KB971033 update scheduled for Feb. 23

[vailr]

The release of Windows 7 "Update for Microsoft Windows (KB971033)" will change the current activation and anti-piracy behavior of Windows 7 by triggering automatic "phone home" operations over the Internet to Microsoft servers, typically for now at intervals of around 90 days.

http://lauren.vortex.com/archive/000681.html

 

[dphantom]

It is an optional download.

 

[MrTransistorm]

I recommend that you strongly consider rejecting the manual installation of the Windows Activation Technologies update KB971033, and do not permit Windows Update to install it

That only works in the short run. In the case of WGA on XP, Microsoft eventually made it so that you couldn't receive new updates at all without letting WGA install. I wouldn't be surprised if it happens again.

 

[ViRGE]

It is an optional download.

For now. I'm sure they'll make it mandatory around the time SP1 hits. But it's really not a big deal, it's basically just the latest WGA with a new name and the ability to recognize the latest piracy hacks.

 

[dphantom]

For now. I'm sure they'll make it mandatory around the time SP1 hits. But it's really not a big deal, it's basically just the latest WGA with a new name and the ability to recognize the latest piracy hacks.

Exactly. If you are legal, what is the big deal. We use KMS internally anyway so our Windows 2008/Vista/7 clients already talk to the KMS server every 90 days now.

 

[imagoon]

Seems like they are just pushing what they do to the enterprise to the public. Windows 7 requires a key server for large corp installs. All the corp keys then phone home and 'check out' 90 day licenses.

 

[MadScientist]

Details here:
http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2010/02/new-windows-7-antipiracy-update-to-phone-home-regularly.ars

Arggghhh!!!

 

[hclarkjr]

the kiddies have already cracked it and it isn't even out yet

 

[VirtualLarry]

Has anyone seen this update show up in their Win7 updates?

 

[Modelworks]

People will just flash the bios of their motherboard which will get around this 100% with no hack involved.

 

[jmagg]

People will just flash the bios of their motherboard which will get around this 100% with no hack involved.

How could flashing a bios get around wga?

 

[coolroyboy2]

If you do a clean install from an Win 7 upgrade disc would that be considered a activation hack ?

 

[Modelworks]

How could flashing a bios get around wga?

I'm not going to provide links or full details but basically the way microsoft verifies OEM pc like Dell, Gateway , etc uses the same key given to each manufacturer. It relies on a specific string of characters in the bios. People download their motherboard bios like you normally would to update it, added these strings, flashed the edited bios to their non OEM pc and now the OEM windows 7 will activate and register like any other Dell or Gateway, no hacks involved and completely transparent to microsoft.

The PC works like normal except you can run things like lavasoft everest and look at the bios code and it will show it saying it is a Dell, Gateway or whatever when it isn't.

 

[Blayze]

Has anyone seen this update show up in their Win7 updates?

Just showed up for me, and it shows up under Important updates instead of Optional.

 

[hclarkjr]

i just installed it, no problem at all

 

[Cogman]

phone homes every ninety days? that's ridiculous. What if I want to go without the internet for more then 90 days? What if I'm making a car PC ect?

I can understand a 1 time activation, heck, even activate a couple of times during the first week, but a permanent 90 day activation is retarded.

 

[Modelworks]

phone homes every ninety days? that's ridiculous. What if I want to go without the internet for more then 90 days? What if I'm making a car PC ect?

I can understand a 1 time activation, heck, even activate a couple of times during the first week, but a permanent 90 day activation is retarded.

We are getting closer all the time to where MS wants us, full cloud computing where the OS is server side and a full time connection is required.

 

[Skitzer]

We are getting closer all the time to where MS wants us, full cloud computing where the OS is server side and a full time connection is required.

That's why Linux is your friend! :sneaky:
(I love Linux Mint).

 

[EarthwormJim]

phone homes every ninety days? that's ridiculous. What if I want to go without the internet for more then 90 days? What if I'm making a car PC ect?

I can understand a 1 time activation, heck, even activate a couple of times during the first week, but a permanent 90 day activation is retarded.

Then you probably aren't taking advantage of regular Windows Updates anyway.

"Also, reportedly if the 90-day interval WAT piracy checking system "calls" are unable to connect to the Microsoft servers (or even if they are manually blocked from connecting, e.g. by firewall policies) there will reportedly be no ill effects. "

That's what the article says. So this should just affect updating, not regular Windows usage (unlike what WGA did in the past with XP).


If a person is getting updates from Microsoft, it means they have an internet connection. If they don't have an internet connection, they're not getting updates, and this won't affect them anyway.

This is really a non-issue.

 

[MrTransistorm]

Well, the KB971033 showed up in my list of important updates today. Interestingly it is unchecked by default. I know for a fact that my Windows is genuine, so I'm obviously not going to download the update. I sure hope that Microsoft sticks to its word and keeps it optional (unlike the WGA debacle).

Note: I have automatic updates fully disabled. I don't even want it to check for updates until I tell it to. I check manually several times a week, so I'm almost always up to date. I also check the description of each update to make sure that 1) it actually applies to my installation and 2) it won't cause problems with my software and drivers.

 

[Cogman]

Then you probably aren't taking advantage of regular Windows Updates anyway.

"Also, reportedly if the 90-day interval WAT piracy checking system "calls" are unable to connect to the Microsoft servers (or even if they are manually blocked from connecting, e.g. by firewall policies) there will reportedly be no ill effects. "

That's what the article says. So this should just affect updating, not regular Windows usage (unlike what WGA did in the past with XP).


If a person is getting updates from Microsoft, it means they have an internet connection. If they don't have an internet connection, they're not getting updates, and this won't affect them anyway.

This is really a non-issue.

So why don't they just check at update time rather then go through this whole "check every 90 days" mess?

 

[MadScientist]

It's a cat and mouse game between Microsoft and the crackers.

From Computerworld:
Among the 70-some cracks shut down by the update are a pair that surfaced last November, just weeks after the launch of Windows 7. At the time, Microsoft said it was aware of the cracks -- "RemoveWAT" and "Chew-WGA" -- and was working on ways to disable them. A Microsoft spokeswoman confirmed today that the WAT update will include signatures for both cracks.

The RemoveWAT crack has just been updated by its author to address the update.

 

[nerp]

Installed and got an additional 40fps in CS:S.

 

[EarthwormJim]

So why don't they just check at update time rather then go through this whole "check every 90 days" mess?

Who knows. If they checked at every update time, that could be every day for some people.

Maybe they're trying to strike a balance between being invasive and ridiculous (ubisoft), and being hardly noticeable.

 

[pcgeek11]

Just so you know, If you have installed it and want to stop the 90 day recheck all you have to do is stop the scheduled task in Task Scheduler >> Microsoft.

pcgeek11