Have you noticed it?

Apparently, Microsoft has incorporated the images of three men sporting wide grins on the installation disks of Windows Vista (Business Edition). Those who were meticulous or curious enough to scrutinize the hologram must have thought that their copy was a crack.

I’m sure the operating system’s maker has received many calls regarding this. For the ordinary users who just want to get the software out of the box and install it on their PC, the find must have baffled them and made them wonder if their copy is truly genuine. Indeed, one would probably expect the logo of Microsoft to be the one depicted on the security sticker instead of three unknown faces, or that if Microsoft insisted on putting a face on the hologram, it should’ve been Bill Gates’.

Genuine Grins

The Vista maker allayed fears regarding the discovery. They belied suspicions or claims that copies bearing the grinning faces of the three grinning men were either hacked or carry add-ons that might significantly subtract the number of files in their hard drive. One of the reasons why many consumers are avoiding pirated copies of operating systems or even ordinary programs is due to the fact that a good number of them contain malicious codes.

It’s not surprising why many pirated copies of programs contain unwanted appendages. Antiviruses, spam guards, and registry cleaners have gotten more efficient in handling dangerous system intrusions. Thus, spyware authors have to find another way to infiltrate heavily-guarded PCs.

Welcome

The easiest way to get in to a computer is by letting the owner open its door for you. Hackers do this by disguising their malicious programs as legitimate ones, or incorporating them to the same. Thus, victims often find themselves being confronted by pop ups or unusual messages even if they haven’t opened any unknown file or accessed an infected Web site. Trouble knocked at their door and they immediately opened it.

Be careful when purchasing copies of programs from dubious stores or sources. They may offer you copies of applications that may seem to be genuine, but in truth are cracked copies that contain unwanted features. The caveat goes double for those who are buying pirated copies of various programs. The chances of getting registry-wrecking malware are significantly high when purchasing cracked programs. The few extra bucks that you’ll save from buying pirated software are not worth the troubles that you might probably get from malicious add-ons.

Mixed Reactions

I guess many were already relieved and enlightened on the mystery behind the three men in the Vista hologram. Microsoft assured its clients that those three are not hackers, but are in fact part of the designing team which made the security sticker. As for those who were hoping that the sticker would lead them to other hidden treats, the news came as a disappointment since they thought that Microsoft was up to something when it featured the three guys on the hologram.

Whether you’re installing genuine or pirated software, always have it scanned by antivirus or anti-spyware programs. It’s also equally important to check the integrity of your Windows registry after introducing new programs into your system.

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YouTube isn’t rushing to filter out copyright-protected materials in its database, and I’m sure we all know why.

Copyright owners are crying foul over the popular video-sharing Web site’s refusal or lack of effort to install programs that would sort out protected contents from its catalog. They are accusing YouTube of willfully allowing Intellectual Property Rights infringement by turning a blind eye on the illegal downloading or showing of licensed materials.

The Google subsidiary is denying the accusations, saying that it cannot install the technology because it is partly defective. The search engine giant’s Google Video is also on the watch list of various entertainment and media groups for copyright infringement.

“Doable”

While the Herculean task of filtering YouTube’s database seems to be impossible, copyright owners insist that it is not. In fact, some video-sharing Web sites have already implemented a technology that could do just that. YouTube’s competitors, such as Dailymotion.com, Guba, and Eyespot have already incorporated the innovation into their systems. Microsoft’s own video-sharing service has also started to appease copyright owners by screening its database’s contents.

The technology that is being used by YouTube’s counterparts works by creating a digital ID of a video. The Web site’s database then looks for the video that matches the ID and removes or prohibits its download or display without the consent of the copyright owner.

Still on its Infancy

The filtering system is not fool-proof, though. In fact, it failed some tests. Newteevee.com said that the program failed to detect a number of illegal downloads that they have made. However, both YouTube’s competitors and copyright owners said that the technology is still a welcome development.

Despite the installation of the new filtering system on the databases of some video-sharing Web sites, Google is still hesitant in following its competitors’ footsteps. It cited the technology’s flaws and the difficulty of implementing it in its entire network.

I’ve always advocated for the free circulation or sharing of information on the Internet. However, this should be done within the parameters set by laws. However, the problem lies not on the implementation of the laws, but on the law themselves. May are questioning of the viability or applicability of copyright laws on the Internet. The video-sharing community might get an answer from judiciary soon. Google is currently facing a $1 billion copyright infringement law suit from Viacom.

Downloading Trouble

If you’re conscious about respecting protected contents, then be your own filter by refraining from downloading licensed videos. There are thousands of alternatives on the Internet. Be very careful when downloading them, though. There are many videos which are infected with various types of malware. It’s very difficult to detect which video files are corrupted. Victims often realize too late that their PC has already been taken over by unwanted applications after downloading and playing an infected file.

If you can’t help yourself from downloading different types of files on the Internet, then at least make it a point to conduct a regular registry and virus scan on your system. An early detection of malicious codes in your Windows registry could spare you from experiencing a system crash or slowdown.

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