"In the
>> name of shielding consumers from computer viruses and
>> protecting copyright owners from potential infringement,
>> Vista seemingly wrestles control of the "user experience"
>> from the user.
>>
>> Vista's legal fine print includes extensive provisions
>> granting Microsoft the right to regularly check the
>> legitimacy of the software and holds the prospect of
>> deleting certain programs without the user's knowledge.
>> During the installation process, users "activate" Vista by
>> associating it with a particular computer or device and
>> transmitting certain hardware information directly to
>> Microsoft.
>>
>> Even after installation, the legal agreement grants
>> Microsoft the right to revalidate the software or to
>> require users to reactivate it should they make changes to
>> their computer components. In addition, it sets significant
>> limits on the ability to copy or transfer the software,
>> prohibiting anything more than a single backup copy and
>> setting strict limits on transferring the software to
>> different devices or users.
>>
>> Vista also incorporates Windows Defender, an anti-virus
>> program that actively scans computers for "spyware, adware,
>> and other potentially unwanted software."