As it did previously for Windows Vista, Microsoft is updating the Windows Activation Technologies in Windows 7 after the initial release of the operating system. The update will patch common product activation hacks and exploits used to bypass activation in Windows 7. However, unlike with the Windows Vista update – which came with Windows Vista Service Pack 1 – Microsoft isn’t changing the user experience in any way. And, best of all, this update will be completely option, now and in the future.

Microsoft is calling the update Windows Activation Technologies Update for Windows 7, this update  will be delivered worldwide via the Windows Genuine web site on February 16, 2010 and then as an optional update “Important” update on Windows Update on February 23, 2010. The update affects all versions of Windows 7, but will be delivered to customers using Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate first since those versions are the versions that experience the most piracy.

Windows Activation Technologies Update will patch over 70 new activation hacks that have arisen since last year. If a system has been activated illegally using such a method, this update will disable the offending code, trigger the built-in activation code in Windows 7, and then constantly monitor the system looking for new bypass attempts.

Windows Activation Technologies Update examines the licensing files in Windows 7 to determine whether any have been tampered with. If not, nothing happens, and the update wont change any thing.

If files have been tampered with, the update will retrieve known good from known good file store and patch them. The update will then automatically reconnect back to the activation and validation servers at Microsoft (or, in a corporation, internally) every 90 days to check for new signatures, much the same way as anti-virus software works.

Occasionally, an activation hack may prevent the Windows Activation Technologies Update from replacing tampered files. In such a case, the update will run a check every 7 days until it is able to patch the tampered files.