SEATTLE - Microsoft Corp. plans to severely curtail the ways in which people running pirated copies of its dominant Windows operating system can receive software updates, including security fixes. The new authentication system, announced Tuesday and due to arrive by midyear, will still allow people with pirated copies of Windows to obtain security fixes, but their options will be limited. The move allows Microsoft to use one of its sharpest weapons — access to security patches that can prevent viruses, worms and other crippling attacks — to thwart a costly and meddlesome piracy problem. But some security experts said the crackdown also could increase Internet security problems in general, if there is a spike in unsecured computers open to attack, which then could be used to attack others. David Lazar, a director of the effort, said Microsoft would monitor that potential problem closely. But the company actually considers its authentication requirement one possible way to boost Internet security — countering the idea it may increase threats. That's because pirated copies of Windows could contain viruses or other security threats, he said. Over the next few months, the software behemoth will begin to more broadly adopt the program, called Windows Genuine Advantage, that urges users to provide proof their Windows copy is authentic before receiving some software updates. By mid-2005, the program will become mandatory for Windows users to get virtually all updates, including security fixes available through the company's Windows Update Web site. But users who have pirated copies of Windows will be able to continue to get security fixes if they sign up to automatically receive security updates. Read the rest of the article at Yahoo!
Wow, I never realized it until now, but MS is planning on making more money off of the flaws in Windows than it's features. No seriously; hear me out. Due to the fatally flawed security model Windows is based on, just by using Windows you are in a constant struggle with Spyware, Malware, Viruses, Scumware, remote exploits and local exploits. Instead of fixing the system plocies, they will provide anti-virus tools, spyware removal software, and regulated patches -- at a nominal fee, of course. An incredible business model indeed: 1) Sell critically flawed product 2) Sell band-aid fixes to make product work 3) PROFIT!!! What incentive could Microsoft really have to actually improve their product? Their business model is an economist's wet dream as it stands. P.S. - As my oh-so-geeky wife just pointed out, a case in point.
Actually Windows is a very good operating system, however the basis of the security model it's based on - as AT said, its completely flawed, and so its not very good for multiuser systems or typically large networking whether its WAN or LAN. A v.good operating system, none the less, who can blame them i'd be very happy coming up with that oh so simple money making idea.. very much like the guy at the Olive factory.. CEO: "I want ideas to create another £500,000 profit / savings" Marketing: "shit, umm ok.." Next meeting: Marketing man #1: Sack 400 people.. CEO: NO ur fired.. Marketing man #2: Use plastic jars instead of glass jars! CEO: NO it looks taky.. ur fired.. Marketing man #3: Lets have 1 less olive per jar.. It will save us £3 Million every quarter. CEO: Genius, your getting a promotion! A big one! Fred, if you are "just" running Linux, not running Windows at all, what do you use your 6800GT for? As even for Video Editing thats abit extreme.. Or are you running Linux as your main OS, and Windows for the occasional game..?
I have "aquired" XP pro and it works "fine" without any "restrictions". I think its a good operating system apart from security. There are those who say its unstable but I hardly ever have crashes which causes the whole computer to shut out. A big improvement over the 9x and me ones.
Im purely running linux... and I still use my 6800gt for games; I just run [most of] the games through Cedega. And call me dumb, but most of the reason I even have the system that i do, is just to have it... just like most of the people on this forum. Even if its a waste, its still nice to have (just like my 64-bit processor). You are right though, running an OS(Windows) thats coded so sloppy needs to use my video card to its full potential to run a game properly. And as far as the profit thing goes, my problem isn't with them wanting to make it. My problem is with them being able to make loads of it because of the fact that their product is flawed. Really the only thing that i particularly like about windows is their compatibility with games.
yes, I have also, acquired xp pro..hehe If there was a way to *securely* install linux on my partitioned drive, without doing what I did last time,which was deleting all my partitions attempting to install the damn thing, I'd use it too.
Oh you "brought" each other presents how cute.. Careful. anyway, Waffle download SuSe 9.2 Linux and choose manual partition selection, and just select it from a list. there u ahve it. nice new linux.
Hell that i just aquired it age ago, i only "bought" you photoshop because it was realtively "cheap" for me to "buy".
As far as I can tell MS isn't doing this to start charging for updates and the people I know that work for MS haven't mentioned anything about charging for upgrades. Microsoft is doing this to protect their revenue stream. With Longhorn not coming out till '06 and probably not till '07, MS needs a way to keep XP sales up. What better way to do it than to cut off the people using your software and not paying for it. Essentially they're going to force pirates to purchase a copy or find another alternative. So unless you've got a pirated copy I'm not sure why everyone is getting so upset at MS for, after all if you've invested billions of dollars into a product wouldn't you be trying to protect it as well?
I see it more as user-coralling. They group everybody into one convenient product base, and throw superficial labels on the same product to make it look like different products. That way, they can really milk the "business" products. For example, XP Pro vs XP Home. Same product, different pricing. And just look at Longhorn -- 8 flavors?!?
I like windows! It works good with all of my microsoft products I have purchased beause it's made by microsoft so they have to be made for windows XP! I love Bill Gates! I want to bear his children!
haha u crack me up. This reminds me of when a certain car company was found to have kept producing faulty cars as it was predicted to b cheaper to pay off lawsuits for injury and death than to change the car. Shocking.
