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 validation experience. But it also
comes with updated anti-piracy capabilities.
According to the German computer magazine CT via
Activewin,
now Microsoft receives a report for every user that cancels the
installation of WGA. The Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications is
pushed automatically via Windows Update. But users that have set up
their Windows update process in such a manner that updates need
confirmation prior to installing have the option to click cancel to the
deployment of the updated WGA. And in doing so, they label themselves
as piracy suspects while Microsoft receives a report on the WGA
cancellation.
The German computer magazine CT claims that after downloading WGA and
when being prompted to install the tool, the cancellation led to
update.exe attempting to access Microsoft's servers. The magazine
analyzed the data update.exe was sending out after it has successfully
established a connection and found that the information was shipped to
genuine.microsoft.com.
The data that is being sent out comprises registry information and the
Windows version and language. This is what could be read, because there
is also encrypted data being sent out through the user's Internet
connection. Microsoft confirmed the WGA behavior but claims that all
the data is involved in the evolution of its anti-piracy mechanism.
