#IS REMOVEWAT A VIRUS INSTALL#
#IS REMOVEWAT A VIRUS UPDATE#
#IS REMOVEWAT A VIRUS VERIFICATION#
#IS REMOVEWAT A VIRUS SOFTWARE#

As the update depends on online update for new signature, which does not seem to active or go live yet, so the actual effect of the update is not yet known. In fact, KB971033 Update for Windows Activation Technologies have been leaked to Internet for everybody's download since early February, and long discussion thread on My Digital Life forums has been debating on how far the update will go to invalidate and deactivate various cracks and hacks for Windows 7 such as loaders (softmod) and BIOS-mod (hardmod). After installed, user can still uninstall the KB971033 easily, however, once the system is flagged as fraudulent, not genuine, pirated or illegal, it will stay so despite the update is removed or uninstalled.

It should be available to all Windows 7 and Windows Vista systems in the end. Initially, it will be rolled out to Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate and Enterprise editions.

#IS REMOVEWAT A VIRUS INSTALL#

It's marked as Important update in Windows Update, and user can choose not to install the update. Luckily for pirated Windows 7 users, KB971033 Windows Activation Technologies update is optional and voluntary. By doing so, Microsoft can dynamically update WAT system, instead release complete update for WAT again in future.

#IS REMOVEWAT A VIRUS VERIFICATION#

In short, KB971033 update for Windows 7 activation and validation system may not be the exploit detector itself, but just a introduction of mechanism with ability to establish authentication verification connections to central servers to download piracy signatures database from Microsoft as and when needed in order to combat new activation cracks or methods. The callback to the Microsoft's activation server serves as an additional layer of periodic validation, which allows that WAT system to download latest and updated signatures that are used to identify new activation exploits in order to verify and determine whether the Windows 7 installed on a PC is genuine or pirated, and take various actions to change the user experience and behavior of the PC if the WAT decides that the system is not genuine or properly authenticated, even though the system is still activated at the point of the time. Other that activation cracks and exploits, the main controversy of the KB971033 is that the update will 'call home' to Microsoft every 90 days initially. Periodic reminders and a persistent desktop watermark act as further alerts to the customer. The desktop wallpaper will be switched to a plain desktop (all of the customer's desktop icons, gadgets, or pinned applications stay in place). If Windows 7 is non-genuine, the notifications built into Windows 7 will inform the customer that Windows is not genuine by displaying informational dialog boxes with options for the customer to either get more information, or acquire genuine Windows.

#IS REMOVEWAT A VIRUS SOFTWARE#

Machines running genuine Windows 7 software with no activation exploits will see nothing вЂ“ the update runs quietly in the background protecting your system. If any activation exploits are found, Windows will alert the customer and offer options for resolving the issue вЂ“ in many cases, with just a few clicks.

The blog post further explains how the KB971033 update will work: Once installed, the Update protects customers by identifying known activation exploits that may affect their PC experience. Activation exploits are sometimes called 'hacks', and attempt to bypass or compromise Windows' activation technologies.

According to Genuine Windows blog, the Windows Activation Technologies Update for Windows 7, this update will detect more than 70 known and potentially dangerous activation cracks or exploits.

Is removewat a virus