Slashdot Mirror
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."
I don't think leaks have anything to do with whether it is open or closed.
There are probably ten or fifteen leaked keys by now. Finding Windows keys isn't difficult, and never has been. Why is this news?
Of course the key was going to be leaked- it was only a matter of time. It's the same way with all key based systems. Microsoft will still make just as much money as ever. (Keys were leaked all the time before product activation anyway) the poster spins this as though this is going to cause mass hysteria and pandemonium. What is meant by "closed source security"? An open source security program would be exceptionally easy to bypass, I'd think, since you'd have direct access to any encryption mechanism used.
-Ryan
AUWYHSTOT (Acronyms are Useless When You Have to Spell Them Out Too)
The apparent owner of the 'leaked' key has disappeared today. Microsoft states there is absolutely no connection between the 2 events...
-------
"In times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act."
-- George Orwell
Anybody who needs to run this server edition of windows is going to pay for it and probably buy a support contract to boot. Joe Downloader who decides he wants to run Windows 2003 on his piddly two generation old machine just to show how cool he is would never ever pay for 2003 in the first place, he'd just stick with the XP Home edition that his machine came bundled with.
Mountains out of Molehills, or should that be mothballs in the case of a microsoft losing market dominance?
When information is power, privacy is freedom.
The poster forgot to link to the leaked key. A fix would be appreciated.
Only a scurvy dog would run the likes of this barnacle cover OS, yar.
(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.
Locking all the windows in the house and the sliding doors with locks that require keys to open, is my token gesture at keeping my computer equipment in the house and burglars out.
I know it doesn't work always. And my contingency escape plan is throw chair through window in case of fire. Which will work unless I install security window tinting. In which case I may need a special ice pick to get out. Hmm, that might double as burglar repellant.
-- it must be true, it's on the internet.
"Windows Key Leak threatens mass piracy"
If I'm reading it correctly (2am w/o coffee) it seems that the subject of the sentence --Windows Key Leak-- is acting --threatens(threaten)-- on the predicate --mass piracy--.
If MS is worried about piracy, shouldn't they leak *more* codes?
$cat
CNN will show detailed maps of when, where and how the US will attack Iraq, but God forbid an article starts out with "The Windows 2003 Serial Key, XP74V-RX7YQ...."
Um, I guess no one here's heard of what MS did with XP SP1.. if you upgraded from XP, and were using a pirated corporate key, you were OK.. but if you tried to do a slipstreamed CD install (that is, with SP1 included on CD, a full install from that CD), you were SOL when you tried the old key. A Friend Of A Friend of mine had some trouble with that himself.. but luckily some smart person had apparently held back some of the corporate keys from wider release, fearing that this might happen, and released the new key as the SP1 key.
Thus, a single keycode getting out isn't THAT much of a piracy threat - it can easily be patched. Now, a KEYGEN, on the other hand...
I still don't want it!
"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."
So, out of all the pirating going on, do you think that even 1% of it is coming from enterprise customers? I seriously doubt it, and I am sure they do as well.
I think its a "scape goat" tactic to justify expected poor returns on their newest sinking flag ship product.
Bye!
...the terrorists win.
This message brought to you by your Attorney General's office.
with any luck they will go ahead and block that key code from upgrading to SP1, therefor saving us from the pesky memory leak that SP1 is bound to cause.
slashdot, news for crazed liberal socialist zealots
That's not as far fetched as it might seem. You know, when the Russians had their revolution almost thirty percent of the population was required for agriculture. Today, with the changes in technology it's less than a fraction of one percent of the population that actually works in agriculture.
How about this. Under the new regime, we will give higher bandwidth allocations to those who volunteer to operate agricultural machinery.
Are ya with me!
This is what became know as the Devil's Own key when XP came out. Same idea. You use the key, then you can't install service packs.
It's your own fault for installing it. Just because you can't afford books for school doesn't mean you're entitled to learn. Same thing goes for new operating systems! Fucking pirates!
