Windows Genuine Advantage

computing: software: Microsoft: Windows: WGA

Overview
Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) is a service provided by Microsoft which allows users of Microsoft Windows to use certain online services including Windows Update. Microsoft requires copies of Windows to be validated before it will grant access to WGA services.

Reference

 * Cube Computer Services (wiki): troubleshooting tips
 * Cube Computer Services (wiki): troubleshooting tips

News

 * 2007-08-29 So what happened?
 * 2007-08-25
 * Windows Genuine Advantage Server Down Worldwide
 * Massive Microsoft WGA meltdown fingers legit Vista and XP owners as pirates "19-hour outage over, but users must revalidate to get back disabled features, says vendor"
 * 2006-07-30 Update: Windows Genuine Advantage - What it is, how to ditch it (long article)
 * 2006-06-28 User suing Microsoft over WGA notification, calling it spyware
 * 2006-06-27 Is Microsoft about to release a Windows "kill switch"? by Ed Bott
 * Note that the updated response from Microsoft only says that they won't "turn off your computer", which is not the issue at hand; the issue is whether they will deactivate Windows.
 * 2006-06-06 Images: Microsoft's shoddy Windows Genuine Advantage Installation Process by David Berlind
 * 2005-08-01 Hackers bust Microsoft's anti-piracy system: "Hackers found a way around Microsoft's Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) anti-piracy system last week, only a day after the system went into effect."

Humor

 * Linux Genuine Advantage&trade; "is an exciting and mandatory new way for you to place your computer under the remote control of an untrusted third party!"