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Linux Genuine Advantage
linuxgenuineadvantage.org — "According to an independent study conducted by some scientists, many users of Linux are running non-Genuine versions of their operating system. This puts them at the disadvantage of having their computers work normally, without periodically phoning home unannounced to see if it's OK for their computer to continue functioning." Can't have that!
typobox43- 2023 diggs
- digg it
- bherring, on 10/29/2007, -12/+43Now this is some open source technology that will shake the pillars of Redmond!
- nullmind, on 10/12/2007, -19/+5Do NOT make install!
- 0o0Moylan0o0, on 10/29/2007, -0/+71wont be long till a crack comes out, they left the source code on the site ;)
- cooldudevamsee, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8Ballmer: I don't see a word about ROI.
- andyrobo60, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6If only windows genuine Disadvantage was open source.
- baalzebub, on 11/01/2007, -157/+5this sounds like some horsesh!t to me, clearly a copied idea of MS's Windows Genuine Advantage...
i will wait & see what the rest of the FOSS community including Linus, RMS & many others have to say about it first...
Oops, read the FAQs
http://www.linuxgenuineadvantage.org/faq/- weijie90, on 10/28/2007, -0/+51it's obviously joke. Yet a lot of effort was put into it- just see the source code:
http://www.linuxgenuineadvantage.org/source/ - speezer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+17It's not run by SCO?
- XVampireX, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9"On second thought, I may know of another operating system that's perfect for you... "
- OneEye, on 10/29/2007, -2/+88This is absolutely for real. I installed this morning and my internet is 24% faster, programs load 48% faster, breakfast tastes better, and my penis is now HUGE! Thanks LGA!
- OnAnyMouse, on 10/12/2007, -20/+5For car owners:
Chevy Genuine Advantage™
Chevy Genuine Advantage™ is an exciting and mandatory new way for you to place your computer under the remote control of an untrusted third party!
According to an independent study conducted by some scientists, many users of Chevrolet products are running non-Genuine versions of their automobile. This puts them at the disadvantage of having their cars work normally, without periodically phoning home unannounced to see if it's OK for their car to continue functioning. These users are also missing out on the Advantage of paying ongoing licensing fees to ensure their car keeps operating properly.
To remedy this, we have created a new program available as a required free dealer installed part: Chevy Genuine Advantage™!
Chevy Genuine Advantage™ works by checking our licensing server periodically to make sure that the Chevy branded car or truck you are driving is Genuine. This is determined by whether you have paid us the appropriate licensing fees. If you are out of compliance, and are past the grace period, attempts to start your automobile will be disabled until the license fees are paid.
Once you've installed Chevy Genuine Advantage™, you'll want to register and send in your licensing fees to receive these important benefits:
* Your automobile ,which worked just fine before, will continue functioning normally!
* Our part, which the dealer will install and conceil, will not disable the operation of your car (as long as our license server keeps working properly)!
* It's totally awesome!
* We might not raise the yearly licensing fees in the future!
Plus, if you act now, we promise not to launch unfounded lawsuits against you, slander you or our competitors in the press and the courts (possibly by using other smaller companies as pawns), or require you to pay us for software you won't use on every new computer you buy!
Get the Chevy Genuine Advantage! (with picture of soaring albatross)
Did you wake up this morning and say "I wish someone would figure out a way to let me do less with my car"? You've come to the right place! - captaineuphoria, on 10/12/2007, -3/+12baalzebub, how ***** stupid are you?
- skyshock21, on 10/28/2007, -2/+9@ OnAnyMouse
Only problem with that analogy is, you can't make a duplicate Chevy using a $20 Chevy burner and a $0.99 Chevy-R, or download a fully working Chevy from your friend's Garage using G2G software.