At first, when I saw this, I chuckled. Then, I thought about all the times I've seen stories on /. about some company using GPL'ed code in their closed-source product. That pisses me off. Microsoft has decided that, if you want to use their software, you need to abide by their license agreement, which includes the stipulation that you pay for their software. If you don't want to pay for their code, then don't use their software. Myself, I'm a Linux and Mac user. I obviously don't pay for Linux, and I gladly pay for OS X when I buy a Mac from Apple. Power of choice, people, but you can't have it both ways. Either respect other people's licenses, or don't be surprised when they don't respect yours.
We don't have a state-run media we have a media-run state.
One thing missing - what's the key?
Make even shorter URLs - 8LN.org
pirate name generator
I used to work for a microsoft help desk that was supplied with the corporate software disks known at the time as "select", we used to get four or more copies of everything in every langauge Microsoft could be bothered with, and not a single thing required us to enter the licence keys in. They were "pre-installed".
The weird thing? was that we were allowed to make "evaluation" copies of these disks and "support" copies of these disks to give to our clients and engineers. And these evaluation and support disks used to get "lost" as fast as we could issue them. And after long discussions with the local microsoft office, they said they were fine with the evaluation and support disks. Ie microsoft sanctioned piracy, in the interests of having more client sites and more technicians with the skills to support them. Ie most of us technicians couldn't afford to pay for microsoft software to install at home so we could learn it. In fact I think that Microsoft and my company had an agreement that said that we were allowed to install microsoft software at home so long as we worked for that company (a microsoft solution provider). I later used this technique to get around the useless recovery disks that some PCs come bundled with, so that you can only re-build your system by formatting the hard disk again...Blech.
Funny how installing IBM mainframe software at home was never expected or required. We couldn't take that work home with us.
They could have used a timed key (valid only for a couple of weeks). All the machines in that company that leaked the key would have had to be installed (no user prompting, but still requiring internet connection) within the timeout period. If somebody stole the timed key, and re-adjusted their computer time just to get by the install, it would fail, as the computer would still need to connect to a MS-owned server with its own notion of time.
For something this easy (other companies like Symantec provide timed keys) not to be implemented can only be a sign of deliberate action.
"I'll give out (oops! I meant leak out) this free OS. Once people get used to it, then I'll charge a huge amount for all these other softwares and services. And I'll give major parties (i.e. sueable) a chance to get back on the right track by purchasing a valid license."
So this enterprise product, targeted towards business, can now be installed by 15 year old irc warez monkeys on their home pc's?
The subtle point is that their souped up gaming pc's will probably run this latest incarnation of windows better than the hardware available to most businesses.
drag me drop me treat me like an object
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
Well, ok, not funny, more like, extremely aggravating. Is the continued claims of groups like the BSA. They, and their research numbers, are about as believable as pretty much ANYTHING that comes out of the RIAA's mouth.
Funnier still is this claim of increased piracy.
By whom???? Bob college student dicking around with a spare PC in the corner?
Ver few businesses will go without product licensing nowadays. It's just not worth it.
And speaking of not worth it, I HIGHLY doubt that now that we have our Win2k server and Active Directory up and running, and functioning with all the other systems (payroll, accounting, timeclock, inventory, etc. etc.) we are going to shel out MORE money for a new Windows Server platform....forget that. Last thing I want is to setup Server '03 and pray to God nothing complains. For what? What do I REALLY gain from the upgrade? DICK!
"The saddest words of mice and men, are not those which were, but should have been."
>inexpensive, fast, good - choose two
I have a similar thought about horse riding
desired direction, right speed, balanced in the saddle - choose two.
If I got speed and balance right, the horse was usually headed for the nearest low branch.
If I got direction and speed right, I usually wasn't in contact with the saddle. Ie standing in the stirrups.
If I got direction and balance right, usually the horse was stopped and eating.
Hmm wonder how I could bring it back to topic?
popular, secure, profitable - choose two?
-- it must be true, it's on the internet.
Why do you have to have the initial install key ?? .. (Hey .. it's a 30 day window period) and when you want to "Activate", you then have to pay.
Microsoft can simply give Windows (XP/2003) away for free
would be more like it
Each pirated version of Windows running is one less copy of Linux or other variant OSes running. In order of their preferences, 1) Legit MS 2) Pirated MS 3) Alternative OS So they almost approve piracy.
