Filed in archive Privacy & Security by Marc on June 30, 2006

No, this is not a typo that should have been Microsoft Antispyware (now called Defender). This is about Microsoft installing invasive software on your PC.

This isn't directly related to our category. But the experience of yet another large company abusing its customers is a story we've told before. Last time it was SonyBMG. Now it's Microsoft.

Brian Livingston sounds the alarm in "Dump Windows Update, use alternatives." Microsoft's Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) genuinely screws you, the average Joe, not the high volume CD pirates they should be worrying about. This spyware forces you to be subject to ongoing surveillance to receive future Windows updates. It actually connects to their servers once a day.

I'm outraged. I hope you are too. The article shows you what you can do to remove WGA and be more careful in the future.

Related Entries:

Ripping Goes Retro - 07 January 2006
Content is no longer king - 19 June 2006
Microsoft Spyware - 30 June 2006
Don't Let Microsoft Phone Home - 04 July 2006
Don't Let Microsoft Phone Home - 04 July 2006
Notorious Spyware Distributor Shuts Down - 26 October 2007

« "Video Catching Up t... | Main | RIAA Kiss Gets More Perso... »

Permalink: Microsoft Spyware

Tags: Microsoft Spyware microsoft spyware digital microsoft+spyware digital+music privacy+security

Trackback: http://publish.creative-weblogging.com/publish/mt-tb.pl/26161

Addthis

Ask

Blinklist

del.icio.us

Digg

Fark

Facebook

Google

Lycos

Ma.gnolia

Mr Wong

Netscape

Netvousz

Newsvine

StumbleUpon

Slashdot

Tailrank

Technorati

Wink

Yahoo

Vote for Microsoft Spyware:

Currently 8.00/10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Rating: 8.00 out of 1 vote(s) cast.

Response from: Digital Music - The Future

We've covered quite a few unsavory actors here. Spyware from SonyBMG and Microsoft, payola from the Universal and other record labels. and P2P scam sites. Just doing our job, ma'am. If you want the full course meal, head on over...

Response from: Digital Music - The Future

We reported earlier on the Microsoft Spyware known as Microsoft Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA). There is an alternative to fully removing this Windows feature. WGA validation will be needed to download future Windows updates. But the notification part...

Response from: Digital Music - The Future

I wrote earlier about the Microsoft spyware known as Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) and method to stop Microsoft from phoning home. I now use and recommend Shavlik NetChk Protect. The software is free for individual users. It bypasses WGA to...