PC Pals Forum
Technical Help & Discussion => General Tech Discussion, News & Q&A => Topic started by: Clive on March 04, 2007, 21:29
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The Register
The activation method used by Microsoft to protect Vista from piracy is under attack on multiple fronts.
According to Keznews, activation codes for Vista can be obtained by brute force using key generator software that randomly tries a variety of 25-digit codes until it finds one that works. With a powerful enough PC, users might be able to cycle through 20,000 different keys an hour until the software finds a key that fits. The key generator itself is a modified version of the original software license manager script file, according to reports.
A disclaimer on Keznews from the program's developers urges people not to sell the keys they generate. These keys might be one that a genuine customer is already using, which might cause Windows Genuine Advantage to refuse the cracked keys.
The greater broadband speeds available since the launch of Windows XP have made it a straightforward proposition to download illicit copies of Vista. Rather than go through the tedious business of running something like the key generation, we've heard from Register readers that some people on either side of the Atlantic have surreptitiously used the activation codes printed on boxed copies of Vista to get their system up and running. Use of cameraphones to capture these codes makes the process a breeze, we're told.
We don't know how widespread this practice is, but it creates a headache for Microsoft, as pirates activate the codes before they are used by legitimate users. ®
LINK (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/03/02/vista_product_activation_broken/)
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Getting a working code isnt that much of a problem, afterall Microsoft were giving them away before Xmas.
Its activating and keeping teh activation going thats the problem.
There are a few methods varying from altering certain files to applying a couple of patches that seem to be working for now.
No doubt MS will make it secure in some form in a few monmths then a few days after that someone will have found a workaround, much as they did with XP.
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http://apcmag.com/5512/pirate_crack_vista_oem_activation
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In the words of Brians mum in Monty Pythons Life of Brian, "Hes not the messiah, hes a very naughty boy" ;D
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Michael gave me the Monty Python Pack for my birthday, haven't gotten around to "The Life of Brian" or "The Hole Grail" yet. Haven't seen them since they were on at the cinema.
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Vista keygen hoax exposed
LINK (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/03/05/vista_crack_update/)