Trolls dont like to be Flamebait, because they burn so well. Protect our Troll heritage!
By Microsoft as a way of getting Win2003 Server onto lots of systems that would otherwise run Linux. "Oh, dear, we've lost our key!" One has to wonder why a product like this even needs a master key. Surely system-builders and so-on can use product activation like anyone else: even if they can use the same key multiple times, nothing says they cannot activate it on-line.
Oh those damn pirates, now we will have to crack down even harder on all those people still using bootleg copies of Office 97!!!
Sig for sale or rent. One previous user. Inquire within.
> Seems we have the answer for Microsoft, don't we?
So your suggestion would be for MS to keep their source closed (they're going to anyway) and then give out the software, but sell the support?
And this would encourage good, easy-to-use, easy-to-configure, bug-free software with a consistent interface, I bet, right?
-fred
Sign #11 of Slashdot overdose: You see the phrase 'moderate Republican' and you wonder if that would be a +1 or a -1.
It appears that these files were made available on IRC, and are being subsequently transferred to ISO images of 2003 EE.
I leave it to the reader to figure just which USENET group carries this traffic.
MS needs to 'scour the Internet' for these people? They run one of the Websites in the C-Net article!
"Flyin' in just a sweet place,
Never been known to fail..."
posting working serials here on slashdot? or are they all fake?
well try this, does it make sense?
Join the crowd
Build a tower
8 meters to the right
8 meters to the left
Forty meters in height
-
Wait for good weather
Tear down the tower
2 people will help
Questions will follow
3 days just have passed
-
Does anybody wonder
Probably
X is a hard letter
T is much better
Together they fit
-
You should know already
8 again a typo?
Good lord it's fun
Help them spread there software
Greed is a sin
-
7 sins there are
You should have got it now
You remember that 'fuck you' tombstone?
Questions?
You got it.
... would microsoft have the dominance it has today?
If people didn't have access to pirated versions of windows since day 1, how many average home users could have afforded it? I'm not talking about the advanced users I'm sure you all are, but the average mum & dad & 2.5 kids that have just bought a computer to write some letters up or send some email. These families use outdated hardware running old prepackaged software until a friend lends them a newer version of windows or msoffice or whatever to remain compatible with work or school. Without this pirated software would these children be exposed to the overpriced software and become reliant on it in later years?
I propose that maybe just maybe, piracy aids microsoft in making the average joe reliant on their product so in later years when they can afford it, they dont even consider any other competitors. After all, as someone has already said, its not the big businesses that give ms their profits using these codes, is it?
Oh, never mind.
There are two kinds of people in the world: those with loaded guns, and those who dig.
Stolen codes are often traded with the Microsoft software, typically on Web sites, newsgroups or Internet Chat Relay (IRC).
That's from the news.com article, it's good to know that sites other than slashdot have lazy editors.
Security is only as strong as the weakest part, and I seriously doubt that's with the encryption algorithm here. Remember this system is not designed to protect your computer from outside threats (like SSH, etc), it is to protect the operating system from the user. The threat model and problem being solved are entirely different.
Why attack the encryption algorithm directly? Instead reverse engineer and bypass the parts of the OS that invoke the license checks. Or fool the probes which try to determine your hardware signatures. "Borrow" a key. Or for that matter just be sure to run IIS, as it lets perfect strangers run any applications they want on your computer, it should just as easily let you use your own computer too without any security checks :-)
I do have two important observations though:
But I think you just made that up
Unless you know something we don't
Like you work for Microsoft
Less chance of actually having a third valid serial
So it seems, anyway
Hey, or maybe you just nicked it from work
I still don't believe you
Thanks and goodbye!
I have had to pay for that f*cking operating system for about every PC that I have ever bought, even though I don't use it. It's only right that other people who actually want to use it shouldn't have to pay for it.
>> 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.
Put the CDROM in the slot, boot the machine, and nobody gets hurt. ARRRRRRRR!!
Bill Stewart
New Fast-Compression-only CPR http://preview.tinyurl.com/dy575ks
Until you download the keygen with integrated key changer.
