Microsoft to Warn Pirate XP Users with a “Black Screen” Every Hour

November 5, 2008

Microsoft announced on October 15 its two important updates as of October 20: Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications (WGA) and Office Genuine Advantage (OGA), with provide users with a method to verify whether they are using an authentic Windows or Office system. Computers using pirated Windows XP Professional will experience a completely black desktop screen every hour, with Office menus marked as “unlicensed.”

Both WGA and OGA are reportedly optional. Users can download them from the Microsoft website or through Windows Update. They can refuse the programs, of course, but Microsoft does not suggest shutting down the Update process for the sake of system security.

Users who fail to pass the WGA test will be greeted with a completely black screen every 60 minutes, accompanied by a dialogue box indicating a disrupted log in. A permanent message will also appear at the lower-right corner of the screen with a warning such as, “you are probably a victim of pirated software.”