I don't run pirated Microsoft or other such software on my Windows PCs, it's just too much trouble and ultimately more expensive/time consuming. However, I've

I don't run pirated Microsoft or other such software on my Windows PCs, it's just too much trouble and ultimately more expensive/time consuming. However, I've long given up updating Microsoft software due to MS's unacceptable privacy policies and changeing policy on-the-fly so it was interesting when I recently had to move my old MS software to a new machine after a mobo failure. Both Windows 7 and Office 2007 moved OK but after installing Office it was clear from the dial-home-to-Microsoft activation page that MS wasn't happy that I was reregistering old software. (I couldn't care less as I normally use Linux and MS stuff is now just legacy—for compatibility etc.). That's the background, the point I'm making is that I've always assumed Microsoft would spy on what I was using on my machine (both its own software and stuff from other vendors) and it would know if the software I was using was pirated. Anyone who doesn't assume this I reckon is naïve. Why wouldn't MS do this? After all one hasn't a clue what's in the data that's been sent back whenever software contacts MS. Since XP, my practice has been to activate Windows with it partially installed—with only what MS supplied in the package/ISO or with just barely enough third party drivers to get the machine functional with a basic network connection (other noncritical drivers such as nVidia video won't have been installed). Automatic Updates is also permanently disabled. Before proceeding further with the Windows install I'll install MS Office with absolute minimum features—perhaps only PowerPoint (that's if it's installed at all—usually not as I normally use LibreOffice). Essentially, both Windows and Office can only report home the absolute minimum of information during activation (Microsoft doesn't tell me what's in the info it's sending home so I do everything possible to ensure that it can only skim off the absolute minimum). Once activation is finished, the internet is disconnected and I finish both installations and install all other software I use. That's the last time both Windows and Office ever contact home except for Windows authentication. Any essential updates (KB files) are sourced from elsewhere—never from Windows Update. Even then, I carefully vet any update for nefarious content and unless I'm pretty certain the file is clean then it doesn't get installed—no matter how important the update or security fix is. The next step is to install the very nifty Advanced Tokens Manager utility which backs up the activation data. So come the next reinstallation one doesn't have to reactivate Windows or Office at all. In essence, my PCs only ever need to contact Microsoft just once: https://download.cnet.com/Advanced-Tokens-Manager/3000-2242_4-75574829.html https://download.cnet.com/Advanced-Tokens-Manager/3000-2242_.... Incidentally, the PC that failed last contacted Microsoft in 2012 (that's when the software was last activated). That's an interval of over 10 years, not a bad effort I reckon. In my opinion all those who value their privacy should act similarly whether they pirate software or not—and especially so if they do.