Opinion: Windows Genuine Advantage and why you should be annoyed

Computerworld - Just when it looks like Microsoft might be coming around, at least somewhat, on the boondoggle that is User Account Control in its upcomig Windows Vista operating system, the company loses all rationality and releases several consecutive betas of Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) to millions of unsuspecting Windows XP users. Moreover, it has done so via its high-priority security Automatic Updates, Windows Update and Microsoft Update online-updating channels.

WGA is a beta anti-piracy program from Microsoft that's designed to keep it from losing money on stolen product keys and counterfeit copies of Windows and Office. In typical Big Corporation lie-through-your-teeth-marketing style, Microsoft has named its anti-piracy push to sound as if there were something good about it for customers, when in fact, the only advantage is for Microsoft. For some small percentage of legitimate Windows customers, WGA is going to be a royal pain in the behind, with the potential to make some people very frustrated and angry with Microsoft. And for many other people already teetering on the fence about whether Microsoft is a good company to deal with, it may tip them away once and for all. If you doubt that at all, go search Google for "WGA."

Bloggers, newsletter authors and computer publications have already reported a good deal about WGA. Unfortunately, the negative impact WGA may have on "man in the street" Windows users hasn't permeated into the mainstream press. It wouldn't be difficult for The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN or Consumer Reports to find average people who've been told their legitimate Windows XP or Office 2003 software is a "counterfeit copy." Because that's what WGA does. It's a small sliver of code that watches your computer and tries to determine whether your copy of Windows is legit. If WGA determines your software doesn't have the proper credentials, it may offer you any of several options for paying up. In other words, WGA sets itself up as Big Brother, watching your PC for possible use of invalid or stolen product keys.

Microsoft has given out only vague information, published in a blog, about the existence of false positives -- those times when WGA wrongly accuses Windows customers of having an illegitimate copy of Microsoft software. At least 80% of the pirated or counterfeit software WGA finds involves the use of stolen or repeat use of one-time product keys, where Microsoft has a genuine beef. Has Microsoft (or any software development company) ever written perfect code? Of course not. So there are false positives; We just don't know how many.