Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of local PC users running pirated Windows operating systems will soon face the shame of being reminded of their illegal action every time they switch on their machines. The feature will be added to the operating system by Microsoft Corp from tomorrow and cannot be erased. It will nag the guilty users and can be awkward if it shows up on corporate PCs. Current users of PCs running pirated Windows will find their machines “tattooed” the next time they update the operating system.
Basically, a message stating “This copy of Windows is not genuine …” will be permanently affixed to the operating system’s login screen, and a similar message will randomly pop up on the desktop whenever the machine is in use.

The anti-piracy move is being kicked off in five countries tomorrow – the United States, Britain, New Zealand, Australia and Malaysia.

Users whose machines have been affected will only be able to get rid of the tattoo if they install a genuine copy of Windows. Prices range from RM320 for a copy of Windows XP Home (OEM version) to RM510 for Windows XP Pro (OEM version).

“Or they can put up with being ‘nagged’ by the pop-up message every time they use their computers,” said K.T. Ng, group manager for Windows Client solutions at Microsoft Malaysia.

If they were businessmen or corporate executives, it would be embarrassing if their clients saw the tattoo indicating that a pirated copy of Windows was being used, he said.

According to Ng, the move was aimed at better serving Microsoft’s genuine users.

For example, he said, counterfeiters had been able to reproduce Microsoft product packaging to the point where consumers were unable to tell genuine from imitation.

“The pop-up message would immediately alert consumers to counterfeit copies of Windows, such as when they buy a new notebook or PC,” he said.

If a user has unknowingly received an illegal copy of the operating system, he will be able to report the vendor concerned by clicking on the “Get Genuine” button at the login screen.

Machines that have been tattooed will still be able to receive software updates for the operating system, but will not be allowed to download Internet Explorer 7.0 (IE7) and Windows Defender.

IE7 is the new, more secure version of Microsoft’s web browser while Windows Defender is an anti-spyware program.

LOL!!! I like the Idea... (It's true that they have a problem with Piracy)

It sounds a bit ultra futaristic in the way it's described though, For them to attach this tattoo to the billions of P.C. currently operationg Windows would be an massive use of resource on their part, plus is it possible???

It sounds like a scare tactic to me, Once it's released they will probably also release some funds to the local media so they can shine the spotlight on a couple of pre-targeted individuals...

It's certainly gonna be interesting though and I like the idea...

Cheers amrit1...

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HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA good one i checked the date then to see if it was APRIL THE FIRST lol !!

like this will make any difference ?!

it will be reverse engineered in no time at all no doubt the source code leaked from within microsuck themselves lol

i think i figured it already ..... just dont AUTO UPDATE!

EDIT ..... Windows.Genuine.Advantage.Validation.v1.5.526.0.cr a__cked

problem solved lol


microsuck 0 hackers 1


lol

im looking forward for micro$oft to begin its cr a_ckdown and im also be looking forward for the WGA hacked within 48 hours micro$oft commence. LOL!

I m also using the pirated version. Originals are very costly

someone i know bought a PC off ebay and started getting the 'this is a copy' message.

now he has to pay an additional £92 to get it registered. lol

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get them to find the dll fix mentioned above and replace the one that windows has already this will cure it lol ... erm so i heard anyhow



WGA has already been done read above posts

update. for whats it worth, the version to download is the student version. the the 2 discs in the torrent file is WINXPPROITT.daa 538 Mb
Windows XP to Media Center Edition 2005 Converter.daa 374 Mb
readme.txt 0 Mb