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| Newsgroup ::: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general |
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this is popping up on a pc in the morning. You May be a victim of software counterfeiting. this copy of windows is not genuine. click this balloon to resolve now |
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Is not a virus, using Windows Update you installed "Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications" that validates if you have a genuine copy of windows, check out his link: http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000597.html "Brian" wrote: > this is popping up on a pc in the morning. > > You May be a victim of software counterfeiting. this copy of windows is not > genuine. click this balloon to resolve now > > > |
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On Mon, 18 Sep 2006 15:51:02 -0700, el-chema Even if it's "just" the WGA notification tool, it could be termed malware. Malware is user-hostile code that is stealthed into the system under false pretences; this one poses as a security update there to address the user's interests, but it's really there to address the vendor's interests OTOH, you may see fake "WGA" malware that uses the familiar WGA alert as SE to lure the user into clicking itont something completely different. I haven't heard of such as yet, but it could happen. Are you running warez XP, using a stolen Volume License Key? If so, then it's most likely to be MS's WGA doing exactly what it is supposed to do - alert the user that they are detectable as improperly licensed, and thus liable to be blocked from the Windows Update site, as well as offline installation of Service Packs. If not, then it's either MS's WGA messing up (false positive alert - but I think that was fixed a while ago) or it's a malware fake. It can be argued that running a Windows that is detectable as not being properly licensed is in itself a security/safety risk to the user, because without patching, the code base will become increasingly exploitable as time goes by. If you swallow that argument, then the WGA notification tool cannot be considered malware on any basis. OTOH, right now the same Automatic Update that rams WGA Notification Tool into the system will also ram in the patches you need. Contrast this with being a legally-licensed user of the original "fit to release" XP (i.e. "Service Pack 0"), which WGA will not highlight as a risk, even though MS no longer tests this version of XP for exploitability, nor does it issue new patched for it. So we have XP SP0 that cannot be patched via any methodology, because no patches will ever be made for it again. WGA-OK; no alert. And we have XP SP1 (briefly) and SP2 that are already being automatically patched via the same conduit that brings in the WGA Notification Tool, which alerts because a warez VLK is detected. On the basis of the above, I conclude that the WGA Notification Tool is purely there for MS's benefit, and is not geared to alerting the user about increased risk to future exploits. This is at odds with the logic behind Auto Update's pushing of "security updates", and this variance is some grounds to label it as commercial malware. >Is not a virus, using Windows Update you installed "Windows Genuine Advantage >Notifications" that validates if you have a genuine copy of windows, check >out his link: >http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000597.html >"Brian" wrote: >> this is popping up on a pc in the morning. >> You May be a victim of software counterfeiting. this copy of windows is not >> genuine. click this balloon to resolve now >------------ ----- --- -- - - - - Drugs are usually safe. Inject? (Y/n) >------------ ----- --- -- - - - - |
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Brian wrote: > this is popping up on a pc in the morning. > > You May be a victim of software counterfeiting. this copy of windows > is not genuine. click this balloon to resolve now Windows Genuine Advantage - Diagnostic Site http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/diag/ From MVP Carey Frisch: Please follow this simple troubleshooting procedure: 1. Download and install the WGA Diagnostic Tool http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=56062 2. After running the WGA Diagnostic Tool, click on the "Windows" tab and then click on "Copy to Clipboard". 3. Next, visit the following website and create a post in the "WGA Validation Problems" forum and paste the results of the WGA Diagnostic Data in a detailed post: http://forums.microsoft.com/Genuine/default.aspx?SiteID=25 4. A WGA troubleshooting specialist will analyze the data and recommend an appropriate solution. Piracy - http://www.microsoft.com/resources/howtotell/ww/default.mspx Piracy Basics - Microsoft Product Activation - http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/basics/activation/ Genuine Windows Offer Q&A - http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/purchase/purchaseFAQ.aspx Malke -- Elephant Boy Computers www.elephantboycomputers.com "Don't Panic!" MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User |
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