Windows: Original or Pirated

It's been known that the Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) phones home for quite some time now. For most of us, we've come to live with Microsoft's decision to relegate the software to only contacting the company's servers once every few weeks . Of course, the software is only in beta right now, so what might happen once it goes into production? Will it phone home even less? Ed Bott has an idea. Bott has reason to believe that Microsoft might have a special treat in store for those that do not want any part of the WGA. Citing Dave Farber as his source, Bott thinks that the WGA could become mandatory for Windows users. Those that don't want to install the software must suffer the consequences—install it in 30 days or Windows will stop working, period. Right now, this whole idea is nothing more than a rumor, kind of. To make a long story short, Farber was speaking with a Microsoft representative when he mentioned that he did not want to install the WGA because of its spyware capabilities. The representative told Farber, "In the fall, having the latest WGA will become mandatory and if it's not installed, Windows will give a 30 day warning and when the 30 days is up and WGA isn't installed, Windows will stop working, so you might as well install WGA now." Even with a completely patched system that is entirely legal, a system lacking the WGA software could be disabled. When Bott asked Microsoft to comment, a company rep said: As we have mentioned previously, as the WGA Notifications program expands in the future, customers may be required to participate. Microsoft is gathering feedback in select markets to learn how it can best meet its customers' needs and will keep customers informed of any changes to the program. Microsoft has not released any other comments on this issue, but it's very possible that it could make the rumor a reality. Ultimately, WGA is not something that is beneficial to end users. On the other hand, the tool gives Microsoft an easy way into every Windows system. A pop-up message now could turn into a locked OS come September. At that point, those that pirate Windows are left with no choice but to go legit. They obviously can't complain to Microsoft since what they are doing is illegal. Users who unknowingly using a pirated copy of Windows may be angry, but they will end up paying for a real copy of the operating system in the end. It looks like a win-win situation for Microsoft, or does it? If the company ends up going through with the "kill switch", it's going to raise a ton of controversy. Up until now, the company has still given those wishing to run pirated systems all the security updates because unpatched systems can harm other legal, completely patched PCs. But another solution to protecting "real" Windows users is to simply shut down counterfeit copies of Windows. The problem is if Microsoft accidentally turns off legal copies of the OS. Customers will be without an OS for an extended period of time, and they will probably be incredibly angry about it. They won't have access to their files, and they certainly won't understand why. Should the company run that risk? What side of the fence do you sit on?