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Microsoft Genuine Advantage Cracked in 24 Hours

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the only-a-matter-of-time dept.

jrobie writes "It looks like mandatory validation of your Windows XP license is now voluntary again. A simple hack has been found that disables the check. BoingBoing has the story. "

11 of 522 comments (clear)

  1. It works... for now by gbulmash · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Just tried it and it works (after Microsoft forced me to download the Genuine Advantage update).

    Sadly, Microsoft will issue a new version of Genuine Advantage that disables the hack and make you use the new version before you can use Microsoft update, so I believe this is only a temporary reprieve. I guess it will be a back and forth between MS and and hackers until MS has secured Genuine Advantage.

    I've got a licensed, genuine version of Windows, but F them for making me jump through hoops to receive continued support. I paid for this and I shouldn't have to keep wasting my time to soothe their paranoid brows.

    Just another reason to keep trying new Linux distros and updates on my testbed system until I find one I like enough to switch (tried so far: Ubuntu, SuSE, CentOS 3.3, Linspire, Knoppix, Mandrake 10). Already using OpenOffice, Firefox, and Thunderbird and have a WAMP (Windows, Apache, MySQL, PHP) set-up for development work. Going to Linux is a small step, but there are a few apps (like video editing, graphics editing) where I just don't have the patience to spend a whole bunch of time learning Linux apps that are 'almost' there in terms of their UI. Maybe I'll hit the Crossover Office site to see if they've gone to gold level support on some of my must-have Windows apps yet.

    - Greg

    --
    Start a happiness pandemic
    1. Re:It works... for now by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Perhaps you dont remember when a Microsoft SSL certificate was issued to a non-MS person years ago. Just because something claims Microsoft created some Active-X control does not mean they really did. Nothing is foolproof.

    2. Re:It works... for now by mcrbids · · Score: 4, Interesting


      If I buy a Television (OR motherboard, hard drive, child's car seat, shingles for the roof, combine for the wheat harvest, CNC press brake for the machine shop, etc.) that doesn't work I can get my money back.

      If it works when I get it, I use it correctly, and it breaks in a short period of time (because of a hidden weakness in the product) I get it fixed for free.

      In most industries, anyone who doesn't follow that rule goes out of business very quickly.

      I think that we are just used to software being an exception.

      Which is, of course, silly. When's the last time you turned in a stolen car for a recall/repair? When you do, they'll look up the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) and make sure that you're legally entitled to the free repair.

      Microsoft is doing the same thing, here. Bitch all you want to, but your license number is effectively the "VIN" for your software. Why shouldn't they have some reasonable means to check it?

      --
      I have no problem with your religion until you decide it's reason to deprive others of the truth.
  2. Re:I can't believe I was actually worried about th by Zzesers92 · · Score: 5, Interesting
    the kids over at Microsoft who decided to implement an anti-piracy measure utilizing javascript without any input validation.

    In a cost comparison, they probably figured a cheap, easy means to get people who otherwise did not know they had a pirated version to purchase outweighed trying to lock out people who knowingly run a pirated copy (i.e., people who will use this hack).

  3. Re:only for the geeks by mark-t · · Score: 5, Interesting
    I bought my copy too... an OEM version of Windows XP Home edition that came bundled with my Toshiba laptop. The certificate of authenticity label is attached to my laptop, and I have all the original manuals and CD's.

    But for some inexplicable reason, Microsoft is unable to authenticate my info. Which leaves me with no alternative but to use the crack if I want to continue to use XP on that system.

    --
    File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
  4. Re:I can't believe I was actually worried about th by EnVisiCrypt · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I know this was tongue-in-cheek, but since it's all client side, they have no way of flagging anybody as far as I can tell.

    Anybody know differently?

    --


    *everything* is Orwellian to cats.
  5. If you bought a computer with... by olympus_coder · · Score: 3, Interesting

    IANAL

    Windows XP from a legitimet source (say Toshiba, as I've seen that mentioned in a couple of posts) and you fail to authenticate, call their support. If they don't solve the problem double quick, write your eterny general. They lied when they sold you the laptop. THEY need to fix it (not you).

    If this is a common problem, a class action suit will be created and the manufacurer will have to answer for it. If the manufacturer feels it was actually MS that caused the problem, then they will file suit against them.

    All this is academic. I use linux...

    --
    Spell check? Why bother. That is what grammer/spelling Nazi freaks who waiste band width posting "spell right" are for.
  6. Re:I can't believe I was actually worried about th by shark72 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    "In a cost comparison, they probably figured a cheap, easy means to get people who otherwise did not know they had a pirated version to purchase outweighed trying to lock out people who knowingly run a pirated copy (i.e., people who will use this hack)."

    Thank you for pointing that out -- it's a concept that's lost on many people. It's a bit like the locks that come on your car: they probably won't hinder that professional thief who wants your car, but they'll stop the amateurs.

    --
    Sitting in my day care, the art is decopainted.
  7. Re:I can't believe I was actually worried about th by InvalidError · · Score: 4, Interesting

    This is probably one of the more briliant ideas from M$ in a long time: consumers who get/got screwed by their OEM can trade evidence that their OEM is shifting fraudulent copies of M$ software for legit copies.

    1) Let OEMs shift fraudulent copies
    2) Get the customers to seek relief from said fraud
    3) Collect evidence against OEM
    4) Go after said OEM's pockets
    5) Profit (fraud + copyright infringement + etc. = most likely more than enough to cover legal costs)

  8. Re:I can't believe I was actually worried about th by Excelsior · · Score: 3, Interesting

    since it's all client side, they have no way of flagging anybody as far as I can tell.

    Not necessarily. Client-side Javascript code can write to a cookie, and the server can read that cookie on subsequent submits. The client side Javascript can even communicate the cookie to the server using the XMLHTTPRequest object, or with an iframe, eliminating the need for a subsequent user-initiated request.

    Not that I expect them to go to all this trouble, and I'm definitely not saying that they are doing that now. I'm just saying it is theoretically possible.

  9. Re:Who wouldn't know ? by cdrguru · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Easy - low-end Internet retailers ship PCs without a valid copy of Windows all the time. Yes, I got one and the sales receipt says I was charged for Windows XP. The product code that was pre-set when it was loaded on the machine had already been registered with Microsoft and no COA or anything else came with the machine.

    It was not a valid copy of Windows.

    I turned them in to Microsoft after they were completely unresponsive to email and a phone call. What do you know - a few days later I got a package from UPS that they shipped out the day I called Microsoft.

    Windows is not so cheap to the OEM that they aren't above sneaking one past Microsoft every chance they get. Illegal and immoral? Sure, but it is Microsoft they are ripping off, so most people aren't going to care.