Windows Genuine "Advantage" Secretly Calls Home to Microsoft
By David Walker |
June 9th, 2006
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In what is certain to cause Linux and Mac OS X users to join hands to sing against Microsoft (not that they weren’t already), Ars Technica has reported the disturbing news that Microsoft’s Genuine Advantage tool - which is now required to download some updates, though not critical security fixes - “phones home” on a daily basis, supposedly to ensure that the “pilot program” does not malfunction. Gee, guys, it’s good to know you’ve forced a tool on me that you’re not confident won’t malfunction without a daily dose of home loving.
Apparently, this “feature” of Genuine Advantage is not disclosed in the End User License Agreement (EULA) which is the main beef Ars brings up with the functionality. Other companies, like Apple with it’s MiniStore, also have the same “feature”, but Apple now notifies users of the fact that they are sending information to Apple. Microsoft has not disclosed what information is being sent back, but the idea that any information is being sent without user consent is troubling. Program head David Lazar did conceed that they will look to communicate these “features” better in the future. Let’s hope Microsoft chooses to always openly disclose these communications in their products, if not leaving the communication out altogether.
Update: It appears that Microsoft, according to eWeek, is removing the dial-home component of the Windows Genuine Advantage Tool and is updating the End User License Agreement to be clearer about the purpose of the app.
Doodlebot – 12 hours 27 minutes ago