WGA
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I'm actually surprised that MS let people with pirate copies of XP get even security updates. If it were my business I would (and have in the past) disabled the software until the license issues have been resolved. Kudos.
Because there's so many pirated installations of windows out there, not giving out "remedies" it would come around and hurt legitimate users, and thus Microsoft. They've chosen the best of two evils. Good music: In my rosary[^]
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I'm actually surprised that MS let people with pirate copies of XP get even security updates. If it were my business I would (and have in the past) disabled the software until the license issues have been resolved. Kudos.
I believe the reasoning is that they want every Windows machine to be as secure as possible, to minimise the spread of viruses, malware and other nasties. The pirate copies are out there - not providing them with security updates just makes matters worse, not better. Don't forget, not everyone with a "pirate" copy of Windows is intentionally a pirate - they may well have bought (in good faith) a computer from an unscrupulous dealer with an illegal copy of Windows installed. Commericial reality is that margins in the white box PC business are razor thin, and while I don't condone it, I can understand a dealer who's struggling financially cutting some corners and saving some money on Windows licences.
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I'm actually surprised that MS let people with pirate copies of XP get even security updates. If it were my business I would (and have in the past) disabled the software until the license issues have been resolved. Kudos.
As an example of what Jörgen and Graham have both said, do you remember the Slammer Worm, which disrupted the majority of the internet one Saturday morning? If Microsoft chose to deny patches for all systems running illegal copies of Windows, then even those of us who run legal copies will be adversely affected, if not by the payload of the virus itself, then by the side effects of the viruses spreading to the unpatched population.
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As an example of what Jörgen and Graham have both said, do you remember the Slammer Worm, which disrupted the majority of the internet one Saturday morning? If Microsoft chose to deny patches for all systems running illegal copies of Windows, then even those of us who run legal copies will be adversely affected, if not by the payload of the virus itself, then by the side effects of the viruses spreading to the unpatched population.
David Stone wrote: which disrupted the majority of the internet one Saturday morning? And my hospital (place where I work) for several weeks... During the infestation plugging an unprotected windows machine into the network for even a few minutes gauranteed that it would be infected also. This made it a little difficult to roll oun new installs. John