Microsoft wants to crack down hard on counterfeit software. Later this year, the company plans to require all customers to verify that their copy of Windows is genuine before downloading security patches and other add-ons to the operating system.
For the past few months, Microsoft has been testing a tool that can check whether a particular version of Windows is legitimate. The checks have been voluntary, up to now. If you downloaded a copy of Microsoft's Anti-Spyware software that I wrote about recently, you ran into this as part of the download procedure. They didn't mention that it was voluntary, but I was able to bypass the verification procedure and directly download the anti-spyware software.
But, beginning on 2/7/05, the verification will be mandatory for many downloads for people in three countries: China, Norway and the Czech Republic. In those countries, people whose copies are found not to be legitimate can get a discount on a genuine copy of Windows, though the price varies from $10 to $150 depending on the country.
By midsummer, Microsoft plans to make the verification mandatory in all countries for both add-on features to Windows as well as for all OS updates, including security patches. The program, known as Windows Genuine Advantage, also offers perks to those who verify their copy of Windows. Those who do can get free software as well as discounts on other Microsoft products and services.
It is estimated that of all the software in use today, roughly 1/3 of it is pirated, with annual losses totaling $29 billion. Microsoft does not have an estimate for its losses, but does say that over the last 10 years, the company has lost billions of dollars.
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