URGENT!!!! WINDOWS 7 USER? READ THIS!!!

[OG buckshot jr]

http://www.macworld.co.uk/digitallifestyle/news/index.cfm?rss&newsid=28806

Describes a cryptic new update (guised as "important" and known as KB971033, a "regular Windows 7 update&quot that will take over WGA (Windows Genuine Advantage) as WAT (Windows Activation Technologies). It uses a "phone-home" feature that connects to Microsoft's servers and automatically checks to see if you're running a legit Windows and legit software - without you ever knowing.

Apparently there is another update that, once installed, is unable to be installed and does similar things - sends reports back to Microsoft about what you do. I'm not sure if this is the same update.

** If someone can, clarify this last point.

 

[mandy]

Isn't that what happened to me? Or something along those lines?

 

[r3volution]

This is old news, the update has already been rolled out in mid February.

The update only runs every 90 days and it doesn't do much except activate your OS again. I don't see why this is causing as much fuss as it is.

I've never heard of the second update. Can you find me a link?

 

[Shortbus]

Judging by the link you posted, you can just uninstall that update anyways.

 

[[503]Hoggslayer]

[quote1269640228=OG buckshot jr]
http://www.macworld.co.uk/digitallifestyle/news/index.cfm?rss&newsid=28806

Apparently there is another update that, once installed, is unable to be installed and does similar things - sends reports back to Microsoft about what you do. I'm not sure if this is the same update.

** If someone can, clarify this last point.
[/quote1269640228]


Um, i read the article and if what i think ur talking about is an update within WGA, .... this was referring to Win XP. and WGA, I'm not sure if this is what u were talking about ?. i had installed KB971033. I uninstalled it after reading the article. when it comes to windows combating ill lagit copies, = they fail. :)

 

[OG buckshot jr]

@ Shorty, you're absolutely right - but my question is, there's ANOTHER update, that's WORSE, and you CAN'T uninstall it. I brought this up to see if anyone knows the other one... apparently it was all over the news in recent days, everyone @ work is talkin about :|

 

[[503]Hoggslayer]

I just make it tell me about updates, and NEVAR EVAR do i put it to auto dl/install. so if there is a problem it is because i newbed myself.

 

[skd_mrk]

I just saw that popup in my automatic downloads. It didnt try to install itself automatically however. Just dont click it and you're fine.

 

[[503]Hoggslayer]

[quote1269715847=skd_mrk]
Just dont click it and you're fine.
[/quote1269715847]


Um, i think you can tell windows to permanently ignore certain updates, and you don't get bothered by them anymore. i know i have done this on my xp machine.

 

[marinerevenge]

The company attempting to combat illegal copies isn't really a bad thing or can be looked down upon. They are just keeping an eye out for their interests.

As for seeing what you do, if you think that's bad, google was recently approached by a company who would buy the rights to the information logged by people who used google and the us government could in turn have access to it through this company selling the information.

I wrote congress via the ACLU to urge them to vote against the allowing of this, but I'm not entirely sure what the final call was.. i might look that up right now.