Microsoft has issued an "update" to its operating systems that allow others to control what you may do with your computer, without your consent or ability to override. Called "Digital Rights Management," this is technology that requires backstopping from apocalyptically unconstitutional laws like the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Microsoft is trying to get its users to opt-in to this, and over on Slashdot, the message boards are full of reasons not to.
Although it's not required or a 'critical' update, this just paves the road for all of Microsoft's software to require DRM technology on your computer. Quote from the details page: 'Installing this client allows RM-aware applications to work with Windows Rights Management Services (RMS) to provide licenses for publishing and consuming RM-protected information.' This, dubbed 'Activation', entails that 'your computer will be automatically connected via the Internet … in order to create and save on your computer a system component that is associated with your hardware.' Hmmm… me no like …"
