Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Latest News

      Key Generator Beats Windows Product Activation

      By
      eweekdev
      -
      February 15, 2002
      Share
      Facebook
      Twitter
      Linkedin

        “All IP protection technologies will be cracked at some point; its just a matter of time.” Thats what Allen Nieman, product manager of Activation at Microsoft Corp., told BetaNews in an interview last May. But this week Niemans concession became a reality as a key generator capable of creating unique, valid installation and activation codes for Windows XP came to light.

        While patches and cracks for Windows Product Activation have existed since the release of Windows XP, would-be pirates were forced to physically modify system files and risk invalidating their operating system with updates. If it desires, Microsoft has the ability to instantly void such cracks or leaked keys with service packs or security patches.

        The key maker, apparently released by a group calling itself “The Blue List,” poses a more significant problem to the Redmond, Wash., company–discerning legitimate keys from those generated by users.

        Microsoft has always been quick to point out that pirated copies of Windows are ineligible for technical support and warranty protections. However, if the created keys are indeed genuine, a user running a shared or downloaded copy of Windows will appear no different to Microsoft support personnel than one who purchased a copy in the store.

        “The only way Microsoft would know its a generated serial in this case is if customer service asks for the x0- number on the CD, and that is highly unlikely,” an informed source told BetaNews.

        Most surprising is the relatively little work it takes to compute a valid key. Tests by BetaNews resulted in two keys and 29 failures in just under 7 minutes of heavy CPU usage. As the included information states, “not every random cd-key [can] be made valid, so it usually needs more than one try to compute a valid cd-key.” Both keys were each able to correctly activate a retail copy of Windows XP in the test lab.

        But in the eyes of Microsoft, WPA may have already far exceeded the companys expectations. “The measure of success is not completely stopping software piracy, which is probably an unattainable goal. Success is more likely measured in increased awareness of the terms of the license agreement and increased license compliance,” said Nieman last summer. With WPA one of the hottest topics of 2001 and Windows XP outselling its predecessors, there is no doubt Microsoft has done just that.

        Microsoft was unavailable for comment at press time.

        eweekdev
        http://www.eweek.com
        Get the Free Newsletter!
        Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
        This email address is invalid.
        Get the Free Newsletter!
        Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
        This email address is invalid.

        MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

        Latest News

        Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

        James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
        I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
        Read more
        Applications

        Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

        James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
        I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
        Read more
        IT Management

        Intuit’s Nhung Ho on AI for the...

        James Maguire - May 13, 2022 0
        I spoke with Nhung Ho, Vice President of AI at Intuit, about adoption of AI in the small and medium-sized business market, and how...
        Read more
        Applications

        Kyndryl’s Nicolas Sekkaki on Handling AI and...

        James Maguire - November 9, 2022 0
        I spoke with Nicolas Sekkaki, Group Practice Leader for Applications, Data and AI at Kyndryl, about how companies can boost both their AI and...
        Read more
        Cloud

        IGEL CEO Jed Ayres on Edge and...

        James Maguire - June 14, 2022 0
        I spoke with Jed Ayres, CEO of IGEL, about the endpoint sector, and an open source OS for the cloud; we also spoke about...
        Read more
        Logo

        eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

        Facebook
        Linkedin
        RSS
        Twitter
        Youtube

        Advertisers

        Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

        Advertise with Us

        Menu

        • About eWeek
        • Subscribe to our Newsletter
        • Latest News

        Our Brands

        • Privacy Policy
        • Terms
        • About
        • Contact
        • Advertise
        • Sitemap
        • California – Do Not Sell My Information

        Property of TechnologyAdvice.
        © 2022 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

        Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

        ×