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Microsoft Pushes New Piracy Initiative

By BetaNews Staff, BetaNews

March 9, 2006, 1:00 PM

Expanding upon its Windows Genuine Advantage program, which requires customers to verify their licenses before downloading operating system updates, Microsoft has rolled out a new effort called the Genuine Software Initiative. The undertaking will combine the company's anti-piracy and counterfeit prevention efforts.

GSI will focus on three areas: education, engineering and enforcement. Microsoft plans to spend more time highlighting the importance of genuine software, as well as developing new protection methods such as WGA. The company has already been involved in the arrest of numerous counterfeiters, and expects to work more closely with law enforcement in this regard.

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By cranbers

posted Mar 10, 2006 - 9:22 PM

I think that there is a false hope at Microsoft that the people who pirate/steal Microsoft's software would actually buy it if they made doing the illegal activity not possible through activation and checks etc. The reality is it just gives all the board computer blackhat's something to do because we all know, no matter who pays the engineers if you want to call them that, at microsoft there is always half a million poor broke lonely hackers out there waiting to make their work meaningless.

Microsoft will never win this battle no matter how hard they try to lock down their flawed swiss cheese software in this manner. As a matter of fact the more they lock down their software the more the people will turn to the free alternatives such as linux and their day in the sun is coming, trust me. to be honest the only reason I even use ms's software is because everyone else is. I can't exactly play the latest and greatest game on a linux box, a few games maybe but certainly not right away and of course the hardware guys aren't exactly rushing their linux drivers either.

So good job helping them out Ms, I bet there are more linux users now then ever simply because they can't download the latest critical patch without turning on autoupdate or going to the winupdate site to see a nice message saying your code is not correct, please buy our software for couple hundred bucks because you are a stealing bas****.

Ms is already the master of the universe that make billions, and they have the odasity to claim that cutting down on the "piracy" they will be able to lower prices because it is such a huge loss for them. Well cry me a river ms because ill tell ya, you aren't hurting.

Not only that, but Piracy probably helps you it gets your software out ther on peoples machines, therefore you that many more people locked into your software, you may not be getting paid for it, but you are keeping them from defecting to linux which just supports them further.

Score: 0

By THEGAME

edited Mar 10, 2006 - 10:37 AM

I don’t have anything to say good about Microsoft. They try to make people dependent on their products in return are forced to spend more money. There’s just isn’t enough operating systems to choose from. Who are these people cracking these operating systems, maybe the ones that don’t have XP? I remember when Microsoft came out with Windows ME and they bragged about how good it was but in return people got nothing but junk. In my opinion Microsoft should of provided free XP upgrades for those people but then again with Bill Gates which he made #1 again on the list of wealthiest people I guess wouldn’t take that fall. I’m a computer technician on the side and I find that people won’t spend the money to upgrade they usually trash their computer or just put it aside after all I don’t blame them during these bad economical times plus every few years you have to upgrade to the new operating system cause the older ones aren’t supported no more. With Vista coming out soon just watch what happens to XP. So in final words for those who crack the codes or what ever it is my hat is off to ya.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Mar 10, 2006 - 12:21 PM

Sounds like someone's having some trouble coming to grips with reality... Microsoft is a business. In business to... *gasp* ...make money.

As long as they can charge for upgrades, they will. If someone bought Windows ME, based simply on what MS told them, I don't feel the least bit sorry for them.

Every heard the phrase "caveat emptor", Buyer Beware? If you didn't do the homework, you don't get to b**** about it when it bends you over for a quickie.

Microsoft isn't doing anything right now that they are not allowed to do by law. Anything less would be negligence and they would be held acountable for such to their shareholders.

Customers simply need to make better choices.

Score: 0

By TomA102210

posted Mar 11, 2006 - 11:40 AM

Tool, for a change I agree with you. Nice post.

Score: 0

By uberfly

posted Mar 9, 2006 - 9:57 PM

It's a fine line between protecting your product and smothering your customers. MS should be careful - they're already at that line if not over it. Hammer away the piracy all you want, but keep that hammer well aimed. Ouch.

Score: 0

By tipsyboy

posted Mar 9, 2006 - 6:38 PM

What do these people think they're doing?!

