-------- Original Message -------- Subject: It's Time for Action Against Microsoft Date: Sat, 12 Feb 2000 09:43:35 -0600 From: Gary Morton <command at interlog.com> Reply-To: linux at lists.tao.ca Organization: CitizensontheWeb.com To: "cjazz at interlog.com" <cjazz at interlog.com>
It's Time for Action Against Microsoft Big Brother Ware is here with Windows 2000 - Feb.12.00
(The public must act to stop Microsoft's new intrusion on Privacy)
Linux operating systems have moved into the number two spot in networked systems, so you have to wonder why Microsoft has just come out with an anti piracy strategy that will kill consumer privacy.
The new Windows and Office 2000 Cds, have an edge-to-edge hologram and a new process requiring users to register their software. The etching process will make it really difficult and expensive for counterfeiters. The certificate of authenticity or registration tag, will be required on specific PCs where Windows or Office is installed. When users boot up the software for the first time, the registration wizard will require them to contact Microsoft -- via the Internet, e-mail, phone, fax, or snail mail -- and get the second half of a registration key that matches their software certificate. If this registration process isn't completed, the software will stop working.
The registration key will only allow users to install the software on two machines. Network managers will receive site license registration keys that allow them to install one copy on multiple machines.
Microsoft's Windows 2000 anti-piracy effort has privacy advocates and ordinary people stating that the new registration process will put an end to user privacy in software use. This is because you are forced to dock with Microsoft via the net or fax to get an un-crippled version of the software working. It will also help Microsoft gain a tighter grip on markets they already dominate.
Microsoft calls this an anti piracy feature, but here it should be mentioned that many people (including this writer) won't use Microsoft's free Internet Explorer 5 as its installation is directed from the Microsoft site to your home computer.
Pirated versions of Microsoft's networking software are commonly used by students, who want to learn it for the job market but can't afford it. So in this sense Microsoft is targeting poor students by forcing them to shell out for copies they'll only use for a few months.
Austin Hill, president of Zero Knowledge says his concern is that all of a sudden this is moving toward a trend to use your OS.... That's a dangerous precedent. I tend to be skeptical of any easy solution that comes at the cost of personal privacy.
Users should always be cautious about providing any personal information when they register software. Microsoft could use the registration process for many things such as collecting information about users' Web surfing habits without their knowledge. The idea of Microsoft associating each license with a name and having a registration procedure to authenticate each time is frightening.
We have gone from shareware to crippleware, and now to Microsoft's Big Brother Ware. Some people will tend to say, Let them do it and Linux will become king. Yet that isn't the correct answer. All the major software developers will follow the Microsoft lead, invading our privacy in our homes and offices and making it impossible to reload new systems with software in a reasonable amount of time.
The time has come to take action against Microsoft - to plan anti Microsoft strategies before it is too late.
Please forward and repost. Gary Morton Citizensontheweb.com --------