What? You didn't know there was a working Windows XP keygen/key changer floating around out there? Consider yourself informed.
main(c,r){for(r=32;r;) printf(++c>31?c=!r--,"\n":c<r?" ":~c&r?" `":" #");}
Yeah I guess piracy isn't a concern when you're giving away your stuff (code, soft) and making profit from somewhere else (maintenance, counseling, certification).
But keep in mind that sometimes it just doesn't work any better (or implies "higher ethics"). When I know a company is releasing underdocumented or buggy code on purpose just to keep gauging from me ("deluxe docs", counselling...) there's a thin line you sometimes don't know where it exactly is.
... what's even worse is when they steal from you both ways (seen any macromedia packaged doc?)...
A couple of things
1) Open Security != Open Source
2) Open Source != No Key (PGP ring any bells ?)
So just to clarify
1) If I create an SDA using PGP this is Open Source Software with a key
2) There are closed source security elements that have put their code out for review, including by the Goverment
3) Red Hat give you a key to access their premium rate support.
4) You made a glib comment that hit the MS Bad, OSS good Slashdot button and got modded up
5) This just means there are lots of people on Slashdot who don't understand this either.
Sheesh, you can have key restricted open source software, that is the idea of privacy and security for starters, the whole aim of VPNs etc etc. The issue here is in part _how_ the key (think private key) is issued. What MS want to do is make it simple for volume installers. Now what they could do is supply a bunch of USB keys to these volume suppliers that must be inserted during install. So give them 20, or 30, or whatever ghosting 30 at a time is a reasonable upgrade plan (no-one in a large company goes overnight for a total upgrade).
The issue is 1) Process 2) The nature of the security.
NOT whether its open or closed source.
An Eye for an Eye will make the whole world blind - Gandhi
That's silly. My piracy isn't threatened by this leak. In fact, if I were to guess, I would think this leak will increase piracy, not threaten it.
I'm an American. I love this country and the freedoms that we used to have.
Hi, I need a serial for the latest Linux kernel, version 2.4.20, the old serial doesn't work anymore. I'd prefer a keygen over a crack.. TIA!!
:)
*now waits for the obligatory 'Me too!!' posts*
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.
But I can guess at two reasons why it comes just now:
Perhaps this "leak" is to take attention away from new releases of excellent servers: OpenBSD 3.3, RedHat 9 (even w/4 business hour response time), and Mandrake 9.1.
Or perhaps it is to drum up sympathy in congress for new legislation which could be used to mandate DRM in the U.S. This would hamstring the U.S. IT sector and many public institutions by taking money out of already tight budgets and sending it to Redmond in the form of forced purchases of new hardware and software.
Beta is broken and the link to classic doesn't work. Stop wasting our time or there won't be anybody left here.
make oldconfig deps modules bzimage install
If that doesn't work for you, there are others!
After spending several hours looking over this latest release from the 'Redmondian Army of Doom', I have mixed feelings about this key as a whole but I still find myself strangely attracted to a few of it's verses. It is as if parts of it were composed by choruses of lilting angels while other parts we're slapped together with the premediation of a four year old making mud pies. Lets take a look at this new key... verse, by haunting verse, shall we?
C4C24-
What a stunning beginning! Almost symetrical, yet still off balance even with the repeating C's and 4's. The 2 was a discordant shocker at first, but the more I read over it, the more I found that it acted as a 'front porch', if you will, for the firmly concluding 4.
QDY9P-
This is that "Mud Pie" verse that I alluded to earlier. After such a strong beginning with "C4C24", "QDY9P" is a total dissapointment. I think the problem here is the 9. The "QDY phrase is an intriguing start to this verse but the 9 just throws away any semblance of order.
GQJ4F-
This is without a doubt, the most playful and funky verse in the key. The central "QJ4" is a sassy and taunting invocation of some well known classical themes which takes on a whole different tone when sandwiched between the "G" and the slightly naughty "F".
2DB6G-
Probably the most memorable verse in this work, I kept humming "2DB", "2DB", "2DB", "2DB" to myself all afternoon. This cadence was a welcome change of pace and helped move this key back in the right direction toward the finale.
