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SP1 Unsuccessful in Preventing Vista Hacks

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the oh-my-god-i'm-so-shocked dept.

"The other A. N. Other" writes "It seems that Microsoft has been unsuccessful with SP1 in preventing hackers from turning a pirated, non-genuine copy of Vista into genuine copies that pass activation. The article initially looked at two of the most popular hacks (OEM BIOS hack and the grace timer hack) but after a little digging ZDNet were able to transform a non-genuine install into a genuine one. 'After a few minutes of searching the darker corners of the Internet and a few seconds in the Command Prompt I was able to fool Windows into thinking that it was genuine.'"

17 of 214 comments (clear)

  1. WHAT!?!?! by sm62704 · · Score: 3, Funny

    A Windows upgrade leaves Windows vulnerable? It didn't fix the problem? I'm shocked! SHOCKED, I tell ya!

    -mcgrew

    --
    mcgrew's razor: Never attribute to stupidity that which can be explained by greedy self-interest
    1. Re:WHAT!?!?! by Cigarra · · Score: 4, Funny

      Did you even read the summary?
      Of course he didn't.

      He was frist!!
      --
      I don't have a sig.
    2. Re:WHAT!?!?! by blind+monkey+3 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Linux suffers from the same vulnerability. You can copy it as many times as you want and it works just as well as the copy from the original developers.

      And it's much easier with Linux - so Windows is more secure!!!

      --
      BM3
  2. Re:Here we go again... by badfish99 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Simple solution: pay for a copy, throw it in the bin, and install a stolen copy instead.

  3. Re:SP2... by foxalopex · · Score: 3, Funny

    True, but seeing the slow adoption of Vista that might not happen until SP3. :)

  4. Re:Here we go again... by SailorSpork · · Score: 5, Funny

    You mean, someone would actually want Vista so much they'd pirate it?! These allegations surely come from M$'s PR department! If there's someone out there that really wants a copy that badly, I'll trade my Vista Home Premium that was bundled with my new system for your XP serial number...

  5. Come on.... by Aurisor · · Score: 5, Funny

    This is ZDNet we're talking about here. When he says "searching the darker corners of the Internet" he's probably talking about his cluttered address book, looking for the phone number of his friend who knows how to hack vista.

  6. Re:Black Screen of Death... by morgan_greywolf · · Score: 5, Funny

    So, if the screen goes black on users who have a genuine copy, maybe they can use this hack? Or would this be illegal? Although it would then be like tricking Windows into -realizing- it is genuine... No, I think in order to be convicted of piracy, you would need a ship, some weapons and have committed acts such as thievery at high seas, raping, pillaging, you know that sort of thing.

    Copyright infringement, OTOH, is something else entirely.
    --
    My blog
  7. Re:No surprise there... by Soporific · · Score: 2, Funny

    To paraphrase a little: "pirated Windows is only free if your time is worthless".

    I don't know about that, I've been able to get along just fine with XP...

  8. not my quote... by apodyopsis · · Score: 1, Funny

    not what I would of typed...

    "After a few minutes of searching the darker corners of the Internet and a few seconds in the Command Prompt I was able to fool Windows into thinking that it was genuine."

    would be..

    "After a few minutes of searching the darker corners of the operating system and a few seconds in the Aero interface I was able to decide that Vista was the vile spawn of the devil and was to be ditched pronto and my new laptop would be graced by Ubuntu."

    And really, it's run with nary a profanity or complaint ever since.

  9. Get your pirate code right! by langelgjm · · Score: 5, Funny

    As a representative of the PADL (Pirate Anti-Defamation League), I protest to your inclusion of rape in the list of activities characteristic of pirates. According to Captain John Phillip's Pirate Code,

    Article IX. If at any time you meet with a prudent Woman, that Man that offers to meddle with her, without her Consent, shall suffer present Death.

    Please cease and desist from further defamation of pirates. Or prepare to be pillaged yourself! (And note that the article only applies to the prudent Woman.) YAAAR!

    --
    "Anyone who [rips a CD] is probably engaging in copyright infringement." - David O. Carson
    1. Re:Get your pirate code right! by operagost · · Score: 5, Funny

      (And note that the article only applies to the prudent Woman.)
      Ah, you have found the loophole! Bring on the lusty wenches!
      --

      Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
  10. Re:This is nothing new by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    My 0.02 cents When you want to spend 0.02 cents, do you have to chop a penny into 50 pieces?
  11. Re:Black Screen of Death... by ColdWetDog · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yet one more reason Imaginary Property should be abolished.

    Just rotate it 90 degrees, poof.

    --
    Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
  12. Re:Here we go again... by drharris · · Score: 2, Funny

    Find another business model. It isn't like there is some worldwide shortage of them. Except that all the other good business models have been patented.
  13. In other news... by a-zarkon! · · Score: 3, Funny

    Vogons have landed and are now posting to /.

  14. Re:Here we go again... by Vexor · · Score: 3, Funny

    I actually typed my Starcraft CD key so many times I ended up memorizing it. 2518-77178-9492

    --
    ~Vexed and loving it!