May28th MS WGA Critical Update -- Spyware

[Whizzer]

First off I do have a legal copy of XP-Pro. It continues to pass every WGA test MS can throw at it. But this time I believe they went too far. After installing this latest WGA "Critical Fix"?? it appears that from now on when ever I boot my PC WGA is trying to contact MS. If you are using the MS firewall you might never notice it. With Zonealarm set to check outbound messages it was caught. Thought it might be a one time issue, but no it happens at every boot.

I somewhat agree with the WGA check once, but this new incarnation smacks of Spyware. I don't want to think that Microsoft is contually spying on my usage. Exactly what does this outbound message contain. For now I have set Zonealarm to Deny is message. Anyone else seen this.

 

[Ichinisan]

Originally posted by: Whizzer
First off I do have a legal copy of XP-Pro. It continues to pass every WGA test MS can throw at it. But this time I believe they went too far. After installing this latest WGA "Critical Fix"?? it appears that from now on when ever I boot my PC WGA is trying to contact MS. If you are using the MS firewall you might never notice it. With Zonealarm set to check outbound messages it was caught. Thought it might be a one time issue, but no it happens at every boot.

I somewhat agree with the WGA check once, but this new incarnation smacks of Spyware. I don't want to think that Microsoft is contually spying on my usage. Exactly what does this outbound message contain[?] For now I have set Zonealarm to Deny is message. Anyone else seen this[?]

You know, it might only phone home once and never again. You probably did not decline to participate in the "Customer Experience Improvement Program". It's probably just phoning home to tally simple statistics like "did the check pass or fail?" and/or "did WGA crash or did it go smoothly?".

 

[Whizzer]

It installed very smoothly. It passed the WGA Test but continues to attempt to send something everytime the machined is booted. Will have to check on the Customer Program.

 

[Stumps]

funny, mine does the same thing, my NIS2003 picks up the WGA trying to send data when I boot my machine or login, I'm using a legit copy of XP PRO and it has passed the WGA verification on many occasions, this is curious because last time I contacted microsoft to activate my copy of XP HOME(it also is legit and WGA verified) the operator was able to tell me what the system had been upgraded from, motherboard and CPU wise, she also asked me how much faster was my new setup comaperd to the old one they had on file, I thought microsoft never collected this sort of data?

 

[necine]

That's it... I've had enough of windows. I believe it's time for me to go Open Source.

 

[magomago]

Whoa Stumps...really? Wow that is kind of scary! I know people may say "its just a mobo and CPU...shove it!" but I don't see why they should have it. If they ask you to VOLUNTARILY submit that information that is one thing...

 

[magomago]

Originally posted by: necine
That's it... I've had enough of windows. I believe it's time for me to go Open Source.

Thats the hard part...actually I don't think it is that bad, but most people can't get over the fact that they feel noobish in other operating systems. They call other stuff "hard" as if Windows is magically easier. It is like swimming your whole life and then having to learn to walk on land. Its not hard...just different.

 

[Ichinisan]

If you guys would let it through once without blocking it, *then* it might stop trying!

 

[Canterwood]

Originally posted by: Ichinisan
If you guys would let it through once without blocking it, *then* it might stop trying!

Actually it contacts Microsoft on a daily basis.
Personally, I'll never let this piece of crap onto any of my systems.

 

[IamDavid]

UBUNTU

 

[InlineFive]

Does anyone have a unique piece of code that I can enter into my IPS to block it?

 

[Nocturnal]

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1974911,00.asp

 

[tw1164]

I don't understand why if it passes WGA it needs to continue to check in daily (or even every 14 days), that just doesn't make sense.

 

[MustISO]

Originally posted by: tw1164
I don't understand why if it passes WGA it needs to continue to check in daily (or even every 14 days), that just doesn't make sense.

No kidding. Do they really think that if it passes once it may become a pirated copy the next day. They're probably up to something a little more devious...

 

[Mark R]

Originally posted by: tw1164
I don't understand why if it passes WGA it needs to continue to check in daily (or even every 14 days), that just doesn't make sense.

But, not all pirate serials are known to MS. Some fake serials will pass the test.

