Introducing Windows Genuine Advantage: Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) is a program developed by Microsoft that attempts to curb piracy of Microsoft Windows. It attempts to validate your Windows XP software to ensure that your software is a legitimate, legal copy of Microsoft Windows, not a pirated copy. If WGA determines that your version of Windows XP is an illegal copy, you'll be unable to download updates and add-ons restricted to people running copies of Windows that Microsoft believes are legitimate.
Information Gathered by Windows Genuine Advantage: WGA transmits the following information about your computer to Microsoft:
- Product key
- PC manufacturer
- Windows version
- PID/SID
- BIOS information
- BIOS MD5 Checksum
- Language setting and version
- Hard drive serial number
How WGA Works: WGA works by transmiting some information about your computer to Microsoft. Microsoft checks that information for signs that your copy of Microsoft is pirated. For instance, WGA checks your Windows product key against keys commonly used to unlock illegal copies of Microsoft Windows.
Benefits of Using WGA: WGA Microsoft resources to those who have validated their copy of Windows XP. Some of the benefits of using WGA include:
- Access to downloads like Internet Explorer 7, Windows Media Player, and Windows Defender
- Access to all security patches and Windows updates
- Access to all support offered to users of genuine Windows software
Validating with WGA: You only have to validate your Windows XP copy once. To do so, head to Microsoft's Genuine Windows Web site. You can also view a demo of the validation process or read an extensive FAQ about WGA.
WGA Notifications: In April 2006, Microsoft pushed WGA Notifications to Windows XP users through Automatic Updates. If you're using a version of Windows XP that Microsoft deems is pirated, the notifications will tell you repeatedly that it's not a valid copy of Windows. The notifications are persistent, they won't go away until you obtain a copy of Windows XP that WGA finds valid, and you can't uninstall WGA Notifications.
Microsoft Abused Automatic Updates with WGA Notifications: Microsoft used Automatic Updates to push WGA to people without their full knowledge or consent. Automatic Updates is supposed to be used to ensure that your computer always has the latest critical security updates. Microsoft's choice to use Automatic Updates to install something other than security updates erodes confidence in Microsoft, and it will cause some people to disable the security service.
Other Controversy Surrounding WGA: WGA is controversial for several reasons:
- Notifications was silently pushed to users as a security update, despite having nothing to do with security
- The Notification component communicates with Microsoft daily, yet the license agreement doesn’t mention this fact
- It’s been pushed to millions of Windows XP users, yet it’s a pilot program that Microsoft worried could malfunction, shutting people off from Microsoft resources unfairly
Truth about WGA: Microsoft claims that WGA improves the experience for users of genuine Windows software. The summary of WGA Notifications simply says that the tool "notifies" you if your copy of Windows is invalid; it fails to mention the persistent, irreversible nature of the notifications.
Microsoft should stop trying to market WGA as an improvement, and the shouldn't push it as a security update. Microsoft has a legimate concern over piracy, and many consumers will understand the need to validate their software before getting access to certain benefits.
WGA won't do anything to harm your computer, but Microsoft should better inform customers as to what the software does. People should know that installing WGA Notifications could result in persistent notifications that their copy of Windows XP isn't authentic, and Microsoft should clearly inform people that Notifications contacts Microsoft daily.
Microsoft should stop trying to market WGA as an improvement, and the shouldn't push it as a security update. Microsoft has a legimate concern over piracy, and many consumers will understand the need to validate their software before getting access to certain benefits.
WGA won't do anything to harm your computer, but Microsoft should better inform customers as to what the software does. People should know that installing WGA Notifications could result in persistent notifications that their copy of Windows XP isn't authentic, and Microsoft should clearly inform people that Notifications contacts Microsoft daily.