They sell me a 150 bucks OS, which I have to "activate". After 3 times you're on the dark side, just because you like to play around with what you bought from them.

So I start being p.s..d off and use cracks, just
to do my thing with my purchased stuff - and, maybe even use a cracked OS version, in order to be at ease and in peace with this whole affair.

So whose the criminal?

Always the one with the less power . . .

This is just an example. "I" means loads of people, who are fed up with such politics. So they have to invent new "protection" all the time, which will be cracked in no time - and so on and so on. They can only stop it by selling "Trusted Computing" hardware containing black and white lists. And that will come sooner than some want to know for real.

And wait until they have the power in Asia as well - won't be long . . .

Score: 0

By wincement

posted Mar 10, 2006 - 12:43 PM

If you took just half a second to read the activation screen, you would see that there is a number to call to activate Windows over the phone.

"You mean, I could *gasp* follow the instructions staring me in the face!? No way!"

I myself have had to do this twice. Both times, I was off the phone within 5 minutes, and I had a perfectly legitimately activated copy of Windows.

Imagine that. No one stole anything from you. You just don't have the common sense to follow instructions.

Score: 0

By fewt

posted Mar 10, 2006 - 4:22 PM

I changed (temporarily reduced) the amount of memory in an XP home box the other day and now I have to re-activate it before it shuts down.

It's VERY annoying.

Score: 0

By wincement

posted Mar 10, 2006 - 5:15 PM

I'm sorry. You can still call to get it activated.

Problem?

Score: 0

By fewt

posted Mar 10, 2006 - 6:48 PM

I've already done that once.

It's just annoying is all.

Score: 0

By wincement

posted Mar 11, 2006 - 2:26 PM

Ah. Understandable.

Score: 0

By Wyojake

posted Mar 9, 2006 - 10:29 PM

they sell me an OS for 380 that is now 138. and it still is so buggy it's ridiculous. guess when you commit to abuse you're a sucker for punishment. Gates get your corporation's head out of it's ass, and fulfill some promises. I ain't paying no more.

Score: 0

By Second Shadow

posted Mar 9, 2006 - 5:40 PM

Yawn ......

javascript:void(window.g_sDisableWGACheck='all')

When will they learn ... ?

Score: 0

By Paradise-FH-

posted Mar 9, 2006 - 5:49 PM

i think you might want to try that again ... i tested that the other day and it didn't work anymore.

Score: 0

By Skizelli

posted Mar 10, 2006 - 11:31 PM

Actually, I think YOU might want to try that again. Still works for me.

Score: 0

By Reap_r

edited Mar 9, 2006 - 2:32 PM

I have started my "pirates crack dis" counter. I think it will take a day at most before one of the release groups crack it. If they don't have it already done before it is launched. There are patches out there for the genuine advantage that reduce it to a "genuine nuisance" that takes an extra step plus 15 seconds to crack it" so that it is only an inconvenience to the pirates...come to think of it, it is inconvenience to legitimate owners as well so that makes it...umm...lets see...A massive waste of money and resources that only really inconvencience users and pirates alike and serves simply to lift stockholder confidence through superficial anti-piracy initiatives.

These will only stop casual/non-technical users (and maybe make the cost of doing business slightly higher for the large scale counterfeiters) from copying and sharing, most of whom don't even know that the existing license that they purchased can be installed on more than one computer anyway (for example, if I bought Office 2003, I can put in on my desktop and my laptop and still be in compliance with my license).

Do I sound cynical (foolish yes, but I knew that, I just don't want to be cynical)?
Man, I keep posting at this rate I may be in danger of being a regular...

Score: 0

By rijp

posted Mar 9, 2006 - 2:37 PM

You can't crack something, you can't get at. If you do a windows update, it will connect to a MS web server. So you don't know the code, therefore, you can't see what is looking for, and so you can't prevent it..

At least they are on the right track.. more than I can say for other companies.. Some countries, like China, condone piracy as a way of life.. that's where the problem will come in.

Score: 0

By Reap_r

edited Mar 9, 2006 - 3:16 PM

Ummm...that would be incorrect. The windows genuine advantage relies upon some code that is resident on the machine at some time (as does all other ms validation methods). There will always be a loophole that ties in locally. That is how they cracked it. Even the new system will have some way for large corporate clients with blanket licences to obtain updates. That is the backdoor of last resort but even if they become much more diligent in tracking machine hashes there will be ways of getting around it. We may even find that they resort to hijacking the machine ID's of legitimate users.