PFQ9W
What a triumph! This final verse had me on the edge of my seat in anticipation as each new character played on the preceeding ones with a curious mixture of both lust and fury. The "PFQ" opening is both sensual and vulgar at once, but when blended into a "Q9W" clarion call, the effect is awsome and should stand as one of the great Windows Key verses of all time.
"A microprocessor... is a terrible thing to waste." --
GeneralEmergency
Well, I think you forget one huge fact:
Pirated copies are very important for the distribution of Microsoft products.
There are of course ways to improve security - why still use such general keys? Look at e.g. Mathematica, they have far better protection mechanisms.
I postulate that piracy is tolerated and helpful for Microsoft, they will never try to generally stop it. They have of course their ways to reduce piracy, especially by intimidation and bad conscience.
The more the Microsoft monopoly grows, the more they can pressure and reduce software pirates without losing market share.
You will see: Palladium/TCPA will also not stop piracy.
I would not wonder if Microsoft released this key by themselves..
In the land before time, or rather, the world of software before Windows XP, Microsoft OS's didn't require activation, but they did require CD Keys. Mostly this was a fiasco as ANY legitimate cd key could be used ANY number of times for that version of the software. Many will remember the NT4 days and the ever-popular 111-1111111. Microsoft got smarter for Windows 2000, but not by much. The not-so-easily-forged 25 character cd key introduced with Windows 98 was used, which at the very least prevented people from making up cd keys. However, it was soon discovered that with a simple change of no more than TWO characters to an easily-editable text file, the cd key requirement could be eliminated! Toss those keys away! This one made it super convenient to install Windows, and the piracy raged on. This hole is still wide open, even with the latest service pack.
Microsoft did start wising up, however. Summer of 1999 saw the first ever "activation" efforts implemented in Microsoft Office 2000 in certain markets, notably US education, Australia, and New Zealand. This was a successful pilot program and with the release of Office 2000 SR-1 in summer of 2000, all retail versions of Office 2000 incorporated this technology (known back then as "registration.") This, too, however, was quite simple to defeat using a corporate install feature normally reserved for large-scale deployments.
The release of Windows XP saw another big step forward for Microsoft's anti-productivity tools (excuse me, "anti-piracy efforts"). Same 25-character cd keys, but you have to "check in" with Microsoft to verify you haven't handed the key out to 25 of your closest friends. Windows XP activation is actually quite a bit more lenient than most people realize... you can change a significant amount of hardware and not be forced to reactivate, and the biggest secret is that if you don't check in with MS Activation servers for a period of 4 months, they'll wipe your history clean and you can activate anew with ANY hardware configuration. Enough room for even the heaviest geek to make all the changes he wants.
Once again, however, product activation was easily defeated. It wasn't long (well before the retail release for that matter) before someone got ahold of a corporate copy (no activation required) and let it loose on the net. The biggest change with Windows XP was that the difference between retail and corporate versions was a whopping 10 files, including one that was almost 13 MB. Not so easy to make your retail copy activation-free, but it can be done. The ramifications were clear: there was to be no more swapping of retail and corporate keys. It was too easy for Joe User to find a few characters on the net and defeat all the anti-piracy efforts MS had spent months developing.
And here's where we connect with the article. First of all, cd keys to install Windows Server 2003 have been out since before it was originally posted on MSDN (which, by Microsoft's own admitting, was less than 4 hours after RTM). The problem was, all those cd keys were from retail distributions which required activation. Yes, a "reset" patch was quickly coded which virtually made the activation requirement non-existent, but these things have been known to have been "corrected" in service packs. The public was clamoring for a "corp" release, which would eliminate the activation altogether. Insiders had access to the corporate release but it was worthless without a key... a key somebody was probably going to lose their job for if they divulged it. Almost a week went by, and then early yesterday morning, a key was located and the corporate release has been forthcoming. This wasn't the first key and it's not the only key, but it is special in that it is the first "volume license," or "corporate" key to be released.
The article fails to mention that the key MUST be matched with a corporate release. Once again, the unique files from retail and corporate editions are about 13 MB, but those files can be found on the web in
Just think of all those poor coders in Redmond who are going to be poor and starve as a result!
