Window Vista: Microsoft to initiate strict anti-piracy steps

Microsoft Corp. said it intends to crack down really heavily on software pirates, especially those who use unlicensed versions of its new operating system, Windows Vista.





The company said Wednesday its new Software Protection Platform software will alert users if their computers are appearing to be using unlicensed or tampered-with versions of the operating system. Such users will also be denied access to some of the most used features of the operating system, including the improved graphics technology called Aero. And, if the user does not buy a licensed copy of the system within 30 days, there will be further curtailments in functionality.

These will include: ReadyBoost, a feature that allows users to add memory to systems by plugging in a USB flash drive will be disabled, while Windows Defender, the anti-spyware protection available in the system, will be deactivated. When in anti-piracy mode, the system will also disable other installed applications like Office.

Thomas Lindeman, Microsoft senior product manager, said such restrictions would mean the user will be able to use the computer only to surf the web, get documents on the hard drive or log onto web-based e-mail. He or she would not be able to open documents from the computer desktop or run other programs such as Outlook e-mail software.

However, he said the company does not intend to stop a computer running the pirated operating system from working completely. It will also deliver critical security updates.
more on earthtimes