Windows Genuine Advantage

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Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA)

WGA logo
Basic data

developer Microsoft Corporation
Current  version 7.1.7600.16395
(January 27, 2010)
operating system since Microsoft Windows XP
category Product activation , digital rights management
License EULA , proprietary
German speaking Yes
www.microsoft.com/genuine/

The Windows Genuine Advantage ( WGA ) Windows authenticity check is a program and part of Microsoft's measures to protect software licenses under Windows XP .

The program is part of Microsoft's economically justified and copyrighted efforts to protect customers and partners from software counterfeiters. The program makes the use of unlicensed Windows operating systems more difficult because the product must be activated within 30 days or essential functions must be deactivated.

distribution

Windows Genuine Advantage was made mandatory for Windows XP in July 2005 in order to confirm the authenticity of the copy of Microsoft Windows used and to support Microsoft in its efforts to combat software piracy . Since Windows Vista , the program has been implemented as standard in the release version of the operating system.

In the Windows 7 operating system , the tool has been renamed Windows Activation Technologies ( WAT ).

Main ingredients

The WGA program has two main components: the WGA validation and Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications . The validity check determines whether the installed copy of Windows XP is licensed original software. The WGA notifications inform users who have failed the validation that they are not using genuine Windows software. It then directs the user to information about the benefits of having a genuine copy of Windows XP.
In Windows Vista, after the 30-day period has expired, the WGA tool automatically shuts down Windows after one hour of operation.

WGA validation

Through the validation data is first on the hardware and software environment of the computer collected and stored in encrypted form via the Internet sent to Microsoft. A database is used there to check whether each license number is only used for one system worldwide. Invalid or license numbers used multiple times are as black copies considered and eventually lead to error messages or to rule out support and non-security related updates ( English updates ) for the corresponding Microsoft programs. Security updates, d. H. critical patches will continue to be made available.

The Windows Validation Wizard does the same validation as WGA, except that it is a stand-alone utility that works regardless of whether you want to download files from Microsoft or update your system.

Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications

The WGA Notifications program component was initially distributed as a "critical update" KB905474. In retrospect, however, Microsoft revised this procedure for Windows XP and changed the installation process insofar as the installation now has to be explicitly approved.

Data Collected

If the authenticity of the installation is checked via WGA, the following data is collected:

Microsoft Genuine Advantage

In addition to WGA, there is a special Office Genuine Advantage program ( OGA ) for Microsoft Office products - initially for the 2007 version . The download of non-critical updates and add-ons was only possible for owners of an original. Since 2006 Microsoft has been checking the installed licenses during the update process and since 2008 users of invalid license keys have been shown notices. OGA was discontinued in December 2010.

The original Windows / Office offering

If a legitimate end user has been caught by a fraudster and only finds out afterwards that his license / product key is invalid and the purchased product is therefore an illegal black copy , there is the possibility, under certain conditions, of receiving a free replacement from Microsoft.

Authorized customers either receive an electronic license , i. In other words , you will receive an email confirmation with a new 25-digit product key and instructions ...

“You can only order the free copy if you have a counterfeit hologram CD. In this way, customers can prove that a forgery took place. Customers who have not received a counterfeit CD but are willing to submit a counterfeit report about a fraudulent transaction can take advantage of the electronic license key offer. "

... or - such as B. in the case of the Office Genuine Advantage Kit - a CD with a new key with which the Office software has to be reinstalled and reactivated.

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  1. ↑ Description of the Windows Genuine Advantage Program (WGA) , article at Microsoft , November 7, 2008
  2. ↑ Windows 7: WGA becomes WAT ( Memento from May 17, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
  3. ↑ Activate Windows Vista
  4. ↑ What data is collected? -Microsoft , accessed October 22, 2016
  5. ↑ Microsoft's Calling Home Problem: It's a Matter of Informed Consent , accessed October 20, 2006
  6. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/de-de/kb/949810
  7. ↑ PC World - Business Center: If You Dislike Microsoft's Windows Antipiracy Checks, Look Out , pcworld.com on October 26, 2006
  8. ↑ Questions Regarding KB949810 ( Memento of July 14, 2011 in the Internet Archive )
  9. ^ Ed Bott's Microsoft Report @ ZDnet
  10. ↑ Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about WGA and OGA

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