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Thanks very much - I was also concerned that weird torrents might be harmful and worse yet, a waste of time.
Thanks again for the update.
Rich
Microsoft: Don't Download Windows 7 Interim Builds from Torrent Trackers
Users should first of all consider the risks.
Leaked builds of Windows 7 available for download via torrent trackers have been accompanying the development of the next iteration of Windows since the operating system was in Milestone 1 stage. As Windows 7 evolved to M2, M3, Beta and pre-Release Candidate, a steady flow of leaked development milestones have made it into the wild and are up for grabs for any user with a BitTorrent client. However, Microsoft indicated that all such releases put end users at risk because there's no telling how the source of the leaked builds tampered with the bits.
“If there's a thing that we absolutely do not recommend to end users, it's that they should download interim builds of Windows 7 from torrent trackers,” revealed Tudor Galos, Windows Business Group Lead at Microsoft Romania, exclusively to Softpedia. “Galos indicated that Microsoft’s official channels should be considered as the sole source of Windows 7 development milestones. “Why? Because many leaked releases can be affected by hackers.”
Galos underlined that Windows 7 interim images could be reversed engineered, with the resulting image being made available on BitTorrent websites. He warned that leaked interim builds of Windows 7 could very well contain malicious software that could put end users' machines and sensitive data at risk.
“End users should not play around with leaked Windows 7 builds, because they are not official, supported releases. It's best that they use only Microsoft’s website to download Windows 7 bits, accessing builds that come with certain guarantees, and with recommendations, security guidelines, deployment and usage guidelines, and that allow for feedback to be sent to Microsoft,” Galos concluded.
The latest leaked development milestone of Windows 7 is Build 7106, which followed Build 7077 in the wild. According to Microsoft, via WinSuperSite, the gap between 7077 and 7106 can be explained because of the Windows 7 build forking procedure. The move is designed to permit the Windows team to develop Windows 7 Release Candidate and Windows 7 RTM (release to manufacturing) builds in parallel. In this regard, Build 7077 belongs to the RC-branch, while Build 7106 is from the RTM-branch.
Full article Here: Microsoft: Don't Download Windows 7 Interim Builds from Torrent Trackers - Users should first of all consider the risks - Softpedia
Thanks very much - I was also concerned that weird torrents might be harmful and worse yet, a waste of time.
Thanks again for the update.
Rich
If 7106 was a 'leaked development milestone' than how come it's missing a digital signature?
Probably because it really isn't what was originally leaked. Then there's the question of who leaked it, and from where.
Precisely! You don't know just what you are downloading until downloaded! This is one reason a separate "test leak" partition was setup due to the rampid rush too many have to grab at "anything" like the 7106? or should I point out 7106 Bogus Alert!
That's a classic example of what the warning there is all about. This was one thing pointed at Technet when people were asking for help on certain leaks from "unknown sources" were the reply given was: "sorry we can't offer support for anything other then the approved 7 beta!".
If you grab a leak from a torrent site as I think most have already at some point essentially "do at your own risk!" seems to be the firm warning being given there. It's a very timely post there Ex_Brit!
actually the latest release is 7077 remember everyone?
7106 is latest leak from the rtm branch but 7077 is the latest release...
Last edited by darkassain; 16 Apr 2009 at 21:48.
I think that because build 7106 was hacked to pieces and released on torrents, is the whole reason Microsoft has spoken out, because it doesn't help anyone to download that sort of crap. Microsoft can't use any of the data coming from that build and for the end user they can only expect a half functioning OS anyway.
At least with all the other genuine leaked torrents they were good indicators to Microsoft that they were on the right track, from comments made on forums like this and the install data being sent back to Microsoft.
Precisely! The supposed 7106 is far from anything as new as the 7077 from the start having already downloaded and installed it already! The 7077 on the other hand isn't any hacked up 7000/7022 build but an actual leak in both 32bit first and later 64bit in full working order.
One fact to that confirms that quite well is actually seeing video recording work in anything since XP here in the 32bit 7077 build. That wasn't seen in Vista or the 7000 build from the start! From seeing that mess plus a couple of other garbage fakes I have to readily agree with the MS warning seen there.
They are correct, it is a risk. BUT those like me who desire to test something fairly recent HAVE to get our bits using leaks BECAUSE Sinofsky hasn't given us anything since 7000!!! Ok, I feel better now. :)
You simply have to careful about what you go after. While the 7106 may just be one of the early builds from the rtm labs the one seen on the torrents right after the 7077 wasn't one of those by a long shot! Someone tossed a bogey in there that was quickly removed right before this MS warning was seen?
Since MS is already well aware of the genuine leaks as well as the "fabulous fakes"! they took the initiative to issue the warning seen there. In fact the 7077 is now gone from the same sites having had it's day. So now we all wait to see if any other "genuine articles" are seen before the RC1!