Wat update - yes/no?

seekermeister said:

I'm still waiting for the answer to a question that I posted in another thread. Apparently, WAT creates a new service, and I'm wondering what happens if that service is disabled?

Nothing so far; but it is not due to phone home for 85 days. You can change the date it triggers to phone home by up to 365 days.

Thorsen said:

dmdilks said:

You know the funny part of all of this is how Billy Boy & Microsoft started out. How I understand it he stole everything thing he started out with.

LOL this is false. I never get tired of hearing the stories though. Ah....

Such stories show that a good tale sells better than the truth.

RST101 said:

It won't get any where near my computer. I have activated once and now they want to snoop, ha your having a laugh.

You want to make a bet? It's optional now, with purpose, but eventually you are going to have to choose: run Win7 with WAT or find another OS.

RST101 said:

They will probably want to charge you again in 12 months another £100.

Most naive comment I've seen or heard.

Staple Head said:

sanford said:

I guess I am stupid, but I still fail to see why anyone would actually want to install this?

What am I missing?

your missing nothing. you are right most users will not want to install this.

Most users have nothing to be afraid and worry, so most users accept the facts and install it / let it be installed. These normal users install it latest when it is no more optional (believe me, that day comes sooner than you think!). It would be insane to try to avoid it by using different cracks, only because it checks four times a year if everything is OK.

We have to remember we do not own Windows; instead we have just bought a licence, a permission to use this property of Microsoft as the EULA clearly states. (Windows 7 Official End User License Agreement (EULA).pdf)

As I said, nobody with a legal copy of Windows will have any bigger problems. In some rare cases the user might have to re-activate by phone but it is a peace of cake.

Kari

Staple Head said:

what part of the fact that we do not want something phoning home do you not understand? that is the main issue. as for the patch being forced on user that do not want it, NOT. as previously stated in this thread kb971033 has already ben cracked and microsoft will fix it and it will be cracked again. when it is included in sp1 hackers will simply rewrite sp1 to not include it. regardless of the eula most user consider the copy of the os that they paid for theirs, and this is not going to change just because microsoft says so.

What part of facts stated in the Windows 7 EULA you agreed to 'obey' and follow when you installed Microsoft's property (Windows) do you not understand?

EULA, paragraphs 4 and 5(a) & (b):

Windows 7 EULA said:

4. MANDATORY ACTIVATION.

Activation associates the use of the software with a specific computer. During activation, the software will send information about the software and the computer to Microsoft. This information includes the version, language and product key of the software, the Internet protocol address of the computer, and information derived from the hardware configuration of the computer. For more information, see Windows 7 Privacy Statement - Microsoft Windows. By using the software, you consent to the transmission of this information. If properly licensed, you have the right to use the version of the software installed during the installation process up to the time permitted for activation. Unless the software is activated, you have no right to use the software after the time permitted for activation. This is to prevent its unlicensed use. You are not permitted to bypass or circumvent activation. If the computer is connected to the Internet, the software may automatically connect to Microsoft for activation. You can also activate the software manually by Internet or telephone. If you do so, Internet and telephone service charges may apply. Some changes to your computer components or the software may require you to reactivate the software. The software will remind you to activate it until you do.

5. VALIDATION.
a. Validation verifies that the software has been activated and is properly licensed. It also verifies that no unauthorized changes have been made to the validation, licensing, or activation functions of the software. Validation may also check for certain malicious or unauthorized software related to such unauthorized changes. A validation check confirming that you are properly licensed permits you to continue to use the software, certain features of the software or to obtain additional benefits. You are not permitted to circumvent validation. This is to prevent unlicensed use of the software. For more information, see Genuine Microsoft Software.

b. The software will from time to time perform a validation check of the software. The check may be initiated by the software or Microsoft. To enable the activation function and validation checks, the software may from time to time require updates or additional downloads of the validation, licensing or activation functions of the software. The updates or downloads are required for the proper functioning of the software and may be downloaded and installed without further notice to you. During or after a validation check, the software may send information about the software, the computer and the results of the validation check to Microsoft. This information includes, for example, the version and product key of the software, any unauthorized changes made to the validation, licensing or activation functions of the software, any related malicious or unauthorized software found and the Internet protocol address of the computer. Microsoft does not use the information to identify or contact you. By using the software, you consent to the transmission of this information. For more information about validation and what is sent during or after a validation check, see Genuine Microsoft Software.

