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."

Comments

Two quotes come to mind

[1967mustangman]

The first is from George Patton : "Fixed fortifications are monuments to the stupidity of man." The second is from Karl von Clausewitz: "If you entrench yourself behind strong fortifications, you compel the enemy seek a solution elsewhere." I think these speak volumes

MOD PARENT INSIGHTFUL

[Spy der Mann]

Genuine Advantage is a pain in the arse for both registered and unregistered users. If reinstalling windows was a nightmare, imagine now with having to actually activate your windows. And now for updates? Come on!

Somebody has to put an end to this.

Re:MOD PARENT INSIGHTFUL

[thrift24]

The worst has to be for setting up Microsoft Learning classes that use Virtual PC. You recieve about 2-10 virtual machine images that you have to activate by phone for every class(internet activation doesn't work).

Now imagine the fun that comes Friday after class to try to activate 3 classes worth of these by Monday morning when microsofts activation line is down half the weekend. *joy*

Don't you love Regina? That's what we call the Microsoft activation recording, she's screams numbers out like it's a punishment she's giving you. "5! 1! 2! 7! 5! *pleasant voice* would you like me to repeat that..."

Not a true crack

[andycal]

From the doc linked to:
>6. After downloading "GenuineCheck.exe", run it on the machine running a genuine copy of Windows XP.
> It will generate a code which is used for WGA validation. Copy the code and use the same code to
>validate a pirated copy of Windows XP and bypass the WGA.

But that's bogus, you still need "access" to a authentic copy to perform this hack. It's not really a hack at all.

But sadly this will only make it easier for people unwilling to pay for windows to continue to use it. It would be better if they had to find a cheeper (legal) solution.

impenetrable?

[dioscaido]

Where does that "impenetrable" quote come from? MS has pretty openly stated that they know that protection mechanisms like Activation can, and will, be cracked. They have been pretty clear that these mechanisms are in place more for the hobbyist or mom-and-pop user, than the people that would actively seek out cracks/pirate software.

Re:That's great microsoft...

[ashmedai]

Think about which is easier:

1) Accessing a random legitimate install once for a minute or two.

2) Accessing a legitimate install every time a new patch comes out, for however long it takes to download. Must also make arrangements to transport the downloaded files.

That answer your question?

Got hit by that "feature" today, VERY annoying.

[tcc]

I wanted to install DirectX 9.0C on my laptop, and got hit by that. They've asked me to type in my product Key (which was UNDER my dhell laptop, attached to it was my external 80gb firewire drive and my 200GB USB2 drive, thank god it's not using a docking station, this would have required me to turn it off and then write it down then reboot than download, then reboot again...

for god's sake what are they thinking? don't they get it? lot of people are buying software and use cracked version EXACTLY because of the fact that all legitimate software puts totally INSANE overhead that only irritates clients and in the end penalize them. And beleive me, they lose sales little by little because in the end it's less of a pain in the back to install cracked versions than upgrade with the re-registration, phone confirmation, yadi yada that without mentionning activations problems and all that stuff that people don't want to deal with especially after shelling out hundreds of dollars.

You want people to stop pirating, EDUCATE them, irritating them will only do the exact opposite. When I was a kid, I had a VIC20 and a C64, EVERYTHING was copied because "stores selling games" what not a commodity like today, plus, at 11, you don't have that much money, and face it, piracy is what made the C64 such a hot seller. But later, I was educated once entering a specific field of interest (3d/video editing) by people on mailing lists and also local pros, and today I'm the one pushing people to buy software and support companies, especially when these companies puts out educational pricing or non-commercial licenses at very decent pricing. Its still easy to get pirated software, but when you are educated, you know what happens in the long run, or you know the potential legal implications it might get you into if positive reinforcement is not your thing :).

Seriously, I just don't get it... if the goal is a clever way to reduce bandwidth costs on their server and outsource the stuff to pirate sites or torrents sites, well, hats off! but I doubt this would be the case.... man how pathetic can it get...