So, the tool has to periodically update itself to detect previously unkown fake serials, etc.

 

[dealseaker]

I don't like alot of stuff windows does as well, but what other choice is there right now, pls dont flame me, but what other operating system will my hardware use? amd 3100 ecs board, combo from outpost, nvidia 6800 nec dvd burner, winfast tv card, ata 133 IDE card, what other system will this stuff work with, when I go to look for drivers, they all offer windows drivers. help me see the light! Where do I get another operating system that will work with my stuff.

 

[tw1164]

Originally posted by: Mark R

Originally posted by: tw1164
I don't understand why if it passes WGA it needs to continue to check in daily (or even every 14 days), that just doesn't make sense.

But, not all pirate serials are known to MS. Some fake serials will pass the test.

So, the tool has to periodically update itself to detect previously unkown fake serials, etc.

That's true, I didn't think about that.

On a sidenote, is Vista going to have a similar activation process?

 

[wetcat007]

Has anyone written a fix to block windows from doing this? i have a legit copy, however I do not wish to participate in this.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: wetcat007
Has anyone written a fix to block windows from doing this? i have a legit copy, however I do not wish to participate in this.

It appears to be something you could uninstall from Add/Remove Programs if you want to. Put a checkmark in the "Show updates" box.

 

[SleepWalkerX]

Originally posted by: necine
That's it... I've had enough of windows. I believe it's time for me to go Open Source.

This is exactly why I switched to linux. I wouldn't mind paying for a windows license, but with the way they treat their customers, why the heck should I? Three activations then you have to go call them and bug them about it? Yeah right, I'll just go install linux distributions as many times as I want and not have anything form my pc being sent back to some HQ without my knowledge..

 

[Ichinisan]

Originally posted by: Canterwood

Originally posted by: Ichinisan
If you guys would let it through once without blocking it, *then* it might stop trying!

Actually it contacts Microsoft on a daily basis.
Personally, I'll never let this piece of crap onto any of my systems.

Sounds to me like you guys are blocking/denying the connection every time you are notified by your Internet security software. If it is always blocked when it tries to phone home with the customer experience improvement information, it just keeps trying. Let it through one time and *THEN* let us know if it keeps on trying. :roll:

As for the mention that it downloads information to detect previously-unknown pirate serials, that is incorrect. I have generated unique serials for testing purposes. WGA fails because "that serial was never issued." Apparently, Microsoft has kept track of all legitimate serials for products that use activation, so when it checks the online database once, it should never need to compare your serial again. However, WGA checks are included with several other Microsoft products (including Windows Defender and Windows Media Player 11).

 

[Canterwood]

Originally posted by: Ichinisan

Originally posted by: Canterwood

Originally posted by: Ichinisan
If you guys would let it through once without blocking it, *then* it might stop trying!

Actually it contacts Microsoft on a daily basis.
Personally, I'll never let this piece of crap onto any of my systems.

Sounds to me like you guys are blocking/denying the connection every time you are notified by your Internet security software. If it is always blocked when it tries to phone home with the customer experience improvement information, it just keeps trying. Let it through one time and *THEN* let us know if it keeps on trying. :roll:

If you read the link I provided you'd see that MS states it phones home everyday regardless. :roll:

 

[RideFree]

Microsoft has run into trouble over its Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) program. A researcher has discovered that a test version of the WGA Notifications component of the system communicates with the Microsoft servers every time the PC is switched on.

Read the complete story here. (PC Pro)
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/88369/microsoft-denies-wga-is-spyware.html
Monday June 12, 2006

 

[manly]

Originally posted by: mechBgon

Originally posted by: wetcat007
Has anyone written a fix to block windows from doing this? i have a legit copy, however I do not wish to participate in this.

It appears to be something you could uninstall from Add/Remove Programs if you want to. Put a checkmark in the "Show updates" box.

Can anyone else confirm this?

 

[jamesbond007]

Looking at the installed updates, I found part of the WGA. KB905474 Perhaps if you remove this, it will stop beaconing home?

I'm not willing to try it on this rig, so perhaps someone who's more ballsy and is actually irritated by this can.