And good point about China (heck, most of Asia really). Their government does not really care. That is why Microsoft, Intel, Adobe ect are not based in China.

Score: 0

By rijp

edited Mar 9, 2006 - 3:19 PM

NO, that would be incorrect, everytime you connect to the Microsoft website, it loads an Activex component, but its only allowing connection to the website.. The genuine advantage is downloaded from the site, and its reading the windows registry for the validity of the windows key.. So it doesn't rely on anything on your machine, that's why its downloading..

They didn't crack it, they changed a registry key so that the prompt doesn't come up to install the genuine installer, but it hasn't been working for quite some time... If you havent' noticed, the automatic updates will download the program and run it.

But it runs against a query on the windows web server, to not only check its own CRC, its checking the windows version and key as well.

The new system, isn't a loophole, its called an enterprise license. Its by design. companies will protect their licenses, because they dont' want to be held liable for extra licenses, should Microsoft Conduct an audit. They would be fined, therefore it would be in their best interest to NOT give people the valid key to install their own software.

You can hijaak the machine all you want, if you aren't installing a valid version of Windows, that key may be accepted to install, but it will be rejected as soon as the Genuine programs checks for validity, that's the point.

Score: 0

By Paradise-FH-

posted Mar 9, 2006 - 5:39 PM

the new system this article speaks of has already been bypassed. i've tested it myself.

Score: 0

By Reap_r

posted Mar 9, 2006 - 3:33 PM

I still don't agree, but you are thinking and that is good.

As of March 4th, the overal WGA still uses the 'legitcheckcontrol.dll' file and renaming this one and replacing with a hacked one will work for everything but Microsoft Anti-spyware. You may still have issues with the overall Windows update but there are several other ways around that. I don't want to turn this into a crack board so I won't detail them.

You are partly right on the history here but you left out the still working hack.

As for the enterprise license, you are correct (not a loophole really - but depends on your perspective). I used to have one due to a job I held (legit) and I did guard it but i hired a teenage network admin and he posted it on a cracker site. No fines or problems really, just embarassment and having to get a new one from MS.

There is always a way around anything (with the PC architecture) it as long as Microsoft cannot control what code you run on your machine (read Trusted Computing) or as long as they have the software install locally instead of run through some terminal services type client. It may be like whack-a-mole with hacks, fixes, re-hacks, more patches, but at any one time there is most likely a way around any barrier if you look hard enough. There are a massive number of very highly motivated young programmers out there ready to find a new solution to the fences that are thrown around them. Sometimes only for the thrill of the act itself.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

edited Mar 10, 2006 - 3:32 PM

There will even be ways around Trusted Computing.

An emulation layer loading before the OS would take care of TC in a jiffy from what I've read. All they need to do is emulate the TC chip, so all the other hardware *should* be able to be accessed normally.

Should, being the keyword here. ;)

Score: 0

By drumcat

posted Mar 9, 2006 - 2:21 PM

Next up, the Vista Dongle.

Score: 0

By forgie

posted Mar 9, 2006 - 6:55 PM

*gun shot*

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Mar 9, 2006 - 1:56 PM

...because if we don't treat everyone like a criminal, everyone will be.

Too bad it's the exact opposite of the truth, but hey, it's Microsoft, gotta give 'em a break once in a while...

Score: 0

By wincement

posted Mar 9, 2006 - 2:06 PM

I'm not sure adding another verification level is the same as treating everyone like a criminal. It's close, but I don't think it's the same thing.

I don't have a problem going through one more check to get a free download from MS. The last one (WGA) took me 2 clicks and 10 seconds. Not a huge inconvenience if you ask me, but I'm more patient than some.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Mar 10, 2006 - 8:57 AM

Last time I did it, it did it for me. So no issues with ease of use. My main gripe is activation, WGA and now whatever else they intend to throw on top of it is just compounding the insult.

Score: 0

By rijp

posted Mar 9, 2006 - 2:01 PM

I treat everyone like a criminal.. they have to pove to me, they are worth a damn.