Microsoft does not force us to use Windows. If you pay for the licence, or obtain it in another legal way, Microsoft allows you to use Windows as long as you agree to EULA. If you don't agree, you should IMO use Linux or other OS instead.

Windows is not the first OS or application to call home and certainly not the last, quite a number of applications do this. The AV program checks the validity of the licence etc.

I repeat what I've said numerous times: If the user has nothing to hide, what harm can be done and how the h*** would user even notice it, if Windows 'calls home' 4 times year without user even noticing it?

Kari

Well said, Kari. Here are the main points from Section 5b, which I have highlighted.

Windows 7 EULA said:

4. MANDATORY ACTIVATION.

Activation associates the use of the software with a specific computer. During activation, the software will send information about the software and the computer to Microsoft. This information includes the version, language and product key of the software, the Internet protocol address of the computer, and information derived from the hardware configuration of the computer. For more information, see Windows 7 Privacy Statement - Microsoft Windows. By using the software, you consent to the transmission of this information. If properly licensed, you have the right to use the version of the software installed during the installation process up to the time permitted for activation. Unless the software is activated, you have no right to use the software after the time permitted for activation. This is to prevent its unlicensed use. You are not permitted to bypass or circumvent activation. If the computer is connected to the Internet, the software may automatically connect to Microsoft for activation. You can also activate the software manually by Internet or telephone. If you do so, Internet and telephone service charges may apply. Some changes to your computer components or the software may require you to reactivate the software. The software will remind you to activate it until you do.

5. VALIDATION.
a. Validation verifies that the software has been activated and is properly licensed. It also verifies that no unauthorized changes have been made to the validation, licensing, or activation functions of the software. Validation may also check for certain malicious or unauthorized software related to such unauthorized changes. A validation check confirming that you are properly licensed permits you to continue to use the software, certain features of the software or to obtain additional benefits. You are not permitted to circumvent validation. This is to prevent unlicensed use of the software. For more information, see Genuine Microsoft Software.

b. The software will from time to time perform a validation check of the software. The check may be initiated by the software or Microsoft. To enable the activation function and validation checks, the software may from time to time require updates or additional downloads of the validation, licensing or activation functions of the software. The updates or downloads are required for the proper functioning of the software and may be downloaded and installed without further notice to you. During or after a validation check, the software may send information about the software, the computer and the results of the validation check to Microsoft. This information includes, for example, the version and product key of the software, any unauthorized changes made to the validation, licensing or activation functions of the software, any related malicious or unauthorized software found and the Internet protocol address of the computer. Microsoft does not use the information to identify or contact you. By using the software, you consent to the transmission of this information. For more information about validation and what is sent during or after a validation check, see Genuine Microsoft Software.

sanford said:

From my perspective, being "afraid" has nothing to do with it...

What I fail to see is any benefit to the end user. This update does not "fix a problem", make my PC faster, protect my pc from malware, etc.

Again I ask "what am I missing?"

It does not always have to be something that directly benefits the end user. Microsoft is a commercial enterprise, trying to make profit to its shareholders. As long as using their OS's and applications stay on voluntary basis, they have every right to expect the end users to follow the rules.

It is no more curios than for instance Norton AV checking the validity of your licence every time it downloads new AV definitions, almost daily it is. Or a game update to check if your licence is OK thus allowing you to install the update. If you have chosen to pay for the right to use a Norton AV application, they have right to check your licence is valid.

This is only a variation of things happening all around us, every day. Credit card companies checking applicants before granting a new card, employers asking recruits to do drug tests before offering a job, customs checking the passengers to decide if they are entitled to enter a country. They do not think we are criminal or otherwise not trustworthy; they just need to be as sure as possible.

Same thing with Microsoft. As a market leader, they OS's and software belong to the most cracked ones. They have every right to do whatever they can to protect their property. Luckily these methods used by Microsoft cause no harm, they do not slow down or affect your computer. You do not even notice these checks.

You as an end user have a free choice. You can choose not to use Windows if you disagree with EULA.

Kari