MS is peeping from Windows

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New Delhi: If your computer runs on Microsoft Windows XP, watch out! Starting Thursday, Microsoft will be checking on you and letting you know if you're in the wrong.

It's time to say goodbye to your mostly trouble-free pirated version of Windows. From June 1, Windows XP machines connected to the Internet and using the automatic update feature will download an update that will check if the version being used is original or not.

“If it's not genuine then it shows you a pop up box that says so and then you have some options at that point of time to correct it,” Business & Marketing Officer Microsoft India Doug Hauger says.

Measures like this have raised awareness about software piracy that continues to remain a huge problem for firms like Microsoft.

Though Microsoft is now coming up with engineering solutions to tackle the piracy bug – like pop-up messages that bug you – but have made clear they're not playing big brother.

Those messages, along with notification balloons and desktop banners, may appear on your screen if the company senses through Internet updates that you are not using a licensed copy of its Windows XP operating system.

“When Microsoft validates whether the version is genuine or not genuine we do not collect any personal information, your name or your phone number or anything like that,” Hauger says.

If you're not connected to the Internet, you don't have to worry. Otherwise, you could try turning off automatic updates.

However, that will expose your system to big security risks.

The only option is to go head and buy a copy of Windows or switch to free options like Linux.

Microsoft is betting you'll buy.