WGA Reports Back To MS Even If You Choose Not To Install
Heise online reports on a very interesting action Microsoft is taking during the installation of WGA.
When you start WGA setup and get to the license agreement page but decided NOT to install the highly controversial WGA component and cancel the installation, the setup program will send your info and the fact that you choose not to install WGA back to their servers.
In addition to that it seems that the setup program send some information stored in your registry to http://genuine.microsoft.com/. While it does not specifically identify the user, it looks like it does send some identification of your computer and Windows version (see picture) to Microsoft servers.
Update: In response to this publication Microsoft published the details of the information being sent
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March 7th, 2007 at 12:14 pm
Damn - they are in breach of every possible EU regulation concerning data protection !!!!
March 7th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
One more reason I use ZoneAlarm. I’m one of those paranoid types who likes to know when an unfamiliar program tries sending information over the Internet.
March 7th, 2007 at 1:19 pm
One more reason I use Linux.
March 7th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
This is yet another good reason to switch to another OS or move to Macs. Microjunk in their constant need to spy on everyone is disgusting. I’d love to have the entire board of directors and the upper management of MS to have all of their system specs, browsing history and other “private” data be scrutinized by the internet community.. I bet there would be less invasions of privacy from these morons.
March 7th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
is the best.
March 7th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
Could you please link to the english version of the original article on
http://www.heise-security.co.uk/news/86294
instead of the google translation?
thx, ju
March 7th, 2007 at 4:56 pm
I think it’s abundantly clear that Microsoft cares nothing for EU’s regulation, law or courts. (For that matter it’s pretty resistant to the legal system in its native US as well.) If you can trust the company or its products, it would seem prudent to start weening yourself from using either. Choose MacOS or choose Linux. Choose your favorite. Both OSes can emulate or host the foreign [Windows] OS in some way to help facilitate weening while running your newly selected OS. Escape from the MS trap isn’t particularly easy for most, but it’s definitely worth it.
March 7th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
Is anyone really surprised?
Power corrupts.
Learn History or repeat it.
March 7th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
Microsoft ever going to open source? ~ …
damn..F-ing WGA..
March 7th, 2007 at 8:34 pm
It is sad and they are not gaining any friends in the process. The sad reality is that maybe people are not completely fed up with their tactics.
March 7th, 2007 at 8:36 pm
I will echo the cries of others. Install Linux. I work for a windows only shop, but continue to find ways of making my work easier using my linux server at home. Money and popularity are not everything. Remember that the next time there is an office exploit, and M$ response is “Buy our new version”.
March 7th, 2007 at 9:57 pm
This is why I switched ALL my PCs to Linux. (I build Linux boxes on a regular basis, so the transition was smooth).
March 8th, 2007 at 4:49 am
Does it say anything interesting if you base64 decode those strings?
March 8th, 2007 at 4:57 am
Why do you care if you have nothing to hide?
March 8th, 2007 at 9:49 am
“Why do you care if you have nothing to hide”?
You really need to read some Bruce Schneier. Why do you have window blinds on your house? Why do you wear clothes? Do you have something to hide, or do you just value a certain level of privacy, like all humans? What if the rules change in the future, and you do have something to hide?
March 8th, 2007 at 11:06 pm
“Why do you care if you have nothing to hide?”
Nothing to hide, but everthing to Protect, you moron.
March 9th, 2007 at 4:29 am
To answer my own question in 13: MS have revealed what the data means at:
http://blogs.msdn.com/wga/archive/2007/03/07/wga-notifications-and-download-and-install-telemetry.aspx
Nothing very exciting.
October 1st, 2007 at 5:19 pm
Conclusion: do not setup WGA on your PC.