Sievert, revealed back in December 2007 that, with the advent of Windows Vista Service Pack 1, two of the most popular Vista cracks would be history, namely the OEM BIOS and Grace Timer activation workarounds. Vista SP1 is designed not only to identify the pirated versions of the operating system that have been activated with OEM BIOS and Grace Timer, but also to disable the exploits. Howeve ... [read more >>] | | 25 February 2008, 07:54GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia |
| How Genuine Is Your Windows? |  | The counterfeited software has always represented a problem for both software companies and consumers and the phenomenon is getting stronger nowadays. It appears that pirated technologies are available even in retail stores, which makes the fight against such software almost impossible. According to "PC World", there were cases when users bought Windows, but when trying to install it, the Windows Genuine Advantage tech ... [read more >>] | | 07 December 2007, 04:08GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia |
| Microsoft Cuts Reduced Functionality Mode from Windows Vista SP1 |  | Keeping within the lines of its policy that Windows pirates are Microsoft customers, Microsoft prepares a set of changes to its current anti-piracy tactics. In this context, the Redmond company informed that it would scrap its Windows Vista killer, from the operating systems anti-piracy architecture. Reduced Functionality Mode has been introduced as a critical peon in the strategy against pirated versions of Vista, but it will n ... [read more >>] | | 04 December 2007, 12:01GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia |
| Microsoft to Kill the Grace Timer and OEM BIOS Windows Vista Cracks with Vista SP1 |  | With the advent of Windows Vista, cracks also became available being designed to bypass the activation process of the operating system. The new activation infrastructure and the Windows Genuine Advantage, set in place by the Redmond company, proved insufficient to deal with Windows Vista cracks. But no more. While cooking the first service pack for its latest Windows client, Microsoft announced that the refresh will mean that the free Vist ... [read more >>] | | 04 December 2007, 10:23GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia |
| Do Windows Pirates Actually Prefer XP to Vista? |  | Windows XP, released at the end of 2001, went virtually barefoot into the world and was little ready or able to tackle the piracy phenomenon. It was only with the availability of the Windows Genuine Advantage mechanism that Microsoft addressed the pressing issue of pirated copies of XP actively, and furthermore, it did so on the end users' machines. By comparison, Windows Vista has been fitted with an overhauled activation infrastruct ... [read more >>] | | 04 December 2007, 06:51GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia |
| Windows Pirates Take Internet Explorer 7 to the Top of the World |  | Internet Explorer 7 is slowly crawling towards the top of the world wide web, and Windows pirates are its vessels. Microsoft's latest strategy with IE7 is to apply an "all is fair in browser war" tactics. And to get the upper hand in the browser measuring contest that puts ... [read more >>] | | 03 December 2007, 02:59GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia |
| Microsoft Evolves the Windows Genuine Advantage Anti-Piracy Mechanism |  | Back in August 2007, Microsoft's anti-piracy mechanism suffered a temporary service outage which caused genuine copies of Windows XP and Windows Vista to be incorrectly labeled as pirated. In excess of 12,000 Vista and XP users were affected by the erroneous invalidations, with the Redmond company blaming the lapse on a human error. At that time, Microsoft revealed that both the activation and validation aspects of its anti-piracy mec ... [read more >>] | | 22 November 2007, 11:31GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia |
| If Piracy Is a Crime then Why Is Microsoft Protecting Windows Pirates? |  | Microsoft is labeling software piracy as a persistent and evolving crime. And despite this "anodyne" aspect, the Redmond company is going out of its way to help ensure that Windows pirates are well protected. According to data made available by The Business Software Alliance and market research firm IDC reported in the Global Software Piracy Study, the piracy phenomenon generated losses of $40 billion in 2006. The same estimates ... [read more >>] | | 08 November 2007, 11:56GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia |
| Windows Pirates Failed to Crowd to Internet Explorer 7 |  | Windows pirates failed to crowd to Internet Explorer 7 stripped down of the Microsoft antipiracy mechanism. At the beginning of October, the Redmond company introduced the first major update to Internet Explorer 7, moving the browser from bu ... [read more >>] | | 02 November 2007, 14:07GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia |
| IE7 to Explode on Pirated Copies of Windows XP? |  | On October 4, 2007, Microsoft delivered the first update to Internet Explorer 7 in approximately a year since the version of the browser was initially made available for Windows XP SP2 and Windows Server 2003. Along with some minor tweaks to the graphical user interface and a revamped fir ... [read more >>] | | 05 October 2007, 14:04GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia |
