Vista: a paradox-- if Microsoft is really serious about counterfeitsand viruses, then why this?

Microsoft claims they are concerned for potential users of Vista (or
XP) about the effects of counterfeit copies of Vista and viruses,
trojans, etc that may be loaded onto such counterfeit copies.

If this is true, then why doesn't Microsoft insist that a clean
reininstall of Windows Vista or XP be done if a counterfeit copy is
detected? Instead, Microsoft merely asks a user of a counterfeit copy
that a Genuine Windows key be bought. No virus check is done, nor is
a clean reinstall performed. In fact, after you buy a Genuine Windows
key, no backup copy of Windows is sent on a DVD/CD unless you pay
extra. So even if a user wants to do a clean reinstall, they cannot.
And if you read the fine print on a EULA they post, it says that MSFT
is not responsible if, even with a Genuine Windows XP key, your system
is infected by a virus and you have to rebuy another key later (so
some lawyer at least has thought of this problem).

Anybody notice this paradox? Seems MSFT is only concerned with your
money after all, not your security.

BTW I running Vista Ultimate right now on a $3 copy I bought in Asia.
I'm not sure, maybe it's the shoddy packaging, maybe it's the low
price, but something tells me it might not be a genuine copy. But no
matter, so far, and I've avoided the SP1, it's working fine and I
don't notice any obvious trojans or viruses.

RL

raylopez99 wrote:

> Microsoft claims they are concerned for potential users of Vista (or
> XP) about the effects of counterfeit copies of Vista and viruses,
> trojans, etc that may be loaded onto such counterfeit copies.
>
> If this is true, then why doesn't Microsoft insist that a clean
> reininstall of Windows Vista or XP be done if a counterfeit copy is
> detected? Instead, Microsoft merely asks a user of a counterfeit copy
> that a Genuine Windows key be bought.


Thats because it is important to Micoshaft that you (a windummy) buy
more windummy licenses (not software). Licenses cost nothing but software
costs loads of money (about 20 cents + pp + admin) - which is several
thousand percentage more expensive than just giving you nothin
and laughing all the way to the bank.

Hope that helps you decide to get Linux instead.

http://www.livecdlist.com

Free to download, copy and distribute as often and on as many
PCs as you need. It comes with source code so you can modify
and incorporate into products as often as you want and sell
without having to negotiate complex licensing agreements
and spending money wastefully with micoshaft and its satellite
companies. 1 million+ Linux desktops get installed per month
and Linux sells 3 million embedded Linux products PER DAY.
More reasons to get on the free Linux bandwagon.



> No virus check is done, nor is
> a clean reinstall performed. In fact, after you buy a Genuine Windows
> key, no backup copy of Windows is sent on a DVD/CD unless you pay
> extra. So even if a user wants to do a clean reinstall, they cannot.
> And if you read the fine print on a EULA they post, it says that MSFT
> is not responsible if, even with a Genuine Windows XP key, your system
> is infected by a virus and you have to rebuy another key later (so
> some lawyer at least has thought of this problem).
>
> Anybody notice this paradox? Seems MSFT is only concerned with your
> money after all, not your security.
>
> BTW I running Vista Ultimate right now on a $3 copy I bought in Asia.
> I'm not sure, maybe it's the shoddy packaging, maybe it's the low
> price, but something tells me it might not be a genuine copy. But no
> matter, so far, and I've avoided the SP1, it's working fine and I
> don't notice any obvious trojans or viruses.
>
> RL

7 wrote:
> raylopez99 wrote:
>
>

<snipped>

You are a clown, and the person who made the original post is a clown in
addition to you being a clown.

What? wrote:
> 7 wrote:
>> raylopez99 wrote:
>>
>>
>
> <snipped>
>
> You are a clown, and the person who made the original post is a clown in
> addition to you being a clown.


Actually you are the clown. The original post is correct, simply
licensing a pirate copy is flawed logic.

There could be any number of things on a pirate copy that you wouldn't
want, including identity theft malware, rootkits and God knows what
else. Sure it is up to the user to decide, but if you doubt that malware
could be included in an operating system why do you think Linux and
Solaris distributions come with MD5 checksums?

> There could be any number of things on a pirate copy that you wouldn't
> want, including identity theft malware, rootkits and God knows what else.
> Sure it is up to the user to decide, but if you doubt that malware could
> be included in an operating system why do you think Linux and Solaris
> distributions come with MD5 checksums?


How does this work? If the checksums are included with the install media
couldn't a malicious distributor just alter the checksum to match their
hijacked version? If the checksums are external then how are they checked?
It is an interesting idea but how is it implemented?

Thanks,

--
Kerry Brown
Microsoft MVP - Shell/User
http://www.vistahelp.ca/phpBB2/

IMO you confuse licensing (the key) with physical media (the DVD). There are
reasons an install with a valid DVD will fail WGA validation. Also, at least
for XP, there is replacement valid install media.

It is no secret that (for now) Microsoft is trying to stop illegal software
from the top down. They want the people who manufactured it and sold it to
you, not you. From the few moments I spent at the link below, it appears WGA
helps people recover who unknowingly purchased non-genuine software.

