Are You Legit?
By Parrish Reinoehl, Pathfinder Networks
March 2006
For quite some time Microsoft has been one of the more aggressive companies in the fight against software piracy. Working through the Business Software Alliance (or BSA) Microsoft has continued to find and prosecute computer retailers and businesses that have been selling or using illegal software. Until recently the casual end user would likely not know they are using pirated Microsoft software. Now, things have begun to change.
Most Windows users are familiar with the Windows Update website. This is Microsoft’s website that allows you to download and install Critical and other updates for your Microsoft operating system (you are doing this, aren’t you?). Microsoft has gradually implemented a new process to the Windows Update site called Genuine Advantage. Genuine Advantage is great for those of us using legally licensed versions of Microsoft software, but is a thorn for those using pirated illegal software. Genuine Advantage is a process by which Microsoft will validate your installation of Windows XP. If your copy of Windows XP should fail the validation process you will no longer be able to install new Windows Updates. This may not sound like such a big deal, but it is. Without these Windows Updates you are leaving your system open and more vulnerable to attack.
The Genuine Advantage system is also being required on other Microsoft downloads besides those from the Windows Update site. Recently I installed the great new Internet Explorer 7 Beta (Microsoft has finally introduced tabbed browsing!). This new version of Internet Explorer will only install on those systems that have passed the Genuine Advantage validation process. The same holds true if you attempt to install the Microsoft AntiSpyware beta (another product I highly recommend).
Until we opened our retail storefront over a year ago I never understood just how big a problem software piracy was. Hardly a day goes by where we do not come across a PC that has an illegal version of Windows XP Professional installed. These PC’s are almost always “white boxes” (a white box is, basically speaking, a PC that was not built by Dell, HP, or any of the other big players.) and they never have the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) stuck to the box. The COA is required to be affixed to every system that has an OEM version of Windows XP (Home or Pro) installed. As authorized Microsoft System Builders we must affix this label to every PC we build and sell. We have learned that other computer stores (most are no longer in business) were not doing this. They were installing Windows XP Professional on these PC’s and charging the buyer the full price for an illegal copy of software. We have also come across many users who have built their own system and decided to install a copy of Windows or Office they snuck home from their workplace (you all know who you are). This practice is illegal and is considered to be piracy (in case you were wondering).
When a PC comes in to our store for repair and we discover that it has an illegal copy of Windows installed our hands are, from that point, essentially tied. If Windows XP needs to be reinstalled or even repaired we are unable to complete the job without a legal COA. Many times the owner of the PC has no idea that they have been using illegal software and do not understand the ramifications of doing so. One option we can offer is for the owner to buy a legal copy of Windows (we keep these in stock in our store). This is not an inexpensive option for many as Windows XP Home retails for about $130 per copy. This $130 was likely already paid once by the owner of the PC when they first bought their PC- but they were ripped off in that the computer store selling the PC did not include the actual software license in the sale, thus pocketing an extra $130 on the sale of that PC.
For business users the costs can go much, much higher than $130 and some labor. If a business is investigated by the BSA and is found to be using illegal software (whether they realize it or not) they can be held liable for up to $150,000.00 or more per occurrence. This means your company could be fined $150,000 for every PC in your business that is using an illegal copy of Microsoft Windows or Office. If you think your company would never be investigated for illegal software use you may just be surprised. The BSA makes it very easy for anyone (including a disgruntled former employee) to report a company suspected of using illegal software. Obviously the ramifications of this could be devastating for nearly every small business. Fortunately Microsoft can be very cooperative, giving these small businesses the chance to get legal within a given time frame.
How can you tell if your copy of Microsoft software is legal? It’s very easy. If your PC came preinstalled with Microsoft Windows you will have the COA affixed to the side or back of your PC. This is a high-security sticker from Microsoft that includes your CD-key as well as other anti-counterfeiting features. You will also have been provided with the Microsoft XP holographic CD and a Microsoft user guide. If you purchased your copy of Windows XP as an upgrade you will have the same holographic Windows CD but your COA will be affixed to the booklet that CD came with. Microsoft Office products also use a holographic CD and COA affixed to the booklet containing those CD’s. The COA will always contain the CD-key needed to install and activate your Microsoft product. I should also mention that you cannot legally buy a COA by itself. If anyone offers to sell you a COA without a CD and booklet you will instantly know they are dealing in pirated software.
You can also (and should) use the Genuine Advantage feature to validate your copy of Windows XP. If you pass the validation process then you are likely good to go. If your PC fails then you have no doubt that your software is illegal.
You can visit the Microsoft Genuine Advantage website to validate your copy of Windows or just to find more information about software piracy by going to:
http://www.microsoft.com/Genuine/
About the Author:
Parrish Reinoehl is President of Pathfinder Networks; a Niles based technology consulting firm specializing in providing affordable computer services to small businesses and home users including networks, PC support, sales, and service. Pathfinder Networks can be reached at 269-684-7696 or via email at parrish@pathfindernetworks.com
Pathfinder Networks website is http://www.PathfinderNetworks.com
Visit our retail location at 1920 S. 11th St., Niles, MI (in Belle Plaza).
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