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KB971033 - Are you running a legit copy of Windows 7? Be careful on your next windows update

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Niebr's picture
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Critic wrote:

Windows 7 users should block KB971033, now arriving via Windows Update (see what to look for, below)

As promised, Microsoft has started offering Windows 7 users an update to the company's anti-piracy software via Windows Update. The update to Windows Activation Technologies (WAT), the anti-counterfeit program formerly known as Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA), has been slammed by critics, including the Internet advocate who blasted Microsoft in 2006 over the daily "phone home" habits of WGA running on Windows XP. Earlier this month, Lauren Weinstein, the co-founder of People For Internet Responsibility (PFIR), urged Windows 7 users to block the optional update, calling the revamped WAT unacceptable because it will examine consumers' Windows 7 PCs every 90 days to make sure they're running legitimate copies of the operating system. When Microsoft announced the WAT update on Feb. 11, it said the revision was necessary to detect more than 70 "activation exploits," Microsoft's term for what others call "cracks" that sidestep the product activation process or use stolen keys to illegally activate counterfeit copies of Windows 7. At the time, Microsoft also revealed that the updated WAT would periodically "phone home" to Microsoft's servers to re-validate the copy of Windows 7 as legitimate, as well as use those opportunities to update activation signatures to detect newer cracks. Initially, said Joe Williams, the general manager of Microsoft's activation group, WAT is set to connect to Microsoft's severs every 90 days.

The repeated validation is new to Windows with the now-available update, Williams confirmed in an interview the next day. Neither Windows XP or Vista had reevaluated already-activated Windows PCs on a regular schedule. Windows 7 users who have Windows Update set to automatically download and install all updates will receive the WAT update -- tagged as KB971033 -- without taking any action.

To block the update, which is marked "Important," users must set Automatic Updates so that they are only notified of pending updates, or set so that they must explicitly approve to install those updates that have already been downloaded to the PC. As with any Windows update, KB971033 is tersely marked, showing just the cryptic "Update for Windows 7 (KB971033)" in Windows Update. Only when customers select the update does a more detailed description appear at the right. Even then, the short description doesn't note the repetitive validation feature that Weinstein called "entirely unacceptable" earlier this month. Users whose PCs have already downloaded and installed the WAT update can uninstall it from the Control Panel. The uninstall option is also new for Microsoft's anti-piracy software; in the past, once installed, WGA updates could not be removed.

You can also right click the update in the list, and click "Hide" to never have to see it again, or accidentally select it when updating.

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Jayson Krause's picture
Jayson Krause
Joined the Dark SidePremium Member (Silver)I use an iPhoneI use FirefoxI'm Here To Help, & Have Proven It!Windows UserSomeone thinks you're a Rotten Tomato!
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Re: Are you running a legit copy of windows? be careful of ...

NOTE: Blocking the KB971033 update will not protect you if you have a cracked version of windows ( even though it may delay them from locking up your system )

IF you have a cracked version do not use it on your system as your main OS period its only matter of time before you get caught , trust me been there before with a legit copy of Windows XP , but I installed it on 6 computers (which at the time I didn't know I wasn't supossed to do ) and I will never do that again !

If you want to test a OS run it in VirtualBox is what I suggust !

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Re: Are you running a legit copy of windows? be careful of ...

If your running a legit windows OS then you are fine - only pirated OS's need to worry. For me its not a issue Big Grin

Jayson Krause's picture
Jayson Krause
Joined the Dark SidePremium Member (Silver)I use an iPhoneI use FirefoxI'm Here To Help, & Have Proven It!Windows UserSomeone thinks you're a Rotten Tomato!
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Re: Are you running a legit copy of windows? be careful of ...

Yeah I mean if your going to pirate don't pirate your OS ! Jeeze Why be that stupid Laughing

Niebr's picture
From:
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Niebr
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Re: Are you running a legit copy of windows? be careful of ...

wat they do 2 u jayson ?

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gφ┼hiç géΣk ¢Ωmpù┬é┌ ┌èPäï┌
~ÑìëßΓ~

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