That is why software is licensed, and cars aren't.- buckrogers1965, on 10/28/2007, -0/+1What if you could cheaply copy a breakfast, or a car, would it be ethical to make those copies, or would you be stealing from hardworking people? Just because someone's business model has been surpassed by technology doesn't mean that we should all still have to support their failed business models. This is the information age, there are no scare goods, get used to it and move on to business models that work in this environment.
- OnAnyMouse, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4True, cars can't be duplicated as easily as software, however, the addition of lowjack & black boxes into cars that record and send location, speed, driving habits for "insurance & safety purposes" is not new news.
- weijie90, on 10/28/2007, -0/+51it's obviously joke. Yet a lot of effort was put into it- just see the source code:
- SlapAyoda, on 10/28/2007, -4/+15I hope you're being sarcastic, baalzebub.
- alexandreracine, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6We can't know for sure, he did not used the [sarcarsm] tag...
- schestowitz, on 10/29/2007, -7/+34----------lga.sh---------
#!/bin/sh
if [ `uname` = "Linux" ]; then
zenity --title "Linux Genuine Advantage" --text "This copy of Linux is
Genuine. Thank you for choosing Genuine Linux!" --info
else
zenity --title "Linux Genuine Advantage" --text "This machine is NOT
running Linux! Please visit http://distrowatch.com/ as soon as possible
to obtain a copy of Genuine Linux." --warning
fi
-------------------------- djmik83, on 10/28/2007, -26/+7I bet you never get laid.
- groggyboy, on 10/29/2007, -5/+24i'm gonna wait until someone makes a .deb file
- jbus, on 10/12/2007, -6/+12./configure
make
sudo checkinstall
;) - troublemaker, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6jbus: how exactly does that make a .deb file?
- jbus, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11If I had actually looked at the source first I would have known it wouldn't, but it doesn't matter because I was just joking. I thought everyone else was joking too about wanting to install this, but I guess I was wrong.
- stmiller, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2"jbus: how exactly does that make a .deb file?"
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=make+a+deb&btnG=Google+Search
It's quite tricky, as you have to know all the package requirements and depends and such to make a good compatible deb.
- jbus, on 10/12/2007, -6/+12./configure
- earthmeLon, on 10/29/2007, -2/+34LMAO!!!
"this will ensure that this copy of Linux is validated for Genuineness and Advantageousness constantly." - Hemingrubbish, on 10/12/2007, -4/+9# we'll be nice and wait this many days before making the user's computer
# less useful.
my $grace_period = 30;
# wait this long (in hours) before receiving remote instructions from an entity
# who doesn't have our best interests at heart.
my $phone_home_hour_interval = 24 * 14; - 37prime, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8My copy of Microsoft-Linux is not genuine according to LGA!
- jambarama, on 10/12/2007, -3/+20What you mean SuSE? Ok that was low, but Microsoft is supporting it now.
- unlarry, on 10/12/2007, -11/+1thats is a pure joks...I mean are those so-called scientists hired by Xsoft...
- faxmodem, on 10/29/2007, -0/+19Well I don't want to have my PC at risk on the off chance that my copy of Linux is a fake, so naturally I've signed up. After all, it must be a good thing, otherwise another, expensive, operating system wouldn't offer it would it?
- Shootfast, on 10/29/2007, -0/+100Haha, My pirated copy of Ubuntu validates, suckas!
- Sahtor, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6http://www.linuxgenuineadvantage.org/verify/
I guess I was wrong. Gotta ditch this system - jbus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6This might be good for those Windows users that think that unrestricted software that they didn't have to pay for is not worth using. I'm sure many of them would really love and see the benefits of Linux if they had to pay for the LGA license to keep their computer working. Maybe LGA could throw some spyware and viruses in as well for a more authentic experience.
- BlackAdderIII, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2The sad thing is that however much of a joke that is, you're probably *absolutely right*.
Many a true word... - Jeremy23, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Yes, a lot of adoption of Linux by businesses is hindered by the fact that it's free. Many CTOs just can't stomach the fact of getting something for free. They need to pay _something_!
