Microsoft says stop sharing SP2.

[Katsuya]

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source: BBCN

Microsoft has taken steps to stop its security update for Windows being shared on file-swapping networks.

The SP2 update for Windows XP was being used by file-swapping activists to show how such systems can help get large, important files to lots of users.

But legal warnings from Microsoft have forced the file-swappers to end their experiment and stop making the software available to downloaders.

Now the only place people are able to get the update is from Microsoft.

Legal fight

A group of file-swapping activists called Downhill Battle put the SP2 update using BitTorrent peer-to-peer software to help Microsoft get the software to as many people as possible.

The SP2 update is intended to make Windows XP a much tougher target for virus writers and malicious hackers.

Microsoft has announced intentions to get the update on to 100 million machines in the next two months.

When it started sharing SP2, Downhill Battle said: "This project shows how file-sharing technology gives people without budgets or huge server space the power to solve problems themselves, without waiting for the government or some corporation to do it for them."

The version being made available on the BitTorrent network was intended for corporations who have a lot of PCs to patch. A smaller consumer version of SP2 is due later this year.

When asked about Downhill Battle's action, a Microsoft spokesperson said: "The Microsoft Download Center site is the only authorized web source for downloading a licensed copy of Windows XP Service Pack 2.

"To report a website offering unlicensed copies of Windows XP SP2 for download, please send an e-mail to piracy@microsoft.com."

According to the Downhill Battle website, Microsoft has now gone one step further and issued take down notices to two of the web hosts helping the group distribute the file.

The Microsoft action was apparently taken under the controversial US Digital Millennium Copyright Act

In a statement Downhill Battle said it had ignored threats like this before but decided to act on this one "because we started this site primarily as a demonstration and to that end it's already been a huge success."

Even though Microsoft has issued the warnings the SP2 file is unlikely to disappear from file-swapping systems as BitTorrent's structure makes it harder for firms to police what is swapped.

The legal action means that those wanting SP2 must now go to the official Microsoft site.

As well as letting people download SP2, Microsoft is also planning to let people order a CD with it on or get it via cover mounted disks on consumer technology magazines.

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[Razor Blade]

That's Bulll. Lemme see, it isn't illegal. We are saving them money (not using their bandwidth for servers) We are doing things by ourselves ... And they don't like that?

Excuse my starred language but **** them!

Since when can't we dowload something from where we want that's free anyways? That's like saying you can'tdownload this patch for Doom 3 because it isn't on a site hosted by ID ...

I hope you guys do whatever you want. Don't let M$ push you around.

In the end isn't it the same service pack anyways? I mean it may have more files and things useless to us ... BAH!

[upwardexhalebwn]

that is just like Microsoft ,I think if Microsoft was a religious sect they would charge people to come into thier church .

[hushypushy]

hmm, my guess is that MS is in it for security concerns...and i understand where they are coming from. the sites distributing SP2 may be doing so out of their own good nature, BUT there might be someone out there who hacks SP2 and writes malicious code into it....and then distributes it. i'm sure that's what Microsoft is worried about. they want ALL SP2 downloads to be certified and "clean'

[Razor Blade]

Don't get me wrong. I'll probably get it from Microsoft, but I just don't like them saying not to get it from wherever else.

[tookers]

oh so now they start being concerned about security...
they didnt give a **** when they released XP initially
maybe its time they wrote a new operating system that is actually stable and locked down. And they should forget this professional/home **** all that does is cause more problems and confusion. Build a workstation operating system and server operating system that is locked down to start with and they wouldnt need to release service packs as often and as large a download (260mb??!?!).

Although this is microsoft we're talking about here... all they seem to be doing is rolling the software through a printing press and in comes the cash end of story

[Jldnr77]

who cares where someone downloads a service pack from???? Service packs are free updates. You'd think they'd appreciate people taking some load off of their servers....sheesh. M$ needed to get their heads out of their @$$es....

[Player-X]

hushpuppy has a point, what if someone adds an aditional evil payload to sp2 and ppl downloaded it (Back door,trojans and stuff) what would happen then?

I already downloaded SP2 straight form M$

[hushypushy]

well at least player-x gets my point...its not that MS is a controlling jerk, its more like they dont want people to blame them for problems caused from ill-gotten MS products.

[Player-X]

Besides it's M$ that will take liability anyway so let's not......wait a minute, Let's

[Demigod]

I'm with hushypushy as well. If anyone here's used a P2P program before they know how difficult it can be to find any official releases (there are at least several different versions). Someone might decide to take some things out of SP2 or add some things in (make it "better") and we won't know the difference. Some might even customize it and tell others to download the modified version. Quality control is an issue here because if something goes wrong with a modified SP2 update it's Microsoft who's going to be blamed, especially if they authorize P2P distribution. The bottom line is, SP2 is free but it's still Microsoft's property and they have a right to say where people can download it from. It's like writing an FAQ. It's free but you still wrote it and you have full rights to where it can and cannot be downloaded. Authorized sites are the best way as you don't want anonymous people changing the content or not giving credit for your work (or even changing your name with theirs).

[Razor Blade]

I say you should all wait anyways. Seems like there is enough problems wit the official one anyways to keep me away from it till they fix it

[hushypushy]

Originally Posted by Razor Blade

I say you should all wait anyways. Seems like there is enough problems wit the official one anyways to keep me away from it till they fix it

meh, no problems here, and i have it running on three computers. just bad luck, i suppose. i dont see what they are gonna change in the windows update version to make it any better. and if they do change anything..well that's what automatic updates are for

[MaZa]

The reason why M$ was against sharing that SP2 in P2P was because that version, which was in share, was meant for corporates, not for home users... (i have no idea whats the big difference. Both can be installed in several computers i believe) Thats what i readed in some finnish site.

[Razor Blade]

I just hope all the problems are fixed for those who are having them soon.

[hushypushy]

also i think MS was pissed becuase they said NOT to download the huge 227 mb version if you are a home user, since it contains EVERY fix since windows came out. most people already have SP1...and if you get it through auto-updates it will be a much much smaller download

[Betamax]

IMHO, their distribution pattern is fundementally flawed. The current system is good from the incremential point of view, however the next time you have a major problem and you have to start from a clean slate, the chances of sp2's network installation having finished (hell starting) before you pc is infected with a dozen viruses is slim to say the least. True, you could argue the point of a firewall, but then again joe public isn't going to think of that (hence the reason for a significant proportion of the changes in the first place ).

Anyways I digress . Really the only reason I can fathom on this is that m$ does not want to be associated with "piracy".... the irony being the BT is at it's core just a full duplex variant of the same common ftp system they use themselves....

[hushypushy]

what about the whole issue of people "hacking" their service packs? you made 2 very nice paragraphs, betamax, but you didnt touch on the point that i made and a few others agreed with. i'd like to see your opinion on that

[LuZi]

I dled SP2 via Azureus and i had the possibility to dl it directly from M$, but i like torrents in general so i choose the torrent.
M$ has as always strange ideas and wishes, i personally hope that everyone keeps sharing it.

[hushypushy]

i dont think it's strange if you logically consider the reason.

by the way, why the hell would anyone download it from torrent rather than MS? i maxed out my download speed at 166 kb/s (1.5mbit ADSL, it's not much but i like it) from microsoft's site...i dont see any torrents doing that for me.