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Windows Key Leak Threatens Mass Piracy
lou_soyur writes "A key code for installing Microsoft's Windows Server 2003 has leaked onto the Internet. Rampant piracy sure to follow fears Microsoft, so it's a safe assumption that their lawyers "would scour the Internet looking for the leaked code". The joy of closed source security at work."
bleh. encryption. I mean, what if to use a key, a distribution put something like a modified GPG. and you had to put a key which would translate into a real key that the OS would confirm and install.
(From the article)
Those copies of the software installed using the leaked code "won't be able to install future updates or service packs of access Windows Update," the spokeswoman said.
"They're caught between a rock and a hard place," Cherry said.
It's funny.. she's basically saying "Yes, they can install the retail version BUT they are screwed when all of our security holes and bugs are found." She seems to imply that if you don't update Win2k3 (note this is stated before it is even released!) you are going to have a junky product. Funny stuff.. only Microsoft.
uhm... hi. My name is _________ and I'VE NEVER PURCHASED A COPY OF WINDOWS IN MY LIFE!
/. story. Most anyone in this community would know where to go to get a windows key if they needed one.
let's see here...
Windows 98, got key from a friend
Windows 98 SE, got key from a friend
Windows ME, got key from a friend, uninstalled the next day
Windows 2000, found a key on an altalavista search
Windows 2000 Server, "borrowed" a key from work
Windows XP Pro, hello mr. corporate no-registration key
Don't get me started on other microsoft products. Office XP has its own registration work-arounds as well.
I'm just surprised this made it to a
I would think this would be expected for any and all releases of software microsoft puts out. Hell, we can get software from my school for so dirt cheap, ($30 for Windows XP Pro) they might as well give it away for free.
"You had this look that of an angel, it was such a bad disguise" --Dishwalla
>> The leaked key codes cast an unexpected shadow over the launch of Windows Server 2003 later this month. Microsoft is banking on the thrice-delayed operating system to increase its penetration into the enterprise. But the stolen codes show the difficulty the company faces in protecting its valuable intellectual property and potential sales from thieves.
... fire-up BSA, colect the missing licences, charge as much as they want for new installation and so on.
Microsoft tactics again, nothing else. They currently need to enter the server market and push Linux out of there. So they will try with all means to increase the instaled base of the WinServer 2003 - it doesn't matter with or without licence. Later they will come with BSA and collect the fees, no doubt. The current statement has a double purpose - first to show to the world how much Microsoft is losing on piracy and second to inform the people that they can install Server 2003 without paying. The first one is typical Microsoft FUD - "We are weak, pirates rob us constantly", this will help them also in the monopoly trial. The second one says generally "Hey there is a key on the wild, just get it and install WinServer if you need it"
Are the MS executives stupid enough to beleive that a sysadmin that has received a key for installing a bunch of WinServer-s 2003 will not leak it on the Internet? No, they are smarter than anyone else when it comes to money, just the target is different - to get a maximum number of installations, become monopoly on the server market, and then
The same story is repeating again and again, they can not give WinServer 2003 for free (like InternetExplorer) because the DoJ will nail them immediately, thay can only play the "illegal but free" game and hope that the sysadmins will byte - and may will, especially in the poorer contries. So I beleave the fixed keys are built into the code exactly with the purpose to allow the "widespread piracy". Why does WinXP does not have such fixed keys? MS officials may say "Because it is a client OS, it is not installed in volumes". Bzzzzt - wrong, the clients are usually installed in volumes, the servers are usually 1 to 10 compared to the clients. The answer is because MS has already monopoly on the client side, they do not need new installations, they need money for the existing ones. The server market is different, MS needs "piracy" in order to become the de-facto standard on the server.
What if FSF GPG private key leaked? Would that be nice?
:-) = I am happy
:^) = I am happy with my big nose
C:\> = I am happy with my OS
Posts here seem to suggest that everybody who knows what a keyboard is, can find a Key using nowt but a search engine. So who benefits from the publicity?
Software pirates? They already knew.
People who don't like Microsoft? Good for a laugh for about half a second, I guess...
Microsoft? More people with experience using their servers? Right now if you're a poor student you're likely to know a thing or two about Linux server configuration, especially since you can do it with a box you bought for $20. Or BSD...
Microsoft again? Hey, a media storm for the ingnorant to support this Pallid Big Brother nonsense? Or is that too cynnical..?
No more security patches for Fully paid up NT licences. Hmmm...
You pays your money, and you takes your choice...
apt-get lacks the option "stuffed" It's a feature.
I don't hate them, the sheer speed at which really useful application can be developped in Excel VBA is a breakthrough. (XL97 is just fine, upgrade? Why?) But then Excel has all those unstable algorithms in their stats functions that everybody has known about for years and years...
I've been given X, Gnome & KDE. Now Give me VBA in OOo, Gnumeric or Kspread, & I'll give you Linux, Undisputed king of the office desktop.