Stick Men
Seedy bar. Toilet stall door.
"For a Good Time "
This sig has been temporarily disconnected or is no longer in service
If you think this is far fetched, consider that it has already happened for MS Office for OS X. Users who applyied the first service pack found their installations were nobbled if they had been registered using widely know serial numbers.
It would be no more difficult for MS to do the same with Windows 2003 Server. And given the nature of the product and the huge revenue MS see themselves losing, you can expect them to pursue servers using the hacked serial numbers extremely vigourously with prosecutions and raids galore.
Now I wonder how much revenue is *actually* lost as opposed to counting illegal installs and assuming all those equal lost revenue. People who use hacked serial numbers are not those who would be interested in spending $$$$ on the original in the first place.
"Company X, Here's an email with the key to unlimited software installs, and therefore more or less unlimited money. Please don't give it to other people. Thanks, Microsoft"
add that to:
"Hello employees, it's the boss of Company X. Here's the key to install all the software in your email -- please don't take it home and steal other software with it."
SURE! There are a lot of people out there who wouldn't handle that responsibility well.
stuff |
Actually the only money Microsoft makes is on both Office and Windows. I can't remember the exact figures, but it's about 85% profit on Office and 80% on Windows.
All of that excess is used to fund money losing projects including WebTV, WinCE, Xbox, MSN, and everything else.
If someone says he and his monkey have nothing to hide, they almost certainly do.
Conclusion: Dave Miscavige is mightier than Bill Gates
Microsoft keeps arguing that the purpose of Product Activation is to stop piracy. That's ludicrous:
First, weeks before XP was released there was the infamous leaked corporate copy of XP readily available for download in convenient ISO format.
Second, Microsoft stated that anyone using the leaked version of XP would not be able to update to SP1. However, a week before SP1 was released tweaktown.com had figured out and posted a way around it.
Third, now the exact same thing is happening to Windows Server 2003.
Exactly how did Product Activation stop piracy? It didn't. What does it stop? It stops what I call sharing. That's when a friend uses his copy of Windows to upgrade a friend's computer. That is what Product Activation has stopped and nothing more. (I'm not saying that sharing is OK, but it's hardly piracy!)
Maybe Product Activation is also Microsoft's attempt to get the average person used to paying for upgrades. Maybe it is a step in the direction of Palladium, i.e., getting the average person used to the idea that Microsoft controls their PC, and not the other way around. It could be a lot of things, but it is clearly NOT intended to stop real piracy.
If someone says he and his monkey have nothing to hide, they almost certainly do.
Windows piracy is definitely bad news for OSS. However, not to such a great extent in this case of Windows Server 2003, which won't particularly appeal to the average joe who's already got a pirated copy of Windows XP.
I believe it's happened in the past where Microsoft's patches will check for this key and deactivete the product if it's found. So if you go to Windows Update and download the latest service pack, it will disable your copy of Windows, citing a "Warez" key as the reason, and to please contact Microsoft to obtain a valid key. And with all the built in vulnerabilities, your basically forced to keep on top of the updates.
Anyone else read this as GLib?
I need a hobby.
T
---- It puts the lotion on its skin or else it gets the hose again. It does this whenever it's told.
I'm so angry I'm going to maybe go and type about it on the internet and search for a warez key and then I'm going to look at porn.
WTF?
ARG WHY ARE YOU SO EVIL MICRO$OFT?!?!
Ok, and then I ate some breakfast and my vision came back after blacking out last night because I was so angry at microsoft that I drank three liters of rum in an hour straight and goddamn I had no idea there was an ACTIVATION CODE ON THE BOTTLE.
So now I'm living in a bridge down by the river driking benzene and eating crickets laced in LSD 25. SCREW YOU MICROSOFT. GOD BLESS LINUX!
Hammer of Truth
According to the article, Microsoft's responce to stolen activation codes is to make it impossible to apply service packs to software activated with those codes. That won't keep people from using the stolen software, but it will keep them from applying bug fixes and patching security holes in the stolen software.
Let me say that again. It will stop people from applying security patches to the stolen software. That means that the next big MS worm will have a large installed base of unpatched, and unpatchable, MS servers to exploit.
