Windows Genuine Advantage: Microsoft in court

In introducing its Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) in Windows XP, Microsoft wanted to reduce the parallel market of pirated versions of its operating system by requiring the user to validate their copy via an Internet connection. Yet this initiative does not seem to taste the whole world and a class action lawsuit has been filed at court in Washington against Microsoft specifically for his use of the WGA. Indeed, plaintiffs believe that the engineers in Redmond would have concealed it as a priority update without explaining that this was an anti-piracy tool provided with additional features.

The complaint was filed, explained that this tool consists of a notification system that can identify a pirated version of Windows and a component programmed to collect information in order to return to society.



David Lazar, director of Genuine Windows at Microsoft, explained: "This key will not be used to identify users or machines in particular. I invite you to review our policy on protection of privacy requires that we have no knowledge of the identity of users, which should not be worried about using this key.

However, the complainants pointed out that another component would refer specifically personal information to Microsoft daily. "Microsoft has hidden its WGA software users and has concealed its true nature and its features, explain the custodians of the complaint that accused the company of Steve Ballmer of violating consumer protection. They add: "The WGA verification system collects and transmits a huge amount of sensitive information to Microsoft, including the IP address of the user.

They claim the $ 5 000 000 million in damages.