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Microsoft Genuine Advantage Cracked

piyush ranjan writes "An Indian researcher has cracked the much-touted "impenetrable" Windows Genuine Advantage of Microsoft. According to Microsoft this service would soon require all Windows users to verify their license before downloading updates."

25 of 427 comments (clear)

  1. let me be the first to say by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    torrent?

    1. Re:let me be the first to say by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Avalanche?

  2. Re:Text by LiquidCoooled · · Score: 5, Funny

    Did he stick tape over the Windows key during installation?
    Or did he perhaps hold down the shift key.

    The world must know.

    --
    liqbase :: faster than paper
  3. Hmmm, Aptly named by KSobby · · Score: 1, Funny

    Funny to see the word's "genuine" and "microsoft" in the same story. I love the smell of irony in the evening.

    --
    "It's difficult to meditate on amphetamines." - Joe Walsh
  4. 1992 called ... by w98 · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... they want their copy protection scheme back.

  5. Re:Text by Curtman · · Score: 1, Funny

    When's this being ported to Wine? :)

  6. Re:Download? by aderen · · Score: 2, Funny

    What for? I thought everyone reading slashdot is using linux or mac.

  7. Oh no... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    DVD Jon has been out-sourced to India!

  8. hurts the anti OSS argument, or should by capicu · · Score: 2, Funny

    This sort of thing should be fatal for the argument that "if anyone can see the source, anyone can find exploits", but for now at least, Microsoft has the stronger orbital mind-control ray.

  9. Re:Text by Slack3r78 · · Score: 4, Funny

    No, he colored over the inner ring of the internet with a Sharpie.

  10. Oh, oh by overshoot · · Score: 1, Funny
    Now piracy will flourish and Microsoft will have to raise their prices to stay in business.

    Just remember, anyone who pirates Microsoft software is raising your prices! Turn them in to the BSA today!

    /sarcasm>

    --
    Lacking <sarcasm> tags, /. substitutes moderation as "Troll."
  11. Re:That's great microsoft... by canfirman · · Score: 1, Funny

    Is it co-incidence, then, that I see an advertisement on the site that says, "Resumes Required Urgently"?

    --
    It is not our abilities that show what we truly are... it is our choices.
  12. Re:Text by oahazmatt · · Score: 5, Funny
    Did he stick tape over the Windows key during installation? Or did he perhaps hold down the shift key.

    I share your amusement. Though I am by no means capable enough to perform such a task myself (those shift keys are tricky) it seems that a Microsoft program being cracked or broken or worked-around or otherwise finagled is not necessarily a breakthrough. I suppose the most news-worthy aspect of this particular crack was in response of someone sinking what Microsoft was apparently toting around as the Titanic.

    Interesting, yes. Front page? Maybe not other to rub it in Microsoft's face. This isn't the Special Olympics people. Not everyone gets a medal and a hug. :)

    --
    Those who believe the Internet is private,
    find their privates are on the Internet.
  13. Re:Sharpie - Sony CD Award Goes To... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I'm glad I'm not the only one who always makes that damn "serves = servers" typo.

  14. Easy fix. by PopeAlien · · Score: 4, Funny

    This should be easy for Microsoft to fix. Like all problems the solution lies with legislation.

    Outlaw India - problem solved.

    1. Re:Easy fix. by Ryosen · · Score: 4, Funny

      Outlaw India and they'll just come up with another replacement. Rumor has it that projects are already in the works with names like "Malaysia", "Philippines", and "China".

      --

      Ryosen
      One man's "Troll, +1" is another man's "Insightful, +1".
  15. Re:Fortifications by tomhudson · · Score: 3, Funny
    Roger Cheswick has made a career for decades in explaining the problems with the castle-wall theory of computer defense. apparently he did so in vain, for there's always some clothpate who doesn't get the word.

    There's only one word in that sentence that I don't get, and it sure as hell doesn't involve security. Congratulations, you have invented a word that even Google cannot find.

    clothpate
    cloth: rag
    pate: head
    Putting them together is an exercise left for the reader.
  16. Re:Text by Cromac · · Score: 1, Funny
    I suppose the most news-worthy aspect of this particular crack was in response of someone sinking what Microsoft was apparently toting around as the Titanic.

    I wish I had mod points for you, that's probably the best analogy and funniest thing I've seen on slashdot all week.

  17. Re:Got hit by that "feature" today, VERY annoying. by SysKoll · · Score: 2, Funny
    You want people to stop pirating, EDUCATE them, irritating them will only do the exact opposite.

    I agree, the problem of MS being pirated would be solved through educating customers. But it would be a solution that might leave MS very unhappy.

    Because the sad truth is that educated customers buy Macs or install Linux...

    --

    --
    Mad science! Robots! Underwear! Cute girls! Full comic online! http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/

  18. Debian Genuine Advantage still uncracked :) by Xtifr · · Score: 4, Funny
    I think a lot of people are missing the point of this. The original purpose, as I understand it, of the "Genuine Advantage" program was to allow users to verify that they had not been ripped off when buying a Winbox, i.e. that they'd actually received a validly licensed copy of Win. Why you would care was never adequately explained, but that's a side issue. But if you do care, then this would seem to be somewhat of an unfortunate development.

    Anyway, I would like to present my own "Debian Genuine Advantage" program that people can use to verify that their Debian-based systems are not pirated:
    #!/bin/sh
    echo "This system is not \"pirated\"."
    Adapting this system for using on other flavors of Linux is left as an exercise for the student. :)
  19. finally... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    The Indians finally found out about the "don't validate now" check box. Congrats, Indians!

  20. Breaking news by Ponzicar · · Score: 3, Funny

    I just heard that Microsoft has announced the creation of a new program, called "Consumer Protection Genuine Advantage Validator". In the near future users will have to have their activeX Genuine Advantage software confirmed to be valid and unpirated before it will let them confirm their windows installation as valid and unpirated.

  21. The real acronym by Daath · · Score: 4, Funny

    WGA is really an acronym for Windows Genuine Annoyance, but Microsoft opted for "Advantage" since it sounded better marketing-wise. :D

    --
    Any technology distinguishable from magic, is insufficiently advanced.
  22. Microsoft's PR by tadauphoenix · · Score: 2, Funny

    Microsoft confirmed the claims of Mohanty, but sought to downplay it saying, "It represents very little threat."

    Microsoft hired Baghdad Bob. I'm sure of it.

  23. Re:Text by yason · · Score: 2, Funny

    We don't know but one thing is certain: Microsoft still employs weaker key lengths than 10 fingers. No wonder it's broken so easily except for the most severely handicapped crackers.

    The day when eleven simultaneous keypresses are required, also known as "next order fingerography", will mark the line between ordinary hackers and the wittiest ubercrackers. It has been rumoured that some are already preparing for those times with prototypes of a so-called "Eine Fingermaschine". Also, the piracy rings of the Mafia already have much experience with handling fingers. Nevertheless, along with 11-finger keylengths and longer, casual piracy is expected to be given a literal "thumbs down" signal from Mr. Gates.