Windows Genuine Advantage

Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) is a program launched by Microsoft which requires of the users Microsoft Windows to validate their copy of several recent operating systems of Microsoft at the time of the access to certain Microsoft services such as Windows Update or the remote loadings since Microsoft Download Center. Previously optional, it became obligatory for the use of these services since July 2005 like for Windows Media Player 11, Windows Defender and Internet Explorer 7 until in October 2007. The users for whom the automatic update is configured on " avertir" and which does not validate the remote loading of WGA are not affected.

Software WGA

When a user installs WGA, a graft is added to Internet Explorer, entitled " Windows Genuine Advantage". In the previous models, it could be easily decontaminated with graft IE Management. A Windows Group Policy was added by the following updates, making this option inalienable by defect - but always accessible if the rule is removed. In July 2006, the last update blocks management by other means.

The program can only be used either, to generate a key, or as a control ActiveX to discover if the key of license is valid. If WGA determines that the authority of Windows used is not authorized, and that the Cédérom seems authentic (that it includes the holographic emblem present on the true copies of Windows), then Microsoft provides to the user new a cédérom. Microsoft also offers reductions to the people who have a key of banished license, but wish to buy a copy (a right of use) of Windows. Microsoft indicated that it will continue to provide updates of safety criticisms via the service of automatic update like since the site Microsoft Download Center. The company wishes to return the installation of obligatory WGA to be able to use the service of update automatic, partly to be sure that the customers who use the resources placed at the disposal on line be conscious that their software is without license or counterfeited . Although the installation of WGA is obligatory to use the automatic updates, all the systems including those which fail the validation will receive the updates of safety criticisms.

Data collected by WGA

In July 2006, the collected data were:

Checksum MD5 of BIOS
Address IP
Serial number of the Hard drive
Language of the Operating system
Version of the Operating system
Information on BIOS of the PC (manufacturer, version, date)
Manufacturer of PC
Parameters of the local user
Results of validation and Key installation
of the Windows products and/or Office
Windows XP PID (Product To identify)

References

See too

Software spy

External bonds

Page of information of Microsoft in connection with the WGA
Official site of Windows Genuine Advantage
FAQ of the site Windows Genuine Advantage