Would you let Microsoft scan your computer ?

[JB]

Interesting article, especially the second page. Conspiracy theory, paranoia or truth? You decide 

http://www.techarp.com/showarticle.aspx?artno=670&pgno=0

[gizmo71]

... er... check article date...

[Lance]

The update exists and I installed it the other day, but as giz has pointed out I don't think the story tells the whole truth!

[JB]

... er... check article date...

Oops !  

Still - worth thinking about though.

[Technical Ben]

Well, um. What's the point in me installing the "anti anti windows 7 activation update"? If I have a legitimate copy. I will not need it. If someone else has an illegitimate copy, they will not install it. 
So why does this exist (or why is it not compulsory)?

Is it like those questionnaires the police hand out that say "are you a criminal?" 

[Rik]

You should answer yes, and see how they react, Ben. 

[pctech]

Because if they make it compulsory someone will moan and they also have to do that for system admins in large corporate networks who only install updates once a month to control the network traffic.

[Rik]

 

Well, it will make for greater equality. 

[JB]

If someone else has an illegitimate copy, they will not install it.

I think the main target is people who build and sell or repair and install non genuine copies of Windows. The users who end up with these machines generally won't have the savvy to avoid installing updates such as these, indeed initially most of them probably have no idea their OS is not genuine. I guess MS are hoping that such users will be returning to dodgy dealers and giving them a hard time.

I agree that people who knowingly pirate the OS will not install such updates except for a moment of distraction maybe after a few beers!

[Rik]

Does sangria count, JB?

[gizmo71]

Because if they make it compulsory someone will moan and they also have to do that for system admins in large corporate networks who only install updates once a month to control the network traffic.

Large companies don't connect their PCs directly to Windows Update. Even I have a WSUS server on my home network which pulls updates from WU and lets me distribute updates when and to which machines I choose. At Ford they don't use Windows Update at all; updates are packaged up into sets and distributed through their own update system.

[pctech]

Yes that is part of the reason they aren't enforced.