| Microsoft Gets Slapped for Fighting Windows Piracy |  | Microsoft has poured a lot of efforts into reducing the piracy phenomenon affecting the Windows platform. But as it appears, the measures set in place by the Redmond company do by no means bode well with end users. Back in 2005, a firm step was taken to tone down the volume of pirated Windows copies in use with the introduction of the Windows Genuine Advantage platform. Cori Hartje, director of the Microsoft Genuine Software Initiative, re ... [read more >>] | | 14 September 2007, 05:15GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia |
| Microsoft Denies Having Updated Vista's Anti-Piracy Platform |  | Microsoft denied having introduced any sort of updates to the anti-piracy platform built into its latest operating system, Windows Vista or to the Windows Genuine Advantage mechanism designed to safeguard over the legitimacy of the copies of the operating system. Reports independent of Microsoft and unconfirmed by the company, revealed the introduction of the Black Screen of Death to rival the ubiquitous Blue Screen of Death. The Windows p ... [read more >>] | | 12 September 2007, 11:50GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia |
| What’s New in Microsoft Land: 3rd – 7th September 2007 |  | Even if Internet Explorer comes as the default browser for the Windows operating system, the Redmond-based company Microsoft strives to improve the application, being continuously challenged by the rivals. Firefox is probably the only browser able to face the competiti ... [read more >>] | | 09 September 2007, 14:11GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia |
| What’s New in Microsoft Land: 27th – 31st August 2007 |  | Unfortunately for the Redmond-based company, the week started with some sad news for its fans: Firefox blocks the access to Windows Live Hotmail without any warning. Actually, it bans two of the most used features, blocking the users from composing or replying messages. The folks working at Microsoft confirmed the glitch and added that it’s all about a ... [read more >>] | | 02 September 2007, 13:11GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia |
| WGA Servers Down = Genuine Vista and XP All Around, Pirated Copies Included |  | Microsoft will validate as genuine all copies of Windows Vista and Windows XP that pass through the Windows Genuine Advantage in scenarios in which the WGA servers are down, the Redmond company informed. In such cases, even pirated copies of Windows Vista and Windows XP will not be flagged as non-genuine, permitting users access to the same software downloads from the company as the actual genuine versions of the Windows operatin ... [read more >>] | | 30 August 2007, 05:05GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia |
| Windows Genuine Advantage Turns Genuine Windows Vista into Pirated Copies |  | Windows Genuine Advantage, an integer part of Microsoft's anti-piracy efforts under the Genuine Software Initiative umbrella, suffered a massive worldwide server infrastructure outage over the course of the past weekend. As an immediate result, the WGA labeled all genuine copies of Windows Vista and Windows XP going through the validation mechanism as pirated. While users have no problems whatsoever using non-genuine copies of Windows ... [read more >>] | | 27 August 2007, 05:42GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia |
| Windows Vista Reduced Functionality Mode Triggers |  | Unlike Windows XP, which was sent barefoot into the world, Windows Vista comes in the context of a mature anti-piracy infrastructure courtesy of the Windows Genuine Advantage mechanism, and with the Reduced Functionality Mode limitations. Reduced Functionality Mode in Vista is delivered in two distinct flavors: out-of-grace and non-genuine. The first is associated with operating systems that have not been activated in the initial 30[ADMARK ... [read more >>] | | 17 August 2007, 12:03GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia |
| Microsoft: Windows Vista Pirates Are Still Microsoft Customers... |  | Should Microsoft welcome Windows piracy just because there are concerns that fighting it will push users toward adopting the rival Linux and Mac OS X operating systems? I have come across this absurd claim after Microsoft collaborated with the Chinese gove ... [read more >>] | | 16 August 2007, 12:59GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia |
| Microsoft Kills Windows Validation and Office Validation Anti-Piracy Efforts |  | Microsoft's anti-piracy efforts will undertake a major overhauling. The Redmond company plans to take down both the Windows Validation Assistant and the Office Validation Assistant. However, Microsoft is going to fill in the empty spaces left by the discontinuing of WVA and OVA with Windows Comparison Guide (WCG) and the Office Comparison Guide (OCG). Additionally there is also the old trust Windows Genuine Advantage and Office Genuin ... [read more >>] | | 03 July 2007, 11:34GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia |
| Microsoft: How to Download and Install Genuine Software on non-Genuine Windows XP |  | Microsoft is the last company in the world you would expect to offer advice on how to download and deploy software requiring Windows Genuine Advantage validation on a system that will not pass WGA verification. And yet again, this won't be the only example of the Redmond company sabotaging its own fight against software piracy. As an integer part of its efforts to enable web developers streamlined access to Internet Explorer 6.0 and I ... [read more >>] | | 26 June 2007, 12:32GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia |
