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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. "

7 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 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. 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.
  6. 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)