Curtains for pirated Windows

That’s the interesting headline that appeared in The Star recently.

I read with interest with what Microsoft Malaysia have to say, if you missed the article, here’s what it’s all about.

PETALING JAYA: From today, those with pirated copies of the Windows XP Professional operating system in their computers that are Internet-capable could find their screens going black and the icons vanishing as Microsoft Corp gets tough.

There are 8.6 million users of Windows XP Pro in Malaysia and about three million are expected to suffer the “blackouts”, according to Microsoft Malaysia.

To continue working, users will need to reset the machine’s desktop background. All will return to normal, but only for 60 minutes before another blackout occurs.

The only “cure” is to get a licensed copy of the operating system from a Microsoft reseller or going online at www.microsoft. com/malaysia/genuine. Each licence costs RM580.

The initiative is part of Microsoft’s anti-piracy campaign, dubbed Windows Genuine Advantage, aimed at educating users on the benefits of using genuine software, Microsoft Malaysia client business group director K.T. Ng told The Star yesterday.

Now, how many will be effected by this new development? I mean, how many pirated windows users are there in Malaysia? I would say about 80% of all home users right? One thing I wondered is this, how would they send the necessary updates into the pirated Windows XP to enable that effect to happen? I’m sure the smart ones and even those that isn’t that smart would have been adviced by the pirates to DON’T TURN ON THE UPDATE FUNCTION. By not updating, they wouldn’t be facing this problem right?

So what is Microsoft aiming at? Have they found a way to install the bug/update into all PCs running Windows software to detect such pirated softwares? IMHO, the only other way they could have done so is via the LIVE messenger device but then when we install the messenger, it doesn’t go through the validating software function at all. So how do they do it? Really curious about it.

For now, I’ll just be waiting to see how many people would start to complain of this so-called ‘BlackOut’ on forums and blogs. As for me, I’m not worried as I’m using their genuine Vista OS. LOL.At the moment, only thing a Windows XP user could do if such a thing starts to occur is …

1. Put your Windows XP offline (not like it’ll help once the bug is inside the system and got it’s timer to start ticking down.) and pray that those Piracy ‘Guru’ would be able to come up with a crack/workaround to disable the ‘BlackOut’.

2. Go get the genuince Windows XP software which means parting with your hard earn cash to fund all those Microsoft bosses golfing expenses.

3. Switch to Linux (those that have graphic GNU) or Ubuntu effective making your notebook or PC looks like the EeePC. The plus point of this is the Linux community will grow bigger and also your Notebook/Desktop CPU will run faster as the OS is smaller and provides a better power saving plan)

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