Microsoft 'Genuine Advantage' program continues to irk users

The program was launched last July to sniff out pirated copies of Windows XP

(IDG News Service) -- Microsoft Corp.'s program for testing whether a PC is running a genuine copy of Windows, known as Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA), has drawn considerable fire from users since it was launched last July.

This week, Microsoft gave users another reason to complain when it confirmed that the version of the program being delivered as a "high priority" automatic update for Windows PCs is a test version. Usually, Microsoft distributes test versions of software separately from updates, and users are given the opportunity to sign up for the software before test versions are downloaded.

Microsoft said that users still can opt out of downloading the update, called WGA Notifications, and that its user license makes it clear that it's prerelease software. However, many users don't read an entire license agreement, which can be lengthy, before downloading software to their computers. And some download all Windows updates without looking closely at the fine print.

Microsoft has mounted an aggressive program to eliminate counterfeit and pirated versions of Windows, and WGA is a part of that effort. The program was first distributed to users of Microsoft's download services who wanted to install add-on software, excluding security releases, for Windows. Since WGA's release, users have complained of bugs in the program.

One of those problems, in which the software identifies a genuine copy of Windows as pirated or counterfeit, apparently persists, according to comments sent by e-mail to IDG News Service from one Windows user.

"I bought my PC with a legitimate XP license, which I have registered, and now my machine keeps telling me I have pirated software," said Windows XP user Doug Fleming. "I paid good money for legitimate software and now my PC locks up whenever I get a message telling me my software isn't genuine. To make matters worse, there is no contact information to get the problem rectified."

"In many cases, customers don't know they have received a counterfeit copy," the company said in a statement through its public relations firm, Waggener Edstrom Inc.

Another Windows user said in an e-mail that the WGA Notifications service, which has to send information about a user's PC over the Internet back to Microsoft, could pose a security risk. Microsoft last week defended itself against charges that this aspect of the program was acting like spyware, which is software that gathers users' information through their Internet connection without their knowledge.

"The process seems to open a door for hackers to exploit," Windows user James Slotter said in an e-mail. "It might also open a door for another vendor to provide a more secure set of programs than Microsoft is willing to provide."

"We understand customers’ concern about installing a program that could possibly impact their systems," Microsoft said. "WGA Notifications has gone through a thorough testing period. We are confident that the software can be installed and used safely."

WGA Notifications will be rolled out worldwide by the end of the year, Microsoft said.

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