Another reason is because there is nobody to pass the buck to if you get something for free. With commercial software, there is a certain responsibility involved.
- BlackAdderIII, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2The sad thing is that however much of a joke that is, you're probably *absolutely right*.
- imeddy, on 10/28/2007, -0/+58A little off-topic, I know, but can anyone get me a good keygen for Knoppix 5.1.1? It won't validate.
- chrono13, on 10/28/2007, -0/+40Install Knoppix, and install it again. If it still does not validate, set your clock back one year, validate, and set your clock back to the right time.
Alternatively, if you have a valid copy that can validate, copy over it's validation files into the same folder on the pirate machine.
If you are trying to validate a valid copy and it is not validating, you can call LGA's support helpline. I will however warn you, that the LGA support is outsourced, you will wait on hold, and they will sometimes ask you to call back later. They will ask you questions like who you got it from, your social security number and your credit card number. Have those numbers handy.
Hope this helps, and good luck! - MrSunshine, on 10/29/2007, -0/+31Looks like the Knoppix website just got hacked, you can download the full version currently. Although now that I told you this it probably won't last long.
- chrono13, on 10/28/2007, -0/+40Install Knoppix, and install it again. If it still does not validate, set your clock back one year, validate, and set your clock back to the right time.
- Fatality, on 10/12/2007, -0/+15Most excellent! I will install it immediatly or by forced update.
- mendigg, on 10/11/2007, -0/+0The author of clause has mentioned and has opened excellent and a vital topic presently. Clause is written interestingly and the main thing actual. The same theme on Russian sites: http://pivo.in.ua http://www.alcogol.kiev.ua
- alx242, on 10/12/2007, -4/+3Anyone knows if they released it for Archlinux (www.archlinux.org)...I don't wanna miss out on this, I actually hope they raise the fees...Then I know they are doing the right thing and I get to waste more money...:D
- vyshemirsky, on 10/28/2007, -44/+1This is the worst thing you can think about.
This is definitely an attack to create bad PR for Linux.
Just buried this... Please, do the same.- chrono13, on 10/28/2007, -2/+33WOOSH!
- willcode4beer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+19http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/joke
- cowabuse, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7rofl. assholism at it's best!
- superterran, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2digg down
- superterran, on 10/28/2007, -27/+3Idiots... It's a prank, read the FAQ. If you install this, it's designed not to let you validate - so, if you install it, you've got 30 days before it locks your system down. Then, you've got to remove it manually from the terminal.
Why on earth are people installing this?- skion76, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11No really? I mean.... you mean it's a joke?
- imeddy, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10no *****, sherlock!
- troublemaker, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10Captain Obvious to the rescue! :D
- superterran, on 10/12/2007, -15/+3Screw all of you... the fact that they actually had to post removal instructions means that most people didn't get the joke. The fact that half the people here are asking how to install this sorta proves that your average digg reader will go right on along and install anything that'll run in Ubuntu.
- Hostile, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4superterran you will never get laid in your life. I mean seriously just look at your #1 story, that must thrill you an awful lot. Get a life.
- superterran, on 10/12/2007, -9/+2@hostile
"superterran you will never get laid in your life. I mean seriously just look at your #1 story, that must thrill you an awful lot. Get a life."
Bwahahahahahahahaha! Kid, I'm only 21, and I was getting tail before your teary eyed mother told her parents that she gave birth to an idiot who thinks that your #1 Story on Digg.com has any bearing on how much ass you get in the real world. You, my friend, with your fascination with Linux and ***** cartoon super heros (I'm not basing that on any of your diggs, instead i'm basing that on my belief that your 10 years old), you should probably spend the time your on this website supporting FOSS with your mighty one vote per story, and put it towards graduating primary school. I hear chicks dig a guy who can spell his own name.
- udha, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2This is pretty funny, has anyone seen what's in the tar.gz file?
