A
Alias
Gary said:
My point of view is that it is spyware that reports what you have on
your machine, surfing habits, etc. to MS and is unconscionable and a
*security update* should appear that gets rid of the spyware.
Alias
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
My point of view is that it is spyware that reports what you have on
your machine, surfing habits, etc. to MS and is unconscionable and a
*security update* should appear that gets rid of the spyware.
Alias
G
Gary
WPA has Nothing to do with surfing habits. If your that paranoid then you
need to shut off your computer and find another hobby. WPA is designed to
check for a valid XP license. Why on earth would you think Microsoft even
cares what sites you browse? That just makes no sense at all!
need to shut off your computer and find another hobby. WPA is designed to
check for a valid XP license. Why on earth would you think Microsoft even
cares what sites you browse? That just makes no sense at all!
G
Greg Rozelle
My point of view is that it is spyware that reports what you have on
your machine, surfing habits, etc. to MS and is unconscionable and a
*security update* should appear that gets rid of the spyware.
Then spybot S&D, Lavasoft Adaware should detect it and remove it, if
it does the above.
Greg Rozelle
A
Alias
Gary said:WPA has Nothing to do with surfing habits. If your that paranoid then you
need to shut off your computer and find another hobby. WPA is designed to
check for a valid XP license. Why on earth would you think Microsoft even
cares what sites you browse? That just makes no sense at all!
According to MS, the tool checks the following:
Information collected during validation
Q: What information is collected from my computer?
A: The genuine validation process will collect information about your
system to determine if your Microsoft software is genuine. This process
does not collect or send any information that can be used to identify
you or contact you. The only information collected in the validation
process is:
* Windows product key
* PC manufacturer
* Operating System version
* PID/SID
* BIOS information (make, version, date)
* BIOS MD5 Checksum
* User locale (language setting for displaying Windows)
* System locale (language version of the operating system)
* Office product key (if validating Office)
* Hard drive serial number
Q: How does Microsoft use this information?
A: The information serves three purposes:
* It provides Web page flow, tailoring the pages you see based on
your responses.
* It conveys demographics, which help Microsoft to understand
regional differences in Windows or Office usage.
* It confirms user input. User input is often compared
Still feel it's paranoia?
Alias
L
Leythos
..and I ask again, HOW is the the WGA a "SECURITY UPDATE". It's NOT, it
should never have been described as one.
It's actually quote simple, as the "Critical" updates are what MS
determines warrant "Critical" status - so if they want to call WGA a
security/critical update, they can, if they want to call it a Pink Pig,
they can....
L
Leythos
aka@ said:My point of view is that it is spyware that reports what you have on
your machine, surfing habits, etc. to MS
And according to the documentation, it only reports on MS products
loaded on your machine - which makes it the same as any other vendors
authentication product (like with Photoshop CS).
The classification as spyware is JUST YOUR OPINION, and while it may be
shared with the other foil-hat wearing group, it doesn't make it any
more spyware than a watermelon on a vine in my back yard.
A
Alias
Greg said:Then spybot S&D, Lavasoft Adaware should detect it and remove it, if
it does the above.
Greg Rozelle
Only if they added it to their definitions.
Alias
G
Gary
Information collected during validation
Q: What information is collected from my computer?
A: The genuine validation process will collect information about your
system to determine if your Microsoft software is genuine. This process
does not collect or send any information that can be used to identify you
or contact you. The only information collected in the validation process
is:
* Windows product key
* PC manufacturer
* Operating System version
* PID/SID
* BIOS information (make, version, date)
* BIOS MD5 Checksum
* User locale (language setting for displaying Windows)
* System locale (language version of the operating system)
* Office product key (if validating Office)
* Hard drive serial number
Q: How does Microsoft use this information?
A: The information serves three purposes:
* It provides Web page flow, tailoring the pages you see based on your
responses.
* It conveys demographics, which help Microsoft to understand regional
differences in Windows or Office usage.
* It confirms user input. User input is often compared
Still feel it's paranoia?
Yes unless you can explaine what any of the above I should be paranoid
about?
A
Alias
Gary said:Yes unless you can explaine what any of the above I should be paranoid
about?
These two:
* It provides Web page flow, tailoring the pages you see based on your
responses.
* It confirms user input. User input is often compared.
WTF does that mean?
Alias
A
Alias
Leythos said:And according to the documentation, it only reports on MS products
loaded on your machine - which makes it the same as any other vendors
authentication product (like with Photoshop CS).
The classification as spyware is JUST YOUR OPINION, and while it may be
shared with the other foil-hat wearing group, it doesn't make it any
more spyware than a watermelon on a vine in my back yard.
