Microsoft tackles Windows piracy
27 January 2005
Software giant Microsoft has announced that it is taking action against people running pirated versions of its Windows operating system.
The company revealed that its Windows Genuine Advantage scheme will force users to prove their software is genuine. Those with unauthorised copies of Windows will find their ability to access security fixes via automatic updates "limited".
In a statement, Microsoft said: "Every year, millions of consumers and businesses worldwide are hurt by counterfeit software that they have purchased unwittingly, and many companies that sell legitimate software have difficulty competing with the artificially low prices offered by software counterfeiters.
"Counterfeit software puts users at risk of receiving an inferior product that may present security risks, be missing code or contain malicious code."
According to the Business Software Alliance Global Software Piracy Study, conducted by International Data Corp 36 per cent of the software installed on computers worldwide was pirated in 2003, costing companies billions.
Introduced as an optional pilot program to users of English-language versions of Windows in September 2004, response to the pilot program has far exceeded Microsoft's expectations, with more than five million people voluntarily taking part.
On February 7th Windows Genuine Advantage will expand to include twenty new language versions of Windows XP and most Windows content on the Download Center. New software incentives, valued at more than $450, will also be added for users of genuine Windows software who take part in the program.
Some security experts have expressed concern that restricting access to security patches could results in a rise in security attacks and threats, with more PCs left unprotected.
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