This situation hurts every person who uses the Internet.
Stonewolf
I can hardly believe that Microsoft would activate millions of installations of Windows 2003 with a single key.
With all the trouble to put a unique identifier on each CD, it seems like it would be little enough hassle to require the user to enter the identifier on the web or over the phone to completely activate the OS. You know, give me your key and I'll give you Your Unique Magic Key.
Didn't they even read the articles about how all DVDs were encrypted with a single key and got liberated in one fell swoop from that fantastic piece of copyright protection when the key was discovered and made public?
My paranoid side says it's all a conspiracy to illustrate the perils of widespread piracy/terrorism/hackers (MS has enough cash to take a hit on the revenue loss) so that TCPA/Palladium gets a more receptive audience with lawmakers and the gullible public at large.
"Provided by the management for your protection."
Oh there is one...you have to leave it running for quite awhile (I don't know exactly what it is doing) and it will create good XP (and office) CD keys.
Take a look at the register article.
http://theregister.co.uk/content/4/24065.html
I understand some of the logic for Microsoft's Product Activation system. I get the whole activation after installation, but what I don't get is the shut-down part. The prog will take a snap-shot of your hardware upon installation. Then if you hardware changes too much it will shut you down. Will the system stay functioning if you make a number of changes over time, or is it just the number of hardware changes that sets it off? Either way, the program will still detect a number of recongized components. So how does it come to the conclusion that it has been pirated? At the risk of anthropomorphizing, until software is installed, it has no awareness. Once it is installed, it becomes aware of the hardware it is installed on. Pirated software is the same way, it is unaware of anything until it is first installed. Then once it is installed, it also becomes aware. All that said, what is the logic that was used when Microsoft decided that if software detects a number of hardware changes, it has been pirated. The best analogy I can think of is a person and their clone. Until you go to an outside source, there both the person and the clone will think they are the original. But Microsoft's deacivation system would be like the original person getting a heart & lung transplant and their immune system decides that they are now a clone. Can anybody explain this to me?
What I find funny is, that it's like this story (urban myth perhaps) about the woman who had a thriving business of disposing of peoples dead pets in a big city for about $50. Other disposal options were too expensive for many people, so she made a stack of cash.
She would simply buy a cheap and nasty ($5) suitcase for a couple of bucks. Put the dead animal in it, and leave the suitcase at a crouded train station. Of course, the suitcase wasn't sitting there long before someone steals it.....
You can draw many parrellels of this MS situation here. I guess after 911, this scenario might not be advisable.
Anyways, the kind of people who rip off proprietary software, are not the types who would actually shell out the mega bucks for it anyways - even if it were no warez or serialz available for them.
If you repeat a lie enough times, it is eventually perceived as the truth.
Biodiesel : domestic, renewable, clean, and in the fuel tank of my bone stock 2002 New Beetle TDI
I used (and i guess still could if i was so inclined) to install NT4 and Office 97 after i lost the keys just by typing random numbers into the keybox. I also still remember my win 95 serial. Now we have these 25 char alphanumeric keys and it's hell if you lose a box. And windows is still pirated. Fail imo.
I'm wondering why this does not happen more often!? This seems to be a really big deal for Microsoft, but naively I would think that such keys are leaked to the internet every day. Or are these keys usually heavily guarded as "company secrets"? Are there stiff fines imposed on the companies if their assigned key becomes public knowledge?
I'm not sure about the places were everbody else works, but where I work we have so many oprotunities to no license things correctly, but we do because we are an organization (actually a university). I'm pretty sure that most companies also buy all of their software in good faith, or they at least don't knowingly steal from a software manufacturer. I think the only people that are probably stealing this software are the nerds that put this software on a computer at home because they are willing to pay the $500 to $2000 is costs to legally license Windows Server... It's not like the key codes aren't going to get out there after April 24th... The codes will get out from their OEM customers and the other groups that have product keys that don't need to be activated...
This whole thing is just free press for Microsoft to help announce their release date. I didn't even know when the release date was and our organization is a Tech Net + subscriber and have the RC2 installed... Maybe my head is just in the sand...