Microsoft feeds updated antipiracy tool

23.02.2007
Microsoft Corp. has updated its antipiracy software for Windows XP for English speakers, and begun rolling out the optional tools to users in 21 additional countries, including some the company has tagged as centers of counterfeiting.

The Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications software -- which verifies that the copy of Windows XP is legitimate, offers up options to users running phony software, and duns those who won't pony up -- has been "tweaked," a company spokesperson said today.

"While this release includes small enhancements, the overall experience is the same," she added.

Last November, David Lazar, the director of Microsoft's Genuine Windows program, said that the Notifications tool would be updated every 90 to 120 days through Windows Update. The newest upgrade is part of that process, the spokesperson said.

The Notifications tool is also being delivered for the first time to Windows XP users in 21 localized editions, ranging from Chinese (three versions) and Portuguese (two versions) to Russian and Korean. Some of those countries have long-standing traditions of counterfeiting software; in fact, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer recently named Brazil, China, and Russia as pirate havens when he said the company might "dial up" the intensity of its WGA efforts.

Other WGA changes include a revamp of the Web site dedicated to the antipiracy technology. New, too, are Web-based diagnostic tools meant to help users troubleshoot problems with the WGA software.