Windows Genuine Advantage on Firefox

A while ago, if an user want to download a Microsoft product like Microsoft AntiSpyware, they have to pass the "Windows Genuine Advantage" test to prove that they are using a vaild Windows Operating System. It is one of Microsoft's latest attempts to fight Windows privacy. However, the only problem was, to pass the Windows Genuine Advantage test, the users must use Internet Explorer in order to accept Active X control.

Now, not anymore. The Internet Explorer team recently released an Firefox plugin that allow users to use Firefox to pass Windows Genuine Advantage test and download Microsoft products.

Quote from IEBlog:

I talked with Brad Graziadio, the guy who runs the Windows Genuine Advantage team, and he walked me through customer feedback. Basically, customers said “We want to make sure our PCs are running genuine Windows and have access to all the content on the Microsoft Download Center; the experience when we’re running a Mozilla browser is not great. Do something about it.” Brad’s team did. I think that’s a good thing for customers.

It is smart move for Microsoft to start supporting Mozilla Firefox. This is not the first time Microsoft supported Mozilla Firefox. Eariler, they supported Mozilla Firefox for Windows Live beta site.