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In anticipation of the Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) program update to be rolled out this September, Microsoft is urging users of Windows XP Professional to validate and activate their software. Validation can be done through the company's website at www.microsoft.com/genuine.
This advisory from the company comes in recognition that some users may not even be aware that their software is unlicensed as the peddling and selling of counterfeit software have become increasingly sophisticated. "It has happened in the past that some consumers and businesses were caught by surprise, unaware that they were using or had unwittingly purchased pirated software until they received WGA Notifications. There were even those who had paid the price of genuine copies only to find out that counterfeit versions were installed in their computers. This is why we want to help them determine if their software is genuine beforehand," said Richard Francis, Microsoft General Manager for Windows Client in the Asia Pacific region.
The WGA Notifications is a program that helps Microsoft fight software piracy and helps its users validate if the copy of Windows installed in their computer is genuine and properly licensed. Once the user is confirmed to be utilizing a genuine copy of Windows, the user can take advantage of all the capabilities, support and enhancements, as well as peace of mind, that come with using genuine software.
On the other hand, those who fail to validate their copies will receive frequent notifications hat they may be victims of software counterfeiting. The updated version of the WGA Notifications will include a persistent desktop notice where the users' desktop backgrounds will change to black every 60 minutes. This will not reduce the computer's functionality or shut it down. Users who experience this can revert to their original settings by right-clicking on the desktop and choosing "properties" or changing the display in the Control Panel. However, the desktop notification will recur every 60 minutes until the users have entered a genuine product key.
"We strongly encourage those who have not had the chance to activate their copies of Windows XP Professional to take the necessary steps to do so," Francis added.
In 2006, after WGA Notifications program was launched, Microsoft reported nearly 400 million validations globally and since the inception of the validation tools, there have been more than 100,000 counterfeit reports worldwide which was submitted through WGA by those who feel they were victims of counterfeit software.
Users of non-genuine software risk encountering problems such as reduced reliability and system stability, and exposure to security threats. The negative impacts of counterfeiting and other forms of software piracy also extend from the companies who wrote the software through the ecosystem of local resellers worldwide who depend on software sales, down to individual consumers.
"Every year, a great number of consumers and businesses get hurt by software piracy, not to mention its ill effects on the local software industry. With WGA, we want to protect the users and help educate them on the advantages of using genuine software," concluded Francis.
-- Tech Times Online
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