Re: [tamil.net] Fw: Win 98 ... Beware of it???


To <singamku@tm.net.my>, <tamil@tamil.net>
From "Thiruvendran Nadason" <thirun@tm.net.my>
Date Sat, 7 Nov 1998 17:23:06 +0800

Dear Mr. Kumarasingam and Tamil Net citizens,
 
Thank you very much for you forwaded mail. However, I think its yet another hoax that has been spread around by people to further bring down Microsoft.
 
Frankly, I'm unable to determine whether the theory behind the technology works or not but I have the following to share to believe that it really doesn't work:
 
1. When you update Windows 98, you get a pop-up saying that a program will start to scan your computer to check for updates and will be done by NOT sending any information to Microsoft. Therefore, if a person were to be sued for software piracy, then a registered user can counter-sue Microsoft for breach of end-user license. Since it clearly says that no information will be sent to Microsoft during the process, it is a direct breach of customer confidence. If the computer is scanned at any other time during the process, it is considered hacking and punishable by electronic crime law. I honestly don't think that Microsoft wants more lawsuits on its head.
 
2. As for pirated software lawsuits, most countries do not have specific laws and most of the are prosecuted by the Business Software Alliance (BSA). Under the act, no one can sell, ditribute or yuse pirated software for profit and income purposes. Lets say, a computer vendor advertises that a brand new computer comeswith Windows 98 but its in fact a pirated copy, then he can be prosecuted or even a webpage designer who uses Frontpage 98 to produce webpages for profit. But home users cannot be dragged into court as long as they have not been using the software for profit purposes else I think Microsoft wouldn't have to work on newer software but just get its income from tacking down home users using pirated software.
 
3. Finally, Microsoft simply wants world dominance. Occasionally, it attacks companies whom use piratedsoftware but the case are settled outside court because it wants them to continue using its software. Only software pirates are causght and prosecuted. Microsoft simply cannot allow its name to be smared and even loose its customers. Its Microsoft dominance now and its going to be that way for quite sometime, there are already many public domain operating systems like Linux and BeOS and Microsfot considers them to be great threats. Trust me, Bill Gates is very careful at what he does......
 
I'm not saying what I've said is right as its only my opinions. I'm however very familiar with computer and I'm studying Computer  Science and to my best knowledge, there isn't many genuine cases as describes but I do appreciate Mr. Kumarasingam's concern and forwarding the message to all but let us also consider the facts but please remember, I'm NOT encouraging you to use pirated software. Perhaps senior Tamil Net citizens and other computer experts may have something to say.... anything Mr. Bala? :-)
 
Anbudan,
Thiruvendran
-----Original Message-----
From: Kumarasingam <singamku@tm.net.my>
To: tamil@tamil.net <tamil@tamil.net>
Date: Friday, November 06, 1998 11:06 PM
Subject: [tamil.net] Fw: Win 98 ... Beware of it???

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From: Balamohan <soorian@pl.jaring.my>
To: Kumarasingam <singamku@tm.net.my>
Subject: Win 98 ... Beware of it???
Date: Saturday, 7 November 1998 04:51

i get this mail, so i forwarded this mail to u.

my advised, don't update pirated software .
but can use it.



> >>>Microsoft slapped two more lawsuits against one teenager and one
> >>>retired worker for using pirated Windows 98 software.
> >>>For your information on how Microsoft actually trace PIRATED /
> >>>COPIED / UNLICENSED Windows 98:
> >>>Whenever you logon into the internet, during the verifying password
> >>>duration. Your ISP (Internet Service Provider
> >>>eg:SingNET,PacNET,CyberNET,SwiftNET) will download a SUB-REGISTRY
> >>>ENCRYPTED HEXADECIMAL (containing all your PROGRAMS serial numbers
> >>installed
> >>>into Win98!!) file from your Windows 98 registry. Then they send
> >>>this SUB-REGISTRY to Microsoft for verification. And ONLY Microsoft
> >>>knows how to decode this encypted hexadecimal file.
> >>>If Microsoft verified that the serial numbers are authentic, then
> >>>they WILL REGISTER THOSE NUMBERS FOR YOU A-U-T-O-M-A-T-C-A-L-L-Y !!!
> >>>And if Microsoft denied those serial numbers, then they will send
> >>>an  E-Mail to the ISP you dialled into and your ISP will start tracing
> >>>everyone who logons to their systems. That's why during sometime
> >>>for no reason your internet started slowing down. And if your ISP
> >>>verified  that the SUB-REGISTRY ENCYPTED HEXADECIMAL file is yours,
they
> >>>will
> >>>send your information over to Microsoft Singapore. And there they
> >>>will decide whether to take actions or not.
> >>>There is already 54 cases in Singapore regarding uses of PIRATE
> >>>COPIED UNLICENSED Windows 98.
> >>>I do not wish to see any of my friends get into this million dollar
> >>>tangle from Bill Gates, not that I hate this guy, but it really
> >>>sucks  when they made such anti-piracy move into the software itself -
> >>>thus  forcing everyone to buy Microsoft original's Windows 98, if not
> >>>they'll slap you with a lawsuit.
> >>>Forward this mail to as many people you know, and who knows you may
> >>>just save one of your friends from getting sued by Microsoft.
> >
> >
>


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