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June 8th, 2006

Images: Microsoft's shoddy Windows Genuine Advantage Installation Process

Posted by Andy Smith

Categories: General

TalkBack

After opting to click on the “Download and Install” on the previous screen, I got a little surprise. Guess what? This update includes the Windows Genuine Advantage component after all. As you can see from this screen, the Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool appeared to have been downloaded, initialized, and installed without ever asking for my consent. As you can imagine, I was quite confused by the statements to the contrary in News.com’s coverage regarding WGA where it disputes any assertions that WGA is spyware by claiming that it “is not installed without a user’s consent.” Based on the process so far, my consent doesn’t appear to play any role in the installation of WGA. But, was WGA really installed? The next few screen images will very likely confuse end users about the answer to that question, as they did me.

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Credit: David Berlind

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See also:

  • With WGA, is Microsoft forcing Windows users to install and test pre-release software?
  • Does Microsoft’s new WGA disclosure fall short?
  • MS anti-piracy tools phone home
  • Ed Bott: Microsoft presses the Stupid button

    • Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

    • Talkback
    • Most Recent of 57 Talkback(s)
    I do....
    I do, that's why I use XP SP2 with a few carefully selected downloaded and saved hotfixes. I wouldn't dream of letting Microsoft "update" anything on my PC. When XPSP2 doesn't work for me anymore, I... (Read the rest)
    Posted by: maggietoo9 Posted on: 07/19/08 You are currently: a Guest | | Terms of Use
    Is WGA "Spyware" or not?  nerdnick | 06/09/06
    Of course it's spyware.  pkrdk | 06/12/06
    WGA is malware  lugh@... | 08/06/06
    WGA = SPYWARE  Ole Man | 06/09/06
    I understand, but it is funny  jdawgnoonan | 06/09/06
    Error in article  Free_Thinker | 06/11/06
    but....  tomato1 | 06/12/06
    The devil is behind the details (button)  dberlind | 06/12/06
    Which is a GOOD thing!  maggietoo9 | 07/19/08
    Repeat after me. JPEG - Photos, GIF/PNG - Screenshots  grug | 06/11/06
    Could be your browser  dragontiger | 06/12/06
    There may be little, but there is never no artifacts in JPG.  CobraA1 | 06/12/06
    Not completely true..  Patrick Jones | 06/22/06
    suggestion  ChazzMatt | 08/04/06
    the first WGA update is to use the Windows Update website  Avatar28 | 06/11/06
    Information collected during validation in FAQ?  drake2 | 06/11/06
    Critical Security Updates  christexan@... | 06/12/06
    ... and if it thinks you're a pirate ...  Mister Bleau | 06/13/06
    Chargeback  buran | 06/27/06
    Access of Evil?  IMRAN@... | 06/13/06
    verclsid?  geegee_z | 06/13/06
    How to Block verslcid.exe  eeya | 06/30/06
    Microsoft Genuine Advantage  jlhausmann | 06/13/06
    "Genuine Advantage" .. What advantage?  deedeedubya | 06/13/06
    I got censored.  deedeedubya | 06/13/06
    re:"Genuine Advantage" .. What advantage?  dewey56 | 06/29/06
    "Genuine Advantage" is another word for  MacGeek2121 | 08/03/06
    I now hate MS more  dshealey_z | 06/14/06
    Did you try putting it on ignore?  buran | 06/27/06
    I've yet to see any software I WANT  labarker | 06/29/06
    Turning off Updates  maggietoo9 | 07/19/08
    Who Really Cares?  John Zern | 06/14/06
    froggie in the water  PassingThru | 06/14/06
    re: WGA = spyware  Loggies | 06/28/06
    Dream on....  maggietoo9 | 07/19/08
    Sheesh!  HerbieHightower | 06/29/06
    Sheesh to You Too  Ole Man | 08/03/06
    Held for Ransom  DoctorBrent | 06/29/06
    I do....  maggietoo9 | 07/19/08
    I'm a FireFox user; My WGA offering came through automatic updates  GreatInca | 06/29/06
    The Problem isn't XP  Thexyone | 06/29/06
    Windows XP is just a product  Cardhu | 09/03/06
    Had Enough  david1524 | 06/29/06
    10 Years of Comparison  Cardhu | 09/04/06
    Had Enough  david1524 | 06/29/06
    WGA came too early  rastaub | 06/29/06
    verclsid  bogar | 07/01/06
    Verclsid.exe  tealcat | 08/03/06
    905474 is the new WGA DL  JB722 | 09/05/06
    Microsoft WGA  mchrist@... | 07/02/06
    Microsoft WGA  mchrist@... | 07/02/06
    M$'s WGA  interested_amateur@... | 07/02/06
    So it really is pre release software  quantumstate | 07/07/06
    WGA updates  carrie.girl@... | 07/09/06
    WGA Dirty Tricks  rtb | 08/03/06
    WGA  Hameiri | 08/03/06
    Refuse to allow MS Updates  Aaron A Baker | 08/06/06

    What do you think?

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