Microsoft denies WGA is 'spyware'

By Steve Malone

Posted on 12 Jun 2006 at 09:28

Microsoft has run into trouble over its Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) programme. A researcher has discovered that a test version of the WGA Notifications component of the system communicates with the Microsoft servers every time the PC is switched on.

WGA Notifications reminds users who fail validation that they are not running genuine Windows. WGA Notifications checks whether newer settings file is available and downloads the file if one is found. The settings file provides Microsoft with the ability to update how often reminders are displayed. Microsoft claims that the communication is entirely innocent and that no personal information is collected.

In his blog, Lauren Weinstein said he had discovered that the WGA Notifications attempted to call home on each reboot and claimed that the update tool 'may be classified as 'spyware''.

The current WGA initiative was launched as part of a pilot project in Scandinavia last year. Microsoft expanded the programme to include the UK in April of this year.

In response to the criticism that the revelation has unleashed Microsoft says it is changing this feature to only check for a new settings file every 14 days and will be made in the next release of WGA. The company says that the feature will be disabled when WGA Notifications launches worldwide later this year.

Microsoft denies that the software constitutes spyware. Explaining what it sees as the difference, the company statement says, 'Broadly speaking, spyware is deceptive software that is installed on a user's computer without the user's consent and has some malicious purpose. WGA is installed with the consent of the user and seeks only to notify the user if a proper license is not in place. WGA is not spyware.' But the statement does concede that not telling users that the WGA software would communicate with Microsoft servers was 'an oversight'.