Microsoft is updating its Windows Genuine Advantage tool this week with "significant updates" designed to make things even more uncomfortable for owners of non-genuine Windows. The changes are targeted specifically at Windows XP, apparently because Windows XP Pro is the operating system that Microsoft says "has the highest likelihood of having a non-genuine copy." Failing a validation check will now result in the desktop being changed to a plain black background. The user can modify this to their personal preference, except that the black background will repeatedly reset every hour. So that there would be no ambiguity, a watermark urging users to "ask for genuine Microsoft software" will appear in a persistent position above the system try. The notification is non-interactive and transparent, so that users can continue to interact with the desktop underneath.
To read up more about this story:
- check out this Custom PC article [1]
Links:
[1] http://www.custompc.co.uk/news/604740/black-screens-for-pirate-copies-of-windows.html