Microsoft expands Windows Genuine Advantage Notification

The validation offers users benefits such as free updates and repairs, enhanced capabilities, higher performance, greater security, IT support and downloads. Non-genuine operating systems increase the possibility of users being left vulnerable to viruses, spy-ware and other types of malicious activity.

Adriana Rangel, Windows Client Business Group Manager, Microsoft Gulf said, "The Windows Genuine Advantage notification tool allows users to determine whether they are using licensed copies of Windows and if so, the program allows them to extract the full productivity, security and entertainment advantages available. The program is designed so that users can check that their software is exactly what they have paid for, as it has been reported that counterfeit software is sometimes being sold to consumers who think they are purchasing genuine software."

Non-genuine copies of Windows XP and the new Windows Vista are deprived of productivity benefits and are unable to access expanded portfolio of downloads that include Media Player 11, Internet Explorer 7, Windows Defender Media Centre Karaoke Plug-In, Microsoft Match up and a wide selection of games.

Microsoft is in the process of expanding WGA's reach by offering it in Arabic, Danish, Finish, Greek, Hungarian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Turkish, with other versions to be announced shortly. By installing WGA notifications through Automatic Updates (AU), customers can discover whether or not they are running a genuine version of Windows and non-genuine version users will be directed to a customized Microsoft Web page to learn more. While authentic software users will be unaffected by WGA notifications, counterfeit copies will receive notifications at boot time, login time, and periodically thereafter until the system is running a genuine version of Windows. However, end-users have the option of suppressing notification for a period of time.

"As millions of consumers and businesses are hurt by flawed counterfeit software that they have acquired unwittingly, Microsoft is committed to educating customers about the risks associated with acquiring and installing counterfeit software. Operating with genuine software means being assured of full customer support and relevant updates, and also having security with the knowledge that the customer has received the quality they have paid for," Rangel added.

The WGA system functions without gathering personal data that can identify individual users of counterfeit software. WGA has validated more than 512 million systems internationally since its initial version was launched worldwide in June 2005.