Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : Computer Learning -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: PMS Witch who wrote (68734)	2/27/2010 11:24:04 AM
From: SIer formerly known as Joe B.	1 Recommendation Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 110653

From Windows Secrets newsleter Skip Microsoft's upcoming WAT licensing patch Microsoft will be pushing out patch 971033 in the next several weeks. This is one I strongly recommend you skip. The patch is for Microsoft's notorious Windows Activation Technologies (WAT), which checks your machine every 90 days for Windows 7 validation purposes. I disagree with the proponents of this patch because I believe there are valid security issues with it. First, this patch — labeled as an "Important" security update when it's pushed out through Windows and Microsoft Update — is, in fact, a voluntary marketing gimmick. This violates users' trust in security updates. The fact that Microsoft is not placing the update into Windows Server Update Services, Redmond's enterprise patching platform, clearly suggests that the company doesn't want to upset its corporate customers with this nonsense. Second (and far more important), malware can disturb the software licensing code in your PC, causing WAT to flag a system as not genuine. I wish Microsoft had instead taken the tack of tweaking its Malicious Software Removal Tool to remove any malware that has disturbed a PC's licensing code. I also wish users could voluntarily and privately check their systems' licenses through Microsoft's site. Some disreputable repair shops steal Windows licenses by installing unlicensed versions. The WAT update destroys user trust in the security-updating process. The fact that Microsoft is delivering a trouble-ridden activation hack as an "Important" security upgrade reinforces my oft-repeated advice: turn Notify Only on and Automatic Updates off.