Microsoft to Push Out Windows 7 Piracy Check
by Justin B on Feb.11, 2010 at 3:00 pm, under Computer Software, Consumer Electronics | Thread ID: 7466
In a few days Microsoft will be pushing out a new update for “Windows Activation Technologies (WAT)”. The update to WAT will be able to detect more than 70 known activation cracks for Windows 7 and, if detected on your computer, will flag your copy of Windows 7 as an illegal copy. Your desktop will return to a plain desktop and Windows will issue periodic notifications informing you of your illegal copy.
However what comes as a shock to many is that this update is not only voluntary (you can choose not to in stall it) it also does not reduce any functionality within Windows, meaning you won’t be locked out of your account and no services will be disabled.
Windows Activation Technologies Update [Windows Blog]
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February 11th, 2010 at 8:26 pm
So all I have to do is not install it?
Wow smart on Microsoft's part.
February 11th, 2010 at 8:29 pm
Haha, I was worried there for a second.
February 11th, 2010 at 8:54 pm
Cool, *turns auto-updating off*
February 11th, 2010 at 8:55 pm
Wow smart on Microsoft's part.
From what I gathered it might be installed via Windows Update so you'll have to uncheck it before it does the automatic reboot/install of the updates
February 11th, 2010 at 9:16 pm
I was a little worried their for a second.
seriously are they that stupid?
February 11th, 2010 at 9:21 pm
Nobody said you have to install it, Nick.
I wouldn't say it was a 'stupid' thing to do, just not thought about how it can be bypassed. At least they're trying, but why announce it beforehand?
Does anybody bar me have a legit copy of it? o.o
February 11th, 2010 at 9:21 pm
seriously are they that stupid?
How is it stupid? I bought my copy of Windows 7 so I wouldn't have to deal with piracy issues or annoyances. Sure it might've been stupid to have it as a voluntary update but it will get pushed to most systems without people knowing about it
February 11th, 2010 at 9:24 pm
Thats the only stupid part really. If you know how to get hold and install a pirated copy of windows then you should know not to have automatic updates on
February 11th, 2010 at 10:04 pm
It's to prevent it from getting future updates regardless, if I'm correct.
February 11th, 2010 at 10:21 pm
It's more of an act to make having an illegitimate copy of Windows more of a problem than actually stop piracy. Microsoft is fully aware this little tool won't effectively stop piracy, but make more hoops for the pirates to jump through. If having a pirated copy of Windows requires constant oversight and tweaking, people will purchase Windows just for the sake of convenience.
February 11th, 2010 at 11:18 pm
Once I can boot up my main PC, guess auto updates is going off. I was sick of it auto restarting anyways.