Much rejoice there were when Microsoft's Barry Goffe announced that everyone (including the so-called "thief's") would be able to install Windows XP Service Pack 2. A few days later, A Microsoft spoke person said otherwise and from then on, it was very clear that Microsoft was not going to let shady users have an easy ride - it was like a screeching noise to the ears of those without a legit copy.
SouL2kEEp has just reported that Windows Update 5 has also been taken down the same path as Service Pack 2 for Windows XP. Neowin has a screen shot of the message that claims an invalid Product ID is being used.
I'm sure that this was a tough decision to make as Microsoft has been vigorously focusing on security issues and worm outbreaks. Preventing users from obtaining patches from Windows Update means that they will be left vulnerable and could contribute to the attack which, in the end, may also affect the legitimate customers.
While I can agree that Microsoft does not hold responsibility for those who are not customers, I still feel that blocking Windows Update may be a bit too extreme and could affect the company's reputation on security matters in the long run.
Screenshot: Windows Update preventing access
News source: In-House
SouL2kEEp has just reported that Windows Update 5 has also been taken down the same path as Service Pack 2 for Windows XP. Neowin has a screen shot of the message that claims an invalid Product ID is being used.
I'm sure that this was a tough decision to make as Microsoft has been vigorously focusing on security issues and worm outbreaks. Preventing users from obtaining patches from Windows Update means that they will be left vulnerable and could contribute to the attack which, in the end, may also affect the legitimate customers.
While I can agree that Microsoft does not hold responsibility for those who are not customers, I still feel that blocking Windows Update may be a bit too extreme and could affect the company's reputation on security matters in the long run.
Screenshot: Windows Update preventing access News source: In-House
Areas of concentration in the DirectX 9.0 SDK Update (Summer 2004) RC0 release are:
- HLSL support for Pixel Shader & Vertex Shader 3.0
- Effects Framework performance improvements
- Pre computed Radiance Transfer improvements
- New Sample framework
- New & Updated Samples
- PIX tool for better debugging of Direct3D applications
- Introduction of the Preview Pipeline for easier content creation
but i know what it looks like in person, time to install my legit copy and having to activate everything i reinstall, and eventually activation by phone only =(
BUT....
Microsoft almost has a social responsibility to ensure all instances of its OS are patched. This subject has been beat to death on other forums. The article is correct - if you don't allow pirates to patch, then you guarantee thousands of zombie pcs out there that will be permanent hosts for viruses and trojans. Which is pad PR for MS.
And do consumers not have a 'social responsibility' to properly and legally license/purchase their software?
But should MS punnish all the other users of the internet because its software is buggy and creating zombie boxes and DESTROYING the usefulness of the internet.
I think every windows box needs to be patched to ensure the reliability of the internet as a whole. So much for the M$ 'Trustworthy Computing Initiative' I guess it only sounds good when your software is causing hell and you want people to think your doing something about it...
People who download illegal versions (or keys) from various sources are much more likely to follow security issues and keep their boxes up to date. They will also likely find a way to circumvent this 'feature', too.
Making the claim that this will harm the internet users, as a whole, is quite clearly wrong. Look in this and other Neowin forums to see how many pirates claim to have found ways around this already (or have their energies focused on finding ways).
That's what SP2 is supposed to change. Automatic updating will be the default, so the clueless people's machines will still get updated.
Yeah.
Now, if we can only convince the clueless to install this update.
What about those people who use the Corporate edition? O_o
Last edited by 1422 on 02 Jul 2004 - 10:32
corporate version works fine here. An illegal key isn't determined to be illegal purely by the amount of installs it's been used on.. but surely you knew that already!
What about those people who use the Corporate edition? O_o
They still can take out corporate editions with illegal keys. They did it with SP1 and will do it again with SP2.
How it works, from what I've read back then, is they will compare the PID to a list of known serials to which are associated with certain registrants or VLK licensees. If this is the system they are using, it will effectively block most or all keys generated using the well-known generator. However, they might've decided to use a simple system that is similar to the one in SP1/SP2 where it only blocks certain known pirated serials from using WUv5 (i.e. FCKGW). In which case generated keys would still be able to use WUv5. I don't know how to confirm it either way though. What I do know, is if they block all generated keys, they may catch unwanted attention from the DoD or some other government officials due to the security risks posed by this move. It's all up in the air at the moment though.
They really need to address the product activation hastle, which is feeding some of the piracy numbers.
