Microsoft Faces Second Lawsuit Over Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) Anti-Piracy Program
Engineered Process Controls, Univex, and several other groups filed a series of lawsuits on Friday, claiming that Microsoft installed “spyware” on their systems as part of a poorly executed security update.
In most recent lawsuits, these groups allege that Microsoft engaged in fraudulent practices, abuse, and deliberately misrepresented the software program.
However, Microsoft argues that both lawsuits do not accurately reflect the purpose of WGA. A spokesperson for Microsoft stated: “Both lawsuits make similar claims and are both unwarranted. They distort our anti-piracy program… and these actions are harmful to Microsoft and our customers.”
While the features of WGA are designed to verify the validity of Windows software installed on users’ computers, it has recently sparked outrage among users when Microsoft began distributing WGA as a high-priority option in Windows updates.
The software scans users’ hardware and collects information such as their IP addresses, initially designed to frequently transmit information back to Microsoft when users boot their computers. However, this massive software has seen its release frequency reduced from its regular twice-a-month schedule, and knowledgeable users have found ways to disable WGA alerts.
Van Linh
