Microsoft has made good on an August warning and rolled out a new, more aggressive version of its Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) tool for Windows XP systems. Computers running versions of Windows that are not genuine now get bombarded with constant nag messages and have their desktop background switched to a solid black color every 60 minutes. This move has struck a nerve among China's computer users--where nine out of 10 copies of Windows are pirated. In an ironic twist, some are calling it a violation of their rights, despite the fact that they might not have paid for it.
The problem stems from the fact that some may have unwittingly installed counterfeit versions of Windows. In addition, many purchase their computers from markets, where pirated software could be preinstalled without the user's knowledge. Of even greater concern is a survey by leading Chinese web portal, Sina.com where nearly 90 percent of respondents, or around 130,000 people, say they would not buy Microsoft products again as a result of this.
To read more about Microsoft's WGA changes:
- check out this article from TG Daily
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