These two bother me. Can you please elaborate on these general terms
that are used?:
* It provides Web page flow, tailoring the pages you see based on your
responses.
"Web page flow"?
* It confirms user input. User input is often compared.
"user input" to what and compared to what?
Alias
G
Gary
O MY GOD its going to show me english web pages for XP.
WOW now I'm really paranoide.
O please give me a break!
WOW now I'm really paranoide.
O please give me a break!
N
Nevermind
Some people are having problems with WGA because it does not recognizeGHalleck said:Actually, Leythos, please do that. It makes you a bona fide
pirate/privateer and I would very much like to see you swing
from the nearest, highest yardarm. It is people like these
that need to be eliminated and one less predator is a step
in the right direction. One less Windows XP "loser" is not
and guess who is going to turn in that predator...when that
loser becomes enfranchised.
an OEM version of XP which was obtained legitimately with a purchased
computer. I tried one of the first versions of WGA, which failed to
recognize the product number from the sticker on my computer case. I
responded to that by removing WGA. I have not had it back since then,
because I do not allow automatic updates.
N
Nevermind
I have never seen Genuine Advantage listed in the Critical section onLeythos said:It's actually quote simple, as the "Critical" updates are what MS
determines warrant "Critical" status - so if they want to call WGA a
security/critical update, they can, if they want to call it a Pink Pig,
they can....
the page where you can link to the update patches manually.
N
Nevermind
What does BIOS checksum or hard drive serial number have to do withGary said:Yes unless you can explaine what any of the above I should be paranoid
about?
determining whether your Windows XP is genuine or pirated? What do
those numbers have to do with demographics?
R
Rhonda Lea Kirk
Gary said:O MY GOD its going to show me english web pages for XP.
WOW now I'm really paranoide.
O please give me a break!
Failure to answer question noted.
And, btw, must you top-post?
rl
--
Rhonda Lea Kirk
Insisting on perfect safety is for people
without the balls to live in the real world.
Mary Shafer Iliff
G
Ghostrider
GHalleck said:Actually, Leythos, please do that. It makes you a bona fide
pirate/privateer and I would very much like to see you swing
from the nearest, highest yardarm. It is people like these
that need to be eliminated and one less predator is a step
in the right direction. One less Windows XP "loser" is not
and guess who is going to turn in that predator...when that
loser becomes enfranchised.
What's your point? That there is an underground sales system for
counterfeit or pirated software? Yes, there is. Are you proposing
that the elimination of such a system will reduce or eliminate the
need for a validation system? IOW, are you writing that should the
source(s) that had 1,000 counterfeit copies were eliminated along
with the copies then there would be 1,000 less hits for invalid
versions of XP and 1,000 less whining complainers (per Leythos)?
If this ever become reality, then hallelujah! It would certainly
succeed in an autocratic with tight controls over enterprise and
capitalism.
L
Leythos
aka@ said:These two:
* It provides Web page flow, tailoring the pages you see based on your
responses.
It would seem that by knowing about the items they can talyor THEIR
websites better than just making assumptions about demographics - they
do not indicate that they check where you browse, etc....
* It confirms user input. User input is often compared.
It means that users have been providing feedback over the years and that
information related to the items listed will confirm their input. It
does not say that it checks user input during transactions or on
websites, it appears to just use the information as a means to confirm
the information they already have.
G
Gary
What does BIOS checksum or hard drive serial number have to do with
Ok you have a copy of XP with a Key that is the first part.
Now you need to get a unique id for the computer so you use a combination of
processor id, disk serial number, bios checksum, etc. Now you have a unique
id number for the computer. You then can check the copy of XP with the
computer
its installed on and that will tell you if someone is installing the same XP
on several computers.
determining whether your Windows XP is genuine or pirated? What do those
numbers have to do with demographics?
Ok you have a copy of XP with a Key that is the first part.
Now you need to get a unique id for the computer so you use a combination of
processor id, disk serial number, bios checksum, etc. Now you have a unique
id number for the computer. You then can check the copy of XP with the
computer
its installed on and that will tell you if someone is installing the same XP
on several computers.
L
Leythos
What does BIOS checksum or hard drive serial number have to do with
determining whether your Windows XP is genuine or pirated? What do
those numbers have to do with demographics?
By looking at those numbers, with other information, they can make
assumptions about how many times a key has been installed on DIFFERENT
machines and then use that information to invalidate the key.
L
Leythos
aka@ said:These two bother me. Can you please elaborate on these general terms
that are used?:
"Web page flow"?
"user input" to what and compared to what?
Posted the requested information a couple posts earlier - let me know if
you don't find it.
Ask a Question
Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?
You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.