Last edited by 42277 on 02 Jul 2004 - 10:39
It has been activated... I've had people tell me about it. I think this is a good thing because many people will have copies of XP but will never know if they're copied unless they were told on WindowsUpdate. Most people can have an illegal copy and go about using it without having to worry, or possibly without ever knowing.
so they are effectivly increasing the number of potentaly infected machines in the open, which in turn means there will be more machines "passing on" the infection to users who are to slow to update
where as if they let everyone update there will be fewer computers to spread the infection as more people have updated to patch the holes....
anyone following this?
anyway, whats the next step? they trace the ip address of the ppl who fail to update, contact isp's, get home addresses, then send some big men in black sutes to sort the ppl out.....
anyone fancy moving to linux even more now?
anyway, i'm safe, mines legit
Don't be surprised if they are already flushing out a plan to do this very thing - maybe send the people a nice "invite" to clarify the "discrepency" in their serial number.
WHAT ABOUT AUTOPATCHER!!??? Do you think they will put the muscle on it and shut it down??
I LOVE AUTOPATCHER!!
as if they are not already?
It will be a sad thing to lose that tool!
Windows Update collects general system information from your computer with each visit, so that you receive the updates that work best with your computer. The information is also used to generate aggregate statistics about how the Windows Update web site is used and which systems need support, so that we can improve our service. This information includes:
Computer make and model
Version information for the operating system, browser, and any other Microsoft software for which updates might be available
Plug and Play ID numbers of hardware devices
Region and language setting
Globally Unique Identifier (GUID)
Product ID and Product Key
BIOS name, revision number, and revision date
Wrong.
They don't need to know that information for updates. They can send and have a local program execute on your PC that analyzes your needs and retreives updates. I know that this is how it used to work.
They just want that information.
They already have the infromation. Provided it's legit and you activated, that is.
I actually enjoy using the computer now..it's a strange feeling. Goodbye Microsoft.
you took distrowatch's slogan
I don't think I need to explain the dangers of having even a few systems out there that aren't patched.
Lower prices and release older versions of products for free or severely discounted prices and piracy will decrease. Coming up with new schemes like this will not work.
Microsoft is in a big pickle here with hardware prices falling like rocks and Open Source software growing like wildfire, and going after the piracy segment is their way to try to maintain their profit levels. It will work for the casual copier, but hardcore pirates will continue to thrive because they have the technical savy and tools to easily circumvent any measures that MS throws out there.
Thanks for the advance warning MS! Now I know my windows will at least be able to run SP2!
it seems like a pointless waste of time on microsoft's behalf.
Disservice : It takes months to find a customer, but only seconds to lose one.... The good news is we should run out of them in no time!
Pehaps a quote microsoft shoul consider with the new revolution in open sourse, lets face it ie is loseing out to firefox already, tha is because
1. its free
2. its fast
3. its not microsoft
IE still has roughtly 95% marketshare, I believe.
Same goes to Windows 2003 Server RTM pirated keys..
So even joe-pirater with a fresh install of winxp wont be able to go to windows update? Thats kinda wierd...Wouldnt the product ID be "Information about your computer" that MS supposidly doesnt check when you go to windowsupdate?
MS says no Personal info is communicated to them, not no info at all. How else would they know what patches you need?
Yes, if you are stupid enough to click on the little "Yes" button when the active x dialog box comes up, I am sure they can look at many things.
its just a normal Programm. once installed it has the same rights as your account has.
And yes: thats a seriously flawed "Security" Modell
I can imagine it now, downloading all the hotfixes from a BT site or iRC. I can see two completely diffrent sides of this issue.
I work for a computer repair chain, and i look over six stores. Now, although we follow Microsoft's EULA to a tee (they audit us) it would have been easy, up in till now to sell copies of XP Pro that wouldn't cost us a cent; It would no longer be pratical, since it's now pretty obvious that it's not legitimate.
However, they are opening up a huge hole in there defenses with DDOS attacks. It's really a tough call - i dunno what I would do in that situation.
I think for people like me - I could get the latest hotfixes on my system, it might be a little harder than it used to be, but i could get it to work; lucky i use a legit copy of XP Pro - but for those kids who had problems burning the ISO file to install it, they're out of luck; at least until somebody makes an installer for it, or reverse engineer it.
we get it.
If Microsoft think they have security problems now, just wait till 6 - 12 months from now.
The leaked corp key for Windows Server 2003 was blocked at WU as well.
Why is this a shocker? its not a new policy.
Blocking out a minority of Windows XP users isn't going to make the situation worse. While there's still a risk to users running Windows 2000 and the illegitimate users stuck on XP SP1 will be infected by these unupdatable computers, SP2 users (when SP2 is properly configured, aka not f*cked with after its been installed) will be OK.
Besides, those people who were able to download and install a pirated copy of windows more than likely already know the procedure to get around the blocking for SP2 and WU5, and will most likely use that knowledge to their advantage
if your CD key doesnt work, USE A DIFFERENT and VALID ONE!
problem solved!
i got the "invalid product key" message before. i changed my key, rebooted, and then it worked fine.
PS: i have two legit copies of XP Pro, so i never wory about using VL Keys