For more information that may answer some of your questions:
http://www.microsoft.com/Genuine/



"raylopez99" wrote:

> Microsoft claims they are concerned for potential users of Vista (or
> XP) about the effects of counterfeit copies of Vista and viruses,
> trojans, etc that may be loaded onto such counterfeit copies.
>
> If this is true, then why doesn't Microsoft insist that a clean
> reininstall of Windows Vista or XP be done if a counterfeit copy is
> detected? Instead, Microsoft merely asks a user of a counterfeit copy
> that a Genuine Windows key be bought. No virus check is done, nor is
> a clean reinstall performed. In fact, after you buy a Genuine Windows
> key, no backup copy of Windows is sent on a DVD/CD unless you pay
> extra. So even if a user wants to do a clean reinstall, they cannot.
> And if you read the fine print on a EULA they post, it says that MSFT
> is not responsible if, even with a Genuine Windows XP key, your system
> is infected by a virus and you have to rebuy another key later (so
> some lawyer at least has thought of this problem).
>
> Anybody notice this paradox? Seems MSFT is only concerned with your
> money after all, not your security.
>
> BTW I running Vista Ultimate right now on a $3 copy I bought in Asia.
> I'm not sure, maybe it's the shoddy packaging, maybe it's the low
> price, but something tells me it might not be a genuine copy. But no
> matter, so far, and I've avoided the SP1, it's working fine and I
> don't notice any obvious trojans or viruses.
>
> RL
>

raylopez99 <> wrote in news:a9c07989-b421-49a4-91ce-
:

> Microsoft claims they are concerned for potential users of Vista (or
> XP) about the effects of counterfeit copies of Vista and viruses,
> trojans, etc that may be loaded onto such counterfeit copies.
>
> If this is true, then why doesn't Microsoft insist that a clean
> reininstall of Windows Vista or XP be done if a counterfeit copy is
> detected? Instead, Microsoft merely asks a user of a counterfeit copy
> that a Genuine Windows key be bought. No virus check is done, nor is
> a clean reinstall performed. In fact, after you buy a Genuine Windows
> key, no backup copy of Windows is sent on a DVD/CD unless you pay
> extra. So even if a user wants to do a clean reinstall, they cannot.
> And if you read the fine print on a EULA they post, it says that MSFT
> is not responsible if, even with a Genuine Windows XP key, your system
> is infected by a virus and you have to rebuy another key later (so
> some lawyer at least has thought of this problem).
>
> Anybody notice this paradox? Seems MSFT is only concerned with your
> money after all, not your security.

You are right. This has nothing to do with 'protecting' us.

It's just another scare tactic. Propaganda.

> BTW I running Vista Ultimate right now on a $3 copy I bought in Asia.
> I'm not sure, maybe it's the shoddy packaging, maybe it's the low
> price, but something tells me it might not be a genuine copy. But no
> matter, so far, and I've avoided the SP1, it's working fine and I
> don't notice any obvious trojans or viruses.

No comment.

Kerry Brown wrote:

>> There could be any number of things on a pirate copy that you wouldn't
>> want, including identity theft malware, rootkits and God knows what else.
>> Sure it is up to the user to decide, but if you doubt that malware could
>> be included in an operating system why do you think Linux and Solaris
>> distributions come with MD5 checksums?
>
>
> How does this work? If the checksums are included with the install media
> couldn't a malicious distributor just alter the checksum to match their
> hijacked version? If the checksums are external then how are they checked?
> It is an interesting idea but how is it implemented?
>
> Thanks,
>
Checksums are posted by the respective Linux distro. If the Checksum on your
ISO doesn't match, then it's been tampered with and is not the official
distro.

Cheers.

--
Frank's Brain Activity Plotted (watch the red line):
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i4...nceMonitor.jpg

AlexB: "If it is Business or Ultimate open Command Prompt as administrator
and type lusrmgr.msc."
^^^^^
I must say the developers at Microsoft do have a sense of humour.

they want customers from rich countries to pay for what they get,
but kinda turn their eyes away on piracy from developing nations because
they want windows to be learned and depenended upon.. for example MS's
biggest nightmare is for china to use only Linux! LOL

They prefer them being pirates and perhaps a future customer than everything
to be based on linux over there...

they are even putting their dirty hands on the OLPC project by making a
version of xp that will run on that...

read here http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS5428347716.html





"raylopez99" <> wrote in message
news:a9c07989-b421-49a4-91ce-...
> Microsoft claims they are concerned for potential users of Vista (or
> XP) about the effects of counterfeit copies of Vista and viruses,
> trojans, etc that may be loaded onto such counterfeit copies.
>
> If this is true, then why doesn't Microsoft insist that a clean
> reininstall of Windows Vista or XP be done if a counterfeit copy is
> detected? Instead, Microsoft merely asks a user of a counterfeit copy
> that a Genuine Windows key be bought. No virus check is done, nor is
> a clean reinstall performed. In fact, after you buy a Genuine Windows
> key, no backup copy of Windows is sent on a DVD/CD unless you pay
> extra. So even if a user wants to do a clean reinstall, they cannot.
> And if you read the fine print on a EULA they post, it says that MSFT
> is not responsible if, even with a Genuine Windows XP key, your system
> is infected by a virus and you have to rebuy another key later (so
> some lawyer at least has thought of this problem).
>
> Anybody notice this paradox? Seems MSFT is only concerned with your
> money after all, not your security.
>
> BTW I running Vista Ultimate right now on a $3 copy I bought in Asia.
> I'm not sure, maybe it's the shoddy packaging, maybe it's the low
> price, but something tells me it might not be a genuine copy. But no
> matter, so far, and I've avoided the SP1, it's working fine and I
> don't notice any obvious trojans or viruses.
>
> RL

On Sun, 10 Feb 2008 01:20:26 -0800 (PST), raylopez99 wrote:

> Microsoft claims they are concerned for potential users of Vista (or
> XP) about the effects of counterfeit copies of Vista and viruses,
> trojans, etc that may be loaded onto such counterfeit copies.

Whenever ANY large company claims they have *your* best interests in mind
you should run...
And fast....

The same thing applies when large corporations express interest in Linux
and offer a few scraps for free to the Linux community.
Watch out....




--
Moshe Goldfarb
Collector of soaps from around the globe.
Please visit The Hall of Linux Idiots:
http://linuxidiots.blogspot.com/