Vista SP1 with altered WGA Strategy, Nag instead of Disable
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes has a new blog posting over at ZDNet reviewing the changes Microsoft made to its Vista WGA (Windows Genuine Advantage – its authenticity check for pirated software) with the SP1 update. In a nutshell, it appears Microsoft has decided to be less intrusive and allow a deemed to be pirated copy of Vista to operate more normally, and instead, nag the user with minor annoyances. For example, before the update, a thought to be pirated version would only be allowed to access Internet Explorer for 60 minutes before being logged out, or able to access documents on the disk only if booted up in Safe Mode. With the SP1 update, they have replaced these with things such as having the desktop background image changing to black every hour, and a 15-second nag screen at login that you have to wait through. One of the only logical reasons that I can think of as to why Microsoft would do this is that because the current WGA system wasn’t working and that perhaps they would flag too many legitimate users as having pirated software when they didn’t. For example, their software keys could have been stolen from the owner whether unintentionally or not. Seeing as to how easily Pablos was able to steal the key with his USB jump drive in the class demo, it seems like these types of things could be occurring frequently.