| Microsoft Recommends Windows Vista Ultimate and WGA Cracks |  | Microsoft is not doing a very good job at shielding Windows Vista from piracy. As a matter of fact, just the opposite, the Redmond Company is actually promoting cracks for Windows Vista. The first out of the two screenshots included at the bottom is a clear illustration of how – via Live Search – Microsoft is doing itself a disservice. Entering the ... [read more >>] | | 26 June 2007, 05:47GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia |
| Windows Vista Genuine Validation Fails Due to Incorrect BIOS Data |  | One of the downsides of the Microsoft anti-piracy program for the Windows platform is associated with the false positives generated by the Windows Genuine Advantage mechanism. The WGA went live in July 2005, and according to Cori Hartje, director of the Microsoft Genuine Software Initiative, the tool processed in excess of 600 million unique operating system validations since that time. In mid February 2007, Microsoft introduced an overhau ... [read more >>] | | 25 June 2007, 03:37GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia |
| Ubuntu Linux = Genuine Windows – Validated by Windows Genuine Advantage |  | Microsoft's Windows Genuine Advantage mechanism has validated a copy of the Ubuntu distribution of Linux as a genuine Windows product. The WGA has been a target for circumventing techniques since its introduction in July 2005. But Windows Genuine Advantage workarounds involve cracks designed to fool the mechanism into validating pirated copies of Windows. The WGA is nothing new to users of Windows XP and Windows Vista, but the anti-pi ... [read more >>] | | 19 June 2007, 10:10GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia |
| Windows Vista Complete Crack |  | Despite of the measures built into the operating system and the "genuine" system created around it, Windows Vista is as much a victim of piracy as Windows XP was. And Windows XP was sent out barefoot into the world, as far as anti-piracy is concerned. Microsoft did not manage to introduce the Windows Genuine Advantage mechanism until years later. This year, on March 30, Microsoft's Genuine Software Initiative turned 1, and t ... [read more >>] | | 21 May 2007, 07:01GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia |
| Windows Vista Safe from Windows Deactivation Trojan |  | At the end of the past week, security company Symantec has issued a public warning related to Trojan.Kardphisher, a Trojan horse that deactivates genuine and activated copies of Windows. According to Symantec, the malicious program can successfully compromise a ... [read more >>] | | 07 May 2007, 06:23GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia |
| 600 Million Microsoft Products Running in the Piracy Marathon |  | In excess of 600 million Microsoft products have been running for a whole year in the piracy marathon. 600 million is the total number of unique Microsoft products validations that have been processed through the Windows Genuine Advantage program starting as back as July 2005. “We have had an amazing year and have made a lot of progress on many fronts,” revealed Cori Hartje, director of the Microsoft Genuine Software Initiative o ... [read more >>] | | 31 March 2007, 03:46GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia |
| Microsoft Happy with the Evolution of Windows Vista Piracy |  | This was a title that I never though I would write. But the truth is that Microsoft is happy with the way Windows Vista piracy is evolving. Is there a catch to this? No. The fact of the matter is that Windows Vista has delivered a heavy blow to software counterfeiters. The reason for this is the new Windows Genuine Advantage security mechanism integrated into the operating system.
You may not notice this on the surface. On the ... [read more >>] | | 28 March 2007, 10:46GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia |
| Microsoft Responds to Accusations That WGA Reports Canceled Installations |  | Microsoft has issued a formal response to media reports that its Windows Genuine Advantage Notification anti-piracy tool contacts the company servers when the users cancel the WGA installation. The clarification on the matter at hand was provided due to the past history of WGA and the customers' concerns about the data that the WGA tool is sending out.
Alex Kochis, a WGA senior licensing manager, stated that it is a comm ... [read more >>] | | 08 March 2007, 06:17GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia |
| Microsoft Receives a Report if You Cancel WGA Installation |  | Microsoft has released an updated version of the Windows Genuine Advantage Notification tool in February 2007. The Redmond Company's anti-piracy tool has been initially previewed back in November 2006, delivering a new installation experience for the users. However, Microsoft also sneaked in a little surprise in the updated WGA mechanism. Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications does improve the user installation and validati ... [read more >>] | | 07 March 2007, 06:48GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia |
| Vista Low Sales - Blame It on the Boogie... |  | There are two myths associated with the low market performance of Windows Vista in its first month of commercial availability. The muted reception that Windows Vista got at the retail outlets is related to the fact that the latest operating system from Microsoft “does not offer much more than Windows XP” and that the Windows Genuine Advantage is crippling user experience.
Well, first off, to claim that Windows Vista does not ... [read more >>] | | 01 March 2007, 10:15GMT | (c) 2008 Softpedia |
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