Problems include false positives, lack of response and legality claims
Few issues have riled Computerworld's readers as much as certain features of Microsoft's new Windows Vista, such as Windows product activation, Windows Genuine Advantage and the Software Protection Platform.
These features (some of which date back to Windows XP) are designed to fight software piracy by ensuring users' copies of Vista are legitimate. After providing warning messages only, Vista will now run in a "reduced functionality mode" if the software is suspected to be pirated.
That, and reported snafus like incorrect evaluations of legitimacy, have angered users across the country.