Otherwise people walk all over me.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Mar 10, 2006 - 8:57 AM

Must have something to do with your personality. ;)

Score: 0

By wincement

edited Mar 10, 2006 - 12:47 PM

LOL

Score: 0

By JacenSolo

posted Mar 9, 2006 - 1:36 PM

And I care... why?

Score: 0

By rijp

posted Mar 9, 2006 - 2:03 PM

you should care, its just a notification they are doing what they can to reduce piracy, if you don't care, I guess you don't care why you are paying $500.00 for an office license, and $200.00 for Windows OS, and $50.00 a pop for computer games..

If they can get piracy under control, software prices will become drasticaly cheaper.. that's why you should care.

If you don't care, why did you even bother to comment?

Score: 0

By Crypton

edited Mar 13, 2006 - 12:06 AM

Prices will never become cheaper unless you buy it used.

It is a simple excuse for companies to bump prices by claiming piracy is hurting profits.

Yes, piracy can hurt some companies, so no im not saying piracy does not hit anyone, but fact is, large companies such as MS simply use it as an excuse to raise prices and give people hope that by buying their software and not using an illegal version that prices will drop when it is under control.

Prices for games have always been pretty high priced when they first come out, same with OS's ect..

If you have not seen the pattern yet, look back at history and the prices.

Each time Minimum Wage goes up, so does the global cost of living, as well as the cost of entertainment such as games. Even before Minimum Wage goes up, cost of living will increase for whatever reason and continue until there is need to raise Minimum Wage again. In majority of cases, prices go up simply because the company knows your going to buy it regardless if you really want it, not because they think piracy is a problem.

If piracy was hurting a company such as MS that bad, they would focus more on other areas of their business to make money and cut their loses. But, as said, they are not really hurting, only making you believe they are ;)

Large companies/corporations will use any dirty means they can to bump prices, simply to milk you for what your worth.

Score: 0

By theotheotheo

edited Mar 10, 2006 - 5:10 AM

You're kidding. Right? I paid up to $60 for a game on a Commadore64 back in the 80's. Still the same prices even though they are selling many, many, many! times the software.

The prices have never gotten any cheaper even though the sales volume has skyrocketed.

They will charge whatever the consumer is willing to pay.

I like to fiddle with my PC and I hate to jump through hoops.

God forbid there's a real disaster and I can't even activate my OS. During the Katrina hurricane they mentiond on the news that if the BellSouth center flooded then phones would be out across the southeast. What happens if nobody decides to go to work at Microsoft because Bird Flu is blazing or Yellowstone erupts or an asteroid or tsunami or whatever.

Well...at least my linux machine will boot in my bunker.

Score: 0

By salmonmoose

posted Mar 11, 2006 - 11:50 PM

Of course you realise, software is many many times more complicated now than it ever was on your commodore 64, you'd be hard pressed to find a file that would even fit on a c64's disk let alone, into the system's ram (Utorrent I think would fit, but not run).

Score: 0

By Crypton

posted Mar 12, 2006 - 7:55 PM

they also have IDE's and such to make developing quicker. Where some older software back in the day took about 8x the ammount of time to code a simple operation, it can now be done now days in a single line of code.

Companies can pop out software at a much faster rate now days than they could before, in which it was also said that by reducing the time needed to code, it would decrease the cost of development due to not having to pay developers for as much time since they can do in a day what took a month to do back then.

So in reality, that should also decrease the cost of the software being developed...

It does't however, for other reasons. Read my other post above.

Score: 0

By JacenSolo

posted Mar 10, 2006 - 6:55 AM

Or your MacOSX machine.

Notice that it's always the criminals that are trying to out do other criminals?

Score: 0

By JacenSolo

posted Mar 9, 2006 - 8:25 PM

I don't use office (and it's about 2000 for Microsoft Office). I only use Windows XP for games, and couldn't really care about their security and piracy. The games I buy don't have much security, if any. Doom3 has a CD key, but thats about it.

Score: 0

By Reap_r

edited Mar 9, 2006 - 3:02 PM

Microsoft knows that piracy does not have much of an effect on its sales. The exception is in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and if that were their only concern they could just do this for the foreign language versions.

