Donna Vitan

It all began with the GenuineCheck.exe, a validation tool that checked if you are running a copy of the operating system. Initially this was to prevent “pirates” from downloading additional software and addons from Microsoft.com. This wasn’t that big of a issue for me as I only had to download from there a few times and i could easily just delete the exe file afterwards. It has become a more sinister plot when MS decided that this should be on everyones system as a critical update. Not alot of people pay attention to what is being updated and installed when it comes to Window’s automatic updates. You simply click yes and install because you trust that these are critical updates that improve and secure your system.

I run a couple of programs that help me control my system and to prevent unauthorized installation of programs and the like. ZoneAlarm flagged Windows Genuine Advantage Notifcation (WgaTray.exe) as suspicious behaviour. I looked further into it to find out the necessity of allowing it to read and modify my physical memory.

People have been talking about this since June 2006, and many have deemed it to be in the same family as spyware due to the fact that it sends user system information back to the mothership without your consent. Now, granted you did update using MS automatic update but your consent from that doesn’t necessarily cover this invasion of privacy by Microsoft. I’m not a lawyer but that pretty much sounds like spyware and I hate spyware.

During my search into this, I’ve come across hacks, workarounds, uninstalls and various articles on Windows Genuine Advantage Notification. All of these have convinced me that keeping WgaTray.exe around isn’t something that’s critical or necessary for me. It just makes MS look like a bigger ass, not because they make it mandatory to validate your system but because they get shadier in their handling of the situation.

The following are links that I have come across that can help you form your own opinion.

• Microsoft’s official page on Genuine Microsoft Software
• Microsofts’ How to disable and uninstall Windows Genuine Advantage Notification
• WikiHow.com’s How to remove Window’s Genuine Advantasge Notifcations (Does not uninstall)
• The Inquirer.net’s “How to dump Windows’ piracy ’spyware’“
• ZDNet.com’s “The WGA fiasco continues by Ed Botts“
• Groklaw.net’s “Microsoft’s Calling Home Problem: It’s a Matter of Informed Consent“

This entry was posted on Sunday, February 25th, 2007 at 11:27 am and is filed under Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.