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Last June, in response to fellow ZDNet blogger Ed Bott's assertion that Microsoft's Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) technology would include a kill switch that could shut down the operating system if it didn't pass Microsoft's anti-piracy smell test, Microsoft was very clear in saying that such a switch did not exist. Then comes this morning's report from News.com's Joris Evers (headline: Microsoft to lock pirates out of Vista PCs): Windows Vista will have new antipiracy technology that locks people out their PCs if the operating system isn't activated within 30 days after installation….If Vista is not activated with a legitimate product registration key in time, the system will run in "reduced functionality mode" until it is activated, said Thomas Lindeman, a senior product manager at Microsoft. In this mode, people will be able to use a Web browser for up to an hour, after which time the system will log them out, he said….The new technology is part of Microsoft's new "Software Protection Platform," which the company plans to announce on Wednesday