- udha, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Err yeah I read the FAQ, I find it a pretty good mirror that isn't that far off reality for a lot of users.
- Mordechai, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6I think I'll install it for the nostalgia. I really miss those pretty blue screens, too.
- int19h, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13Anyone else have the urge to not dig an article when it has 256 diggs, to preserve the power-of-two-ness? :)
- xNaquada, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3no. And before you ask: same goes for any 2^nth power.
- cyclopsface, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12let's digg it up to 65536!
- idonthack, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8I have the same problem with 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 512, 1024, 2048, 4096, and 1337. Also any round number (especially if it's got TWO or... gasp... THREE zeroes).
And when I walk on a tiled floor I only step on every other tile.
/wondering if i'm ocd - Metasquares, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Don't worry; 257 is a Fermat prime :)
There are probably enough strange number sequences for every integer to be classed under at least one of them. - kRITek, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5http://imageigloo.com/images/22921337.jpg
- Phate8263, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3256 is too late! 8-bits generally stores 0-255 ;)
- kobalt, on 10/28/2007, -17/+0The last few months has been nothing but corporations enforcing capitalist technology on Open Source. Sony and IBM put it on the ps3 as a way (i think) to test how well they could secure Linux away from the consumer, while still "giving" it to them. Microsoft is following the already known path of getting ready to sell tainted' systems. And now we have a distro that phones home.
What clever way will they attack and cripple Linux next? hmm maybe the riaa could w/ itunes, release a new music file type needing more proprietary plug ins, which can phone home (=
oh wait, what about hddvd & blu ray support? must invade the country before u can take it over and sell it back.- roosterjm2k2, on 10/28/2007, -2/+5dumbass
- willcode4beer, on 10/28/2007, -1/+6"corporations enforcing capitalist technology"
all technology is capitalistic
then again, your failure to get such an obvious joke, says much
- Salgat, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Only $99 a month! Very great site, very funny.
- diggsIt, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Linux Full Version. DO NOT get the OEM.
- sigmaman2, on 10/31/2007, -1/+14Linux is too confusing. Why does the Linux company make so many different versions? I mean, it's a pain to have to sort through all these different Linuxes. You know, like Linux Home Basic, Linux Home Premium, Linux for Business, and Linux Ultimate. How do I know which Linux is right for me?
And what's all this other talk about making my Internet run faster by setting a poor little fox on fire? Oh my god, that's cruelty to animals! You all should be locked up! - l4lucas, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2@ sigman
HAHA at first i thought you were some noob talking about how many distros there were.
- sigmaman2, on 10/31/2007, -1/+14Linux is too confusing. Why does the Linux company make so many different versions? I mean, it's a pain to have to sort through all these different Linuxes. You know, like Linux Home Basic, Linux Home Premium, Linux for Business, and Linux Ultimate. How do I know which Linux is right for me?
- brindon, on 10/28/2007, -7/+16I ALWAYS KNEW THAT BUNK ABOUT LINEUX BEING FREE WAS JUST A LINE TO GET YOU LURED IN AND ALL COMFORTABLE...NOW WE KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT LINUX! NO DIFFERANCE THAN MICROSOFT THAT IS FOR SURE!
- gravity71, on 10/12/2007, -11/+3i sincerely hope you're making use of sarcasm, MORON! (last word just in case, LOL)
- kazsymonds, on 10/28/2007, -3/+15NO NEED TO SHOUT IM RIGHT HERE
- techneo, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3so what next .. TRUSTED COMPUTING for linux ??
- ray901, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12FTA "How to log in to enter the license key when logins are disabled is left as an exercise for the reader."
lmao - pazmanpro, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Oh man, Someone really has a lot of time on their hands. I wonder if this is what they use our donations for. I always thought it was for pizza and Warcraft!
- webqaz, on 10/31/2007, -0/+13Remember guys..... Dont copy that floppy!
- wildmXranat, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I needed a laugh this morning, so thanks for a great pick me up.
