Windows Genuine DIS-Advantage
<img src=http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:VyYkIPaD3u4J:http://www.sysdat.es/hard/02-Febrer/Pirateria.jpg style='margin:5px;' align='left'>Days after Microsoft launched a new anti-piracy program, hackers have found a way to get around it. The software company's new program, called Windows Genuine Advantage, requires computer users to go through a process validating that they're running a legitimate copy of the Windows operating system before downloading any software updates except for security patches.
But the check can be bypassed by entering a simple JavaScript command in the Web browser's address bar and hitting the "Enter" key. When that's done, the validation does not run and the user is taken directly to the download.
Microsoft said it was investigating and that the glitch was not a security vulnerability.
The hack appears only to work when a computer user is trying to download software through the Windows Update service. Some software, such as Microsoft's AntiSpyware beta, isn't available there but can be found elsewhere on microsoft.com.
Such downloads also require validation, but the hack does not appear to work. On Friday, attempts to download the antispyware program resulted in a server error, with a message that read, "It appears that our activation servers are not functioning properly."
All Windows users, even those with pirated copies, can still download security patches. For any other software updates, Microsoft now requires computer users to validate that their computers aren't running counterfeit copies of Windows.
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Days after Microsoft launched a new anti-piracy program, hackers have found a way to get around it. The software company's new program, called Windows Genuine Advantage, requires computer users to go through a process validating that they're running a legitimate copy of the Windows operating system before downloading any software updates except for security patches.
But the check can be bypassed by entering a simple JavaScript command in the Web browser's address bar and hitting the "Enter" key. When that's done, the validation does not run and the user is taken directly to the download.
Microsoft said it was investigating and that the glitch was not a security vulnerability. The hack appears only to work when a computer user is trying to download software through the Windows Update service. Some software, such as Microsoft's AntiSpyware beta, isn't available there but can be found elsewhere on microsoft.com.
Such downloads also require validation, but the hack does not appear to work. On Friday, attempts to download the antispyware program resulted in a server error, with a message that read, "It appears that our activation servers are not functioning properly."
All Windows users, even those with pirated copies, can still download security patches. For any other software updates, Microsoft now requires computer users to validate that their computers aren't running counterfeit copies of Windows. Microsoft said it was investigating and that the glitch was not a security vulnerability.
The hack appears only to work when a computer user is trying to download software through the Windows Update service. Some software, such as Microsoft's AntiSpyware beta, isn't available there but can be found elsewhere on microsoft.com.
Such downloads also require validation, but the hack does not appear to work. On Friday, attempts to download the antispyware program resulted in a server error, with a message that read, "It appears that our activation servers are not functioning properly."
All Windows users, even those with pirated copies, can still download security patches. For any other software updates, Microsoft now requires computer users to validate that their computers aren't running counterfeit copies of Windows.
That's why windows always has had problems. Microsoft doesn't think.
ghost
ghost 18 years ago
thats right, Microsoft doesent thing, heck Bill got the name from his ex wife
On thier Honeymoon, she saw IT and say its micro and soft, he got embarsed and tried to embarse his wife by naming the company as such, but he got the ass of it.
(NOTE: not based on fact, it was a joke from a teacher of mine, but very well could be true, lol)
ghost 18 years ago
actually MS was already successful when Bill and Melina met. They met at the MS company picnic one year (she worked at MS). When they got married she quit working at MS. That's the real truth. So quit your pointless hate MS! Grow up!
ghost 18 years ago
I dont have to worry about getting updates, I got p@st at microsoft technical support, saying my copy of windows wasnt working, and I got a free valid copy B)
ghost 18 years ago
Grind, if you hate Microsoft SO much, then just delete it from your computer and install Linux.
To anyone bashing on MS: Unless you're running on Linux FULL-TIME then I suggest you cut the crap.
ghost 18 years ago
If you're going to install Linux, step out of the minidistro league and go with full distros. Like SLAX –> Slackware
ghost 18 years ago
Xero, i hate windows, i always will, even tho i am forced to use, it right now. As i live with parents and i asked if i could goto linux, mom was fine but dad dident want to as he is already com illeterate and it would cause mor headache for me and my mom to try and train him on linux that im sticking with windows tell i get my own computer, at that point i will deffenatly use a linux distro, but im not sure which one as they all are cool, but each are built for diff porpouses so i would need to find the one that would work for me and not the popular ones. I do have a little experience with linux, using CD-boot linuxes like Knoppix and PHLAK, but i havent been able to go all out for the reasons above. also windows is monopolizing, which makes it hard for linux as most progs require Windows in some version. yes there are some that can run on linux, but mostpeople dont know bout linux when making progs/utilities. Everyone shouldm watch a movie called Revolution OS it deals with linux, windows, and the open source movement.
ghost 18 years ago
"Or just be the best and duel boot with a form of linux like SLAX" That isnt dual booting… thats just booting from a CD…. Dual booting I believe is booting from a Hard Drive that has 2 different operating systems on diffferent partitions, or booting from one out of 2 hard drives. But not CDROM devices.
ghost 18 years ago
Crazzy, why do you hate Windows so much? Let's pretend Windows didn't exist. Linux is still little known. You wouldn't even be here right now.
The reason most programs are made for Windows is because (a) Windows has the larger amount of users (larger audience) and (b) Windows makes money.
I'm all for open-source and disliking Microsoft. But if you're going to bash on Microsoft, get your stuff straight. You just look like idiots when you just say "Micro$oft suck0rzz" while on a Windows box.
ghost 18 years ago
Microsoft Conspiracy Some people believe that Microsoft, the software company that dominates our computers today, is spying on us all. All of us, that is, that have Microsoft products installed on our computers and surely that would be at least 99% of us I would think. So, Microsoft has loads of hidden files, it records all the websites you went on, even if you did delete them and all emails you ever sent! Here's a web site that tells you where to look for the hidden files in DOS. The webmaster of this site is fighting a campaign against all things Microsoft. www.Fuckmicrosoft.com
ghost 18 years ago
Xero, i have no choice, as most things need windows to run, most of my programs i have for classes uses windows, im going to be getting a laptop before too long and that will be linux, not sure of the distro but it will be. And Micro$oft is monopolising(SP? ah whatever) the industrie, if it dident exist(as you said) then im sure that linux would be bigger, but Bill used tatics and took over the area, linux is coming around, but if Micro$oft dident exist linux would been coming a lot faster. so i do have facts straight, i may not have everything but i do know whats going on. and like WaTcHeR said, mirco$oft is watching us with these hidden files. i admit windows is a OS that has overcome odds, but it sucks.
ghost 18 years ago
I can assure you after studying windows internals for a good few years that "Micro$oft" as you call them are NOT spying on you. Yes there are a lot of hidden files and registry settings that the average user doesn't (and doesn't need to) know about. They are not harmful in any way. Also, although there is a fair bit of crap in windows, there is in Linux too, and if you look at the actual structure of the OS itself, it is actually pretty damn efficient. Different design decisions were made with windows as they are with any OS and a big consideration was to make it more user-friendly which is why it's still the number one most popular OS and also why it's more bloated than Linux (and that's only if you know how to correctly configure Linux, install only the packages you want and recompile the kernel to drop excess drivers and other bloat).