New WGA Notifications Released

Yesterday we released the latest WGA Notifications Tool for Windows XP. This update includes a number of new features and I thought everyone might like to know about it.

In addition to updated anti-piracy capabilities, this update incorporates and improved user installation and validation experience. First there is a new installation wizard (below) that provides more context and information on how the program works. Second the installation wizard offers the configuration of an autoupdate feature so as we release new versions of WGA Notifications that can detect the most current forms of counterfeiting that information can be updated automatically. The wizard also includes immediate results, and improved information for people who's systems don't pass genuine validation.

 This update will initially be available for download on www.microsoft.com/genuine, www.microsoft.com/downloads, and through Automatic Updates but will be distributed initially only to systems running four known compromised product keys. The opt-in update will be rolled out worldwide through Automatic Updates over the next several weeks and months. We plan to update the Windows XP WGA Notifications tool every 90-120 days as part of our commitment to continually evaluating and adapting to changes in software piracy.

 Also, in the case that there is difficulty determining the state of the system a new result category is now possible that (in addition to genuine and non-genuine) lets users know if the validation result was indeterminate and provides them with resources to troubleshoot the problem and learn more about the results. Previously the validation process gave the benefit of the doubt in many cases. Which is good in the sense that if we weren't sure the software wasn't genuine or properly licensed we didn't provide any message, unfortunately this meant that some users who did have counterfeit software, including the possibility that it could have been compromised as we saw in the Risks of Counterfeit Software study by IDC (PDF). We're glad that with this new result category we can provide more actionable information to our users that can help them protect themselves.

You can download and install this newest version of WGA Notifications here:

https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=b308d840-b1ee-4d55-ad5e-68b21aed1b6f&displaylang=en

Comments

• Anonymous
  November 29, 2006
  Just out of curiosity. Is there any reason why people would want to install this tool?

• Anonymous
  December 15, 2006
  i dunno the microsoft update site already installs a active x control anyway so i dont think anyone would need to.

• Anonymous
  December 15, 2006
  The thing that really gets me about WGA is how the way it's sold to end users has nothing to do with any advantage they gain. i.e. one of my client's systems failed a WGA check - leading to a discussion that got a bit heated - because they had been messing with their system clock.  How is that helpful? With WGA 2.0 in Visa, I've got to invest in new deployment and activation methods (and unless RIS now does multicasting like Ghost, I'm gonna have to spend a lot more on labor, too) and devote some of my client's server capacity to verifying your revenue stream remains intact. Having to purchase SA for new machines so we can image is really unattractive. And it's awfully hard to sell a company on 2 or 3 years of upgrade protection when it's been over 5 years since the last release. I see how all this benefits Microsoft, of course. What I don't see is how me or my customers benefit by making it more expensive, increasing the hassle factor, and creating a whole new class of potential problems that bring with them the baggage of clients thinking I've cheated them and MS Support sure I'm trying to get one over on them. The worst part about all this, of course, is not WGA itself. Even if it were telepathic and infallible, the fact that MS imposes it on all their end users gives a green light to every third-party developer to do the same thing. And rather than develop a realitvly low-key system like WGA 1.0, they go for really aggressive stuff like Key Server, FlexLM, or SafeCast. So now because you've opened the door, I've got to deal with dozens of activation systems, all different, and many incompatible, making large-scale deployments a whole bunch of fun.

• Anonymous
  December 18, 2006
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  December 19, 2006
  The comment has been removed