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Media Center Key Accidentally Gives Pirates Free Windows 8 Pro License

Posted by Unknown on from the side-effects-include dept.

MrSeb writes "In an amusing twist that undoubtedly spells the end of some hapless manager's career, Microsoft has accidentally gifted pirates with a free, fully-functioning Windows 8 license key. As you have probably surmised, this isn't intentional — Microsoft hasn't suddenly decided to give pirates an early Christmas present (though the $40 upgrade deal from Windows 8 Release Preview is something of a pirate amnesty). ... The bug involves the Key Management Service, which is part of Microsoft's Volume Licensing system. Pirates have already hacked the KMS to activate Windows 8 for 180 days — but this is just a partial activation. Now it turns out that the free Media Center Pack license keys that Microsoft is giving out until January 31 2013 can be used on a KMS-activated copy of Windows 8 to turn it into a fully licensed copy of Windows 8 Pro. "

4 of 255 comments (clear)

  1. Meanwhile at Canonical by crazyjj · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hey, we're giving our OS away for free, no license or hack needed!

    Anyone?

    Hello?

    --
    What political party do you join when you don't like Bible-thumpers *or* hippies?
  2. huh? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    What's this license key and activation nonsense?

    Sincerely,
    Confused Linux User.

  3. Re:the 'activation' component by RMingin · · Score: 5, Funny

    Not true, there are many 'cracked' KMS servers out there, which are a VM with the most minimal services, running Windows Server in Core mode, and all ports but the KMS ones closed and blocked. Those same servers are patched to keep 25 fake activations renewed at all times, so any and all requests to the "cracked" KMS server result in activations. As far as MS can tell, they are legitimate, since KMS activations are not verified online, except with the original server.

    I don't see this getting patched or fixed easily. It will be a lot of work. or it'll require doing things that annoy large volume customers.

    --
    The preceding comment is my own, and in no way construes an opinon of the Emperor of Mankind.
  4. Re:one way to increase windows 8 adoption by SEE · · Score: 5, Funny

    What was Microsoft thinking? Thinking had nothing to do with it; they had no choice.

    See, Windows 98 SE was followed by Windows Me, which sucked more.
    Windows Me was followed by Windows XP, which sucked less.
    Windows XP was followed by Windows Vista, which sucked more.
    Windows Vista was followed by Windows 7, which sucked less.

    Windows 7 accordingly had to be followed by a "sucked more" release.