While some of the "information" cited in this post is technically possible, as a sys admin at a small start-up ISP, I can guarantee you that at least one ISP in the US is not kissing MS's ass in such a fashion. One would need to present a warrant in order to obtain our customer information. I sure as hell don't have the time or desire to help Gates track down people whohave managed to find their way around paying for his bloated OS. It seems to me that the ISP would have to be in cahoots with Gates in order to make piracy charges stick. Hence, one more arguement for using small, privacy oriented ISPs. The lesson here is, never trust the telco ;) On Wed, Nov 04, 1998 at 09:52:29PM -0800, zËRö wrote:
for your info, please.
Just in case....... ......... basically.... don't install Windows 98 ..... since they have this "added" function..... =)
Microsoft slapped two more lawsuit 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.