The relationships with the OEMs that slap a microsoft license on just about every machine they sell keeps the cash register ringing quite nicely. Their upgrade treadmill keeps the other apps bringing in revenue and their activation scheme discourages the casual copying. I really don't see much value in this to them other than to convince investors of a small spike in sales to to more incentive to own legitimate product (there are 3 layers already).

If anyone is really convinced that stamping out piracy will result in any company dramatically lowering their prices through some misplaced altruism then that person is living in a fantasy land. The prices are based upon their cost of doing business and what the market will bear. Neither of these things will change much if piracy was stamped out tomorrow. They really don't spend much on anti-piracy, they get their pet politicians to do it, they pay the BSA some small amounts (a lot of the BSA's money comes from "fines"), and they handle the overhead for their current efforts. A drop in the bucket compared to their other costs really (If it was more than 1 or 2 percent of their costs I would be shocked).

In fact you could make a case that they will raise prices if piracy was eradicated. Now that all would locked into their legitimate software (not counting any competitors) and now they can charge what they want...you would have to pay it and could not get pirated copies.

Score: 0

By onemorechance

posted Mar 9, 2006 - 2:13 PM

Do you *really* think that getting piracy under control will prompt software companies to lower their prices? I highly doubt it ...

Score: 0

By rijp

posted Mar 9, 2006 - 2:34 PM

Then you aren't that bright.

companies spend BILLIONS on theft. If they can lower that by half, it will reduce the price of software even a few bucks. Its simple economics, evidently you fell asleep in finance class.. you should quit bringing your iPod to class.

Score: 0

By Crypton

edited Mar 12, 2006 - 7:59 PM

I think maybe you should understand that companies can write off that cost "towards theft" on their taxes. They get it back :P

Business Tactics 101, they do it simply as an excuse to raise prices. They get their funds back, and you still get the shaft by having to pay more.

Think you should just quit school, your already behind.

Score: 0

By JacenSolo

posted Mar 9, 2006 - 8:23 PM

Getting piracy under control will RAISE prices.

Think about it... Why would I pay 99 AUD for Doom3 if I saw it on a P2P site? Yet if you couldn't get it at a P2P site, the software company would have no reason to keep it's price down.

Score: 0

By Paradise-FH-

posted Mar 9, 2006 - 5:46 PM

that's just horribly wrong. why would a company EVER reduce a price that people are willing to pay? you charge your consumers as much as your consumers are willing to pay. the supposed savings from stemming piracy are not going to go into your wallet ... they're going to go into microsoft's.

Score: 0

By Arakiel

posted Mar 9, 2006 - 4:59 PM

You don't really believe that do you? Oh, good...just checking

Score: 0

By shy_one

posted Mar 9, 2006 - 3:13 PM

I disagree

Simple buisness 101 charge the most you think people are willing to pay i'm just surprised they don't do the same as the movie companies and restrict the use of software based on where you live to prevent you from ordering software from cheaper places.

Score: 0

By Mandeep

posted Mar 9, 2006 - 1:17 PM

good article, tells us nothing except theres a new program against piracy

Score: 0

By wincement

posted Mar 9, 2006 - 1:59 PM

Good comment. Tells us nothing except what you think.

Seriously, read your comment and then think about it. You basically said: "Good article. It tells us nothing except exactly what it says."

Thank you and good night.

Score: 0

By rijp

posted Mar 9, 2006 - 2:03 PM

He need to see it on the screen.. playing with an etch a sketch all day, must have blurred his vision.

Score: 0

By Mandeep

posted Mar 9, 2006 - 2:30 PM

dont be mad that you guys are old and havent been laid by a good lookin girl ever

Score: 0

By Reap_r

posted Mar 9, 2006 - 3:20 PM

Decent try for a slam but it leaves you open...

At least we are old enough to: like girls, know what to do with one, and be able to do it.

Thanks for lifting the conversation up a notch though.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Mar 10, 2006 - 9:01 AM

Touche!

Score: 0

By rijp

posted Mar 9, 2006 - 2:35 PM

wow snappy come back, where did you find that, AOL chat room? I bet the deep refers to your brokeback mountain impression, doesn't it man-dingbat.

Score: 0

By fewt

edited Mar 9, 2006 - 8:30 PM

I bet that even the AOL'ers have better come backs than that.

heh

Score: 0

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