Please settle argument

  • Thread starter Thread starter AlisonB
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AlisonB

We were having a discussion (argument!) at work about using pirate
software - can anyone settle something for us?

Windows Messenger is bundled with WinXP. If someone was using a
pirate version of WinXP and used Windows Messenger, could Microsoft
tell? I suppose basically we want to know if there is any way that
Microsoft is able to identify who is using pirate versions of its
software? I think the answer is yes, but it is happening too often to
make it worth Microsoft's while chasing it up.

What do you think?

Alison
 
AlisonB said:
We were having a discussion (argument!) at work about using pirate
software - can anyone settle something for us?

Windows Messenger is bundled with WinXP. If someone was using a
pirate version of WinXP and used Windows Messenger, could Microsoft
tell? I suppose basically we want to know if there is any way that
Microsoft is able to identify who is using pirate versions of its
software? I think the answer is yes, but it is happening too often to
make it worth Microsoft's while chasing it up.

What do you think?
Click to expand...

Do us all a favor. Don't use pirated software. Companies
could sell their software a lot cheaper if people stopped
pirating their products.

-- Bob Day
 
I'm not sure if MS can track you down just using
Messenger, but I heard that MS have recently configured
their Service Packs to not apply to installations that
they know are pirated.

They track product keys that are available on web-sites
and attached to ISOs that are on the FastTrack network and
places like that, and build a list of these into the
Service Packs.

The official line (as far as I remember) is that rather
than waste their time knocking on people's doors, they let
them keep their pirated software, but don't let them
update it. Seeing the number of critical security alerts
MS keep issuing, it's probably best to bite the bullet &
spend some money.

I wonder how smaller MS's $43 bn cash-pile would be if
they dropped their prices a little?
 
Firstly, Bob, I do not use pirated software and can't see anywhere in
my original post that says I implied I did – in fact none of us does
(I'm too much of a wimp!) and, the fact that we were talking about
this subject at work does not mean my company (a multi billion dollar
corporation) does either - it was just a discussion!

Actually, I have responsibility at work for Data Protection compliance
(like Privacy Laws in the USA) – I am not a lawyer - and had wondered
if the reason that MS doesn't do anything like monitoring the use of
its software to detect the use of illegal software is because it would
be classed as an invasion of privacy. I personally think that if MS
told everyone upfront that it was "monitoring" use of its software for
the detection of pirated software then, at least here in the EU it
would probably be legal (as long as they don't use the data for
something else raising the issue of trust!).

I had also read that software companies like MS were looking at
building in preventative measures rather than trying to stem the tide
completely. Has anyone else heard about this kind of measure actually
being introduced?

Thanks to everyone for your replies.

Alison
 
AlisonB said:
Firstly, Bob, I do not use pirated software and can't see anywhere in
my original post that says I implied I did -
Click to expand...

Sorry for jumping to conclusions. Please accept my apology.
in fact none of us does
(I'm too much of a wimp!) and, the fact that we were talking about
this subject at work does not mean my company (a multi billion dollar
corporation) does either - it was just a discussion!

Actually, I have responsibility at work for Data Protection compliance
(like Privacy Laws in the USA) - I am not a lawyer - and had wondered
if the reason that MS doesn't do anything like monitoring the use of
its software to detect the use of illegal software is because it would
be classed as an invasion of privacy. I personally think that if MS
told everyone upfront that it was "monitoring" use of its software for
the detection of pirated software then, at least here in the EU it
would probably be legal (as long as they don't use the data for
something else raising the issue of trust!).

I had also read that software companies like MS were looking at
building in preventative measures rather than trying to stem the tide
completely. Has anyone else heard about this kind of measure actually
being introduced?
Click to expand...

The only thing I'm aware of is Windows XP Activation, which takes
place when you install Windows XP, and can also occur when
you make major changes in your hardware. The activation procedure
sends the product key you enter to a server at Microsoft, which checks
whether the key is valid, and permits a normal install only if it is.

-- Bob Day
 
Did you see "Pirates" of the Carribean. Harty Har Har. MS
labels everyone as a "Pirate". Why do you think they were
so paranoid and had to implement product activation.
 
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