Now let me know whether you would prefer Paypal or Visa, lol - Zaggynl, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8From the FAQ:
Q: Is this for real?
A: It's for real in the sense that the code actually makes your computer less useful. Although there is an actual license server, it doesn't do anything except return "FAIL", making any computers running Linux Genuine Advantage disable logins after the grace period expires. Incidentally, this is similar to what has happened with some other systems (such as Circuit City's DIVX system after they decided it was no longer profitable.
But yeah, basically it's a parody of some other systems that are actually out there. It's a joke. ___For God's sakes, don't install it on a computer you actually care about.___ - dukeinlondon, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Excellent
- BlackAdderIII, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8I welcome this - I don't see why anyone should be able to install warez versions of linux and still continue using it and getting updates etc.
If these people continue stealing all our software there will be none left for the rest of us, so this is definitely a Genuine Advantage for all of us running it. - graemee, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2I'll wait for the VMWare KMS version
- myFriendDerrik, on 10/28/2007, -0/+9I'm glad Linux FINALLY started doing this. I've always been concerned that my OS is legit, I know it's probably not because the guy that sold it to me had long hair and didn't charge me anything.
/sarcasm - sirber, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Can someone make a win32 version?
- tommydr, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Hmmmm.... do you REALLY want to know if your Win machine is Genuine Linux?
- Directrix1, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Right here: http://www.microsoft.com/vista
- jonnyq, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I love this.
This is exactly how Microsoft words stuff on their web site. "Our DRM is good for you!" - ppflea, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2lol,
"Linux Genuine Advantage™" - ShaunO, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11# assume the user is a criminal
my $is_genuine = 0;
classic. - Metasquares, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Why did they go through the trouble of making this actually work if they don't want people to install it? Weeding out stupid users? Maybe there really are people stupid enough to want this? :)
- o0joshua0o, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5From the source code:
# calculates an md5sum based on the current hardware configuration
# if any of this computer's hardware changes, so will the hash (requiring re-registration).
# if the hardware changes too many times, that would look suspicious, so the fee might have to be paid again
# (at the sole discretion of linuxgenuineadvantage.org, of course).
#
# accepts no arguments
# returns an md5sum that will cause unnecessary grief for the user if it doesn't match exactly
sub calculate_hardware_hash { - leetcharmer, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3where do I send my money to?
I want to be sure my ubuntu is legal. - kleinishere, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1wow, this is absolutely hilarious!
- theblackgecko, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I am so gonna install this on Nigel Tufnel's computer.
- Urusai, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4The joke's on them, you can get warez copies of Linux all over the Intarweb.
- ziadoz, on 10/12/2007, -7/+1Every time someone sets up one of these stupid websites it reflects on the whole Linux community. Way to go.
- sworoc, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6You're right, don't tell anybody that Linux users have a sense of humor......(shh)
- ziadoz, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1I'm all in favour of a good joke. But the whole Microsoft is evil thing has been beaten to death several times.
- raldz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2LGA is flawed!.. it says that all my Linux machines are genuine, and I don't even have a license/CD key!! hah!!
- nfriedly, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2haha - I just got the perfect screen shot of this - 1337 diggs
http://nfriedly.com/img/linux.png- Jeremy23, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1That's funny...the Linux you took the screenshot on doesn't look very genuine to me.
- Zaetha, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I love how the pictures on the website have absolutely NOTHING to do with the topic.
- scubaninja, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Not so...
From the FAQ ( http://www.linuxgenuineadvantage.org/faq/ ):
Q: What is that bird in the photos, and why did you choose it?
A: The bird is an Albatross. It was chosen for the following reasons:
In modern usage, an albatross can be seen as a symbol of a gigantic, hopeless, long running project that is never going to work, similar to a boondoggle.
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is the origin of the "albatross around the neck" metaphor.
And of course, there's always the Monty Python take on it...
- scubaninja, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Not so...
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