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Microsoft steps up its efforts against pirates with the Software Protection Program

Microsoft is taking the fight to software pirates and is stepping up its anti-piracy efforts with Windows Vista and Windows "Longhorn" Server. The "Software Protection Program" as it's called will disable key Vista components for non-genuine installations. Likewise, Microsoft Volume Activation 2.0 will make it harder for pirates to get away with using volume license keys. While Vista and Windows "Longhorn" Server will be the first products to use the Software Protection Program, Microsoft hopes to extend the technology to other software products in the near future.

With the Software Protection Program, customers will be asked to activate their copy of Vista with a valid product key within 30 days of installation. If the user fails to do so, the operating system will operate in a "reduced functionality mode." In reduced functionality mode, users will not have access to ReadyBoost, the Windows Aero user interface, Windows Defender or optional software updates. Users will, however, still be able to access critical security updates from Windows Update.

Microsoft also has the option to deem an installation of Windows Vista invalid at any time. Cori Hartje, director of Microsoft's Genuine Software Initiative goes on to explain:

If the software is discovered to be counterfeit or non-genuine, the user may be asked to reactivate their copy of Windows. Product keys can be blocked for a number of reasons, including if the product key is abused, stolen, pirated or seized as a result of anti-piracy enforcement efforts. Product keys can also be blocked if they are beta or test keys and have been disabled, if there were manufacturing errors in the keys or if the keys have been returned.

For corporate customers, Microsoft Volume Activation 2.0 is in place to deliver increased protection and management of customer volume license keys in managed and non-managed environments. “This helps provide a more secure deployment solution with multiple, flexible options for customers using volume license keys to deploy many installations of the Windows Vista operating system in one location. This process can be done in batches or individually by PC,” said Hartje. “These improved security and deployment technologies for volume licensing keys benefit customers by reducing the risk associated with the theft, leakage and illegal use of their volume licensing keys, as well as ensuring that the copies of Windows in an organization have not been tampered with.”

Software piracy is a major thorn in the side of Microsoft and it's doing everything in its power to help combat the issues with its next generation software products. Hartje remarked that 35% of all software installations worldwide were pirated or unlicensed in 2005 resulting in industry losses of $35 billion USD.

For more details on Microsoft’s Software Protection Program, you can view the company’s white paper (.doc).

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almost sounds like
By noxipoo on 10/4/2006 2:05:51 PM , Rating: 5
vista will disable all the bloatware... might be a good thing :D




RE: almost sounds like
By hughlle on 10/4/06, Rating: 0
RE: almost sounds like
By daniel1113 on 10/4/2006 2:25:56 PM , Rating: 2
How is that ridiculous? The requirements are clearly stated, and my guess is that nearly EVERYONE that will be installing Vista has an internet connection.


RE: almost sounds like
By misuspita on 10/4/2006 3:09:46 PM , Rating: 4
quote:
How is that ridiculous? The requirements are clearly stated, and my guess is that nearly EVERYONE that will be installing Vista has an internet connection.


What if my work requires that my computer is not conected to a network? (recording studio, the main computer is not connected in any network for security of data reasons). So I am now forced to connect it just because? Not nice


RE: almost sounds like
By Hare on 10/4/2006 3:48:04 PM , Rating: 1
I'd quess there will be phone activation for those without Internet connection.


RE: almost sounds like
By Tsuwamono on 10/4/06, Rating: -1
RE: almost sounds like
By Enoch2001 on 10/5/06, Rating: -1
RE: almost sounds like
By Samus on 10/5/2006 2:27:44 AM , Rating: 1
microsoft is protecting their years of work the best they can. you can't blame them for trying. the volume license protection scheme is probably the first anti-piracy system i've seen from them that'll work, because face it, most pirated XP installations are from volume keys as they dont even require activation, and will always authenticate as genuine.

they need to change the volume license distribution system as well. that's probably on their list. vista is not unreasonably priced, with the two 'important' versions both below $200, and OEM copies in the $80 and $150 range.

That makes it only slightly more expensive than Windows XP MCE.


RE: almost sounds like
By trabpukcip on 10/9/2006 7:05:12 AM , Rating: 1
quote:
Microsoft blows and lost my business a while ago when they tried to tell me that my store bought copy of windows XP was pirated. I phoned them and they said that its not genuine because i changed my system configuration(i put in a new CPU) so i told the guy over the phone to go screw himself and i just used a WGA fix to get rid of their crappy WGA stuff and turned off Auto update.


They only wont activate an OEM Windows if you change the motherboard as that is the main component of a computer.

If you have a retail box or retail upgrade, then you can activate on another motherboard, provided that you tell them that the old machine no longer is using windows or not functional.

What else have you changed besides just the CPU?


RE: almost sounds like
By tuteja1986 on 10/5/2006 3:34:33 AM , Rating: 1
Then you call up Microsoft and they will give you a key to activite your copy of windows vista... Microsoft ain't going to make it exclusive to people with internet.


RE: almost sounds like
By Trisped on 10/4/2006 2:31:51 PM , Rating: 1
Not quite that bad
quote:
The "Software Protection Program" as it's called will disable key Vista components for non-genuine installations.
So this only applies to Vista right now. If they add it to other software, like MS Office, then you will also have to activate that.

Think of it as Windows Genuine Advatage renamed.


RE: almost sounds like
By kamel5547 on 10/4/2006 3:04:16 PM , Rating: 1
Well that seems to be the way things are headed, tons of other products "require" activation, from Mcaffee to Adobe to AutoCAD you either need to call in or activate online, I can't imagine the call in option will be completely removed, but I would expect that it will become more complex.

Maybe they should just bring back the dongle, at the office we still sue those for some engineering software.



RE: almost sounds like
By imaheadcase on 10/4/2006 5:07:55 PM , Rating: 1
Well its safe to say those programs and many more you can disable the activation. Adobe had some sort or online activation i beleive, but never had to use it


RE: almost sounds like
By rushfan2006 on 10/4/2006 3:20:31 PM , Rating: 5
Oh here we go with the whining on this one...

Some observations I find interesting in the realm of IT/Technology "communities"...

-Isn't it funny if you are just talking about broadband access, then someone says "lol..I'm still using 56k dialup"...then that person is flamed with all kinds of stuff ranging from "dude do you live in a cave?" to "OMG you can't be serious, EVERYONE has broadband nowadays".

Yet come to a discussion on an anti-piracy program that requires you to have a 'net connection to check the authenticity of the install and suddently its "omg..that is an outrage!". lol.

-You'll read an article on a board about software piracy and how big of a problem it has become. Its generalized though, not naming any particular software company. So then the replies to that topic is more or less, with a few exceptions of course, "Yes something should be done about piracy" or "I do agree companies have a right to protect their products from piracy".

Yet, a company comes out with a program to protect their products from piracy and suddenly you have hordes of people that are whining and moaning about it such a program?

-Finally, if you start a debate on the reliability of enterprise networks today - and just for giggles you play devil's advocate and argue with everyone in the forum that current networks aren't that reliable, servers fail way too much, etc. You'll very like get flamed and some passionate replies saying you don't know your arse from a hole in the wall.

YET....a software company comes up with a anti-piracy program that requires verifying your install with their servers and suddnely people are saying "This is ridiculous...oh great...just great...now we have to rely on their servers just to install my OS!!".

My point: I love how everyone changes their stories to suit their biases depending on what company the article is about.

My thought on this program...good for MS. It's all about perspective people -- I'm someone who honesty pays for my OS all the time, everytime. Therefore I don't worry about this stuff...at all. Is there an outside chance that the system could have a glitch and mistakenly interrupt my install or degrade me....of course there is. That's why they invented something called a RECEIPT. (genius I know)...

Secondly, MS is a professionally global BILLION-dollar company, they know they are hated probably more than they are loved the world over. Do you HONESTLY think that MS would WANT their system to glitch up and cause their honest-paying customers problems? If you say yes to that you are just an idiot of the highest order.

It would hurt their bottomline.

This is too nice a program actually, if I were MS I wouldn't just disable some features -- I'd have it disable the ENTIRE OS.


RE: almost sounds like
By bob661 on 10/4/2006 4:33:42 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
This is too nice a program actually, if I were MS I wouldn't just disable some features -- I'd have it disable the ENTIRE OS.

quote:
Do you HONESTLY think that MS would WANT their system to glitch up and cause their honest-paying customers problems?

Aren't these statements contradictory?


RE: almost sounds like
By jconan on 10/4/2006 4:52:51 PM , Rating: 2
2nd that. what about ms not supporting those who bought "music under play for sure" in zune? those honest paying customers won't be supported under zune. they will have to buy every title again just to play it in zune since the earlier purchased music isn't supported in zune... ubuntuu


RE: almost sounds like
By rushfan2006 on 10/4/2006 5:00:22 PM , Rating: 2
I didn't re-read the article, so unless they edited it to include the stuff you are talking about in Zune I'm purely talking about the OS related stuff.

And for the record, you guys are hilarious...if you are an honest paying customer (and assuming you keep your invoices/receipts) MS (nor could any company...at least US based) CAN NOT deny you full service of their product that you paid for..its against the law and you would wind HANDS DOWN in a court.

Likewise if you had proof you bought the music in your zune example...there's no WAY the law would ALLOW MS to say "you have to buy that same content again".

Use some common sense people.


RE: almost sounds like
By modestninja on 10/4/2006 7:57:29 PM , Rating: 2
I always puchase my OS... I've still got my orignal XP pro that I purchased 4 years and just upgraded (basically rebuilt my computer) making it so i had to install the OS again. At this point do you think that I have any idea whatsoever where my receipt is? No way am I hanging on to a receipt for that long just to prove that I purchased something.

Also, if this system for Vista had a glitch then you'd be stuck wasting a ton of your time trying to clear up someone else's mess.


RE: almost sounds like
By rushfan2006 on 10/5/2006 7:39:50 AM , Rating: 2
I don't care what you say my opinion is the same...

Which is people basically want their cake and eat it too...that is a great ideal to try to attain..but where the rubber meets the road you find its not realistic.

It just so happens that MS comes out with this system...I'd say the same thing if "fill in the name of your fav software company" came out with this system.

Would I be pissed if it glitched? You are damn right I would be...but that still doesn't change the reality that something like this is bound to have happened sooner or later by SOMEONE.

As for you losing your receipt that's really YOUR problem, no one elses.

I keep a file myself, so to answer you there... actually yeah I still do have my OS receipts from 3 years ago for XP.

Bottomline: I think its rich how everyone largely at least agrees that piracy is wrong and from a business perspective most can understand the impact it has on the bottomline (my god over 30 BILLION?)...yet no one expects any system like this to be in place.

Finally, funny you guys are worried about a