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Activate Windows 8 Activation for Free
Posted by Hilbert Hagedoorn on: 11/22/2012 09:21 AM | 33 comment(s) ]
A security hole has been discovered in Microsoft’s product activation process that allows pirates to get a free legitimate activation of Windows 8 using the current Windows Media Center upgrade promotion. people have been having a harder time with Windows 8 because Microsoft no longer allows volume keys — each Windows 8 activation requires a unique key. However, a hole was discovered that involves using the KMS (Key Management System) , and then applying the freely available Windows Media Center upgrade on top of it.
Essentially, those who wish to get a free legitimate installation only need a key for the Windows Media Center upgrade, which is available directly from Microsoft. They simply use any Windows 8 key to reach the desktop during installation of a pirated copy of Windows 8, apply a KMS activation for their current version (to prevent piracy we will not be covering this step in detail), and then go on to use the Windows Media Center upgrade key they obtained from Microsoft themselves. Due to the fact that the WMC upgrade process does no checks for the validity of the activation, any activated copy of windows (even ones which were activated via KMS) are upgraded to a valid version of Windows 8 via the WMC upgrade. Uh oh!
A Key Management System activation allows your unlicensed copy of Windows to be fully usable for 180 days. It’s typically used to help Volume Licensing customers automate and manage the activation process, but pirates have found a way to take advantage of it. On top of that, Microsoft is simply handing out unlimited upgrade keys for Windows Media Center, providing a gateway to free activations.
Effectively, the upgrade key will replace the KMS activation, allowing you to be legitimately activated. Reddit user noveleven explains how we know that Microsoft will not again check for legitimacy after 180 days:
When you activate Windows via KMS, in the activation window it says “Windows is activated until…” and a date (so if you were to install it today, it would say it’s activated until May). After installing the upgrade, the window just says “Windows was activated on…” and the date of activation. That means the activation is permanent.
When you install the upgrade key, that replaces the existing product key; only the new upgrade key is used for future checks. Windows won’t check the key you used to install because it no longer has it.
The promotion period for the free upgrade ends in January, so the damage that could potentially be done by pirates within the next month and a half is probably minimal.
Activate Windows 8 Activation for Free
WhiteLightning
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#4460352 Posted on: 11/22/2012 09:28 AM
next weeks news "Windows 8 users are increasing, os well received"
next weeks news "Windows 8 users are increasing, os well received"
Tripkebab
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Newbie
Posts: 32
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#4460383 Posted on: 11/22/2012 10:38 AM
Lol, wouldnt supprise me in the least. This article is old new tho, however when I gave it a wiz a few weeks back I never had a key sent to me!
next weeks news "Windows 8 users are increasing, os well received"
Lol, wouldnt supprise me in the least. This article is old new tho, however when I gave it a wiz a few weeks back I never had a key sent to me!
Mikedogg
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Banned
Posts: 2872
Joined: 2011-11-01
#4460397 Posted on: 11/22/2012 11:23 AM
Erm, no thanks.
Have to hand it to those scallywags, they know commitment.
Any info on which group did it?
next weeks news "Windows 8 users are increasing, os well received"
Erm, no thanks.
Have to hand it to those scallywags, they know commitment.
Any info on which group did it?
kanej2007
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#4460399 Posted on: 11/22/2012 11:25 AM
Someone reported here that it works upgrading from pirated Windows 7 as well.
Not sure which version of Win8 he upgraded to though.
MS will need to start storing the keys used so they can revoke licences.
I imagine they can retrieve some evidence from server logs.
Lol, Microsoft have ALWAYS been poor when it comes to security!
Someone reported here that it works upgrading from pirated Windows 7 as well.
Not sure which version of Win8 he upgraded to though.
MS will need to start storing the keys used so they can revoke licences.
I imagine they can retrieve some evidence from server logs.
Lol, Microsoft have ALWAYS been poor when it comes to security!
snorge
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Member Guru
Posts: 74
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#4460429 Posted on: 11/22/2012 12:17 PM
This is kind of old news and not sure why it would be posted on this site but anyway, I am wondering if MS will figure out a way to backtrack and block all the keys that were obtained using this method.
This is kind of old news and not sure why it would be posted on this site but anyway, I am wondering if MS will figure out a way to backtrack and block all the keys that were obtained using this method.
Ryu5uzaku
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#4460434 Posted on: 11/22/2012 12:30 PM
Microsoft is pretty darn good with security it being the biggest operating system worldwide...
Even if people do get around stuff.
Microsoft is pretty darn good with security it being the biggest operating system worldwide...
Even if people do get around stuff.
signex
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Posts: 3301
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#4460455 Posted on: 11/22/2012 12:50 PM
They have enough money to make the best security ever i'm sure.
They have enough money to make the best security ever i'm sure.
lucidus
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#4460459 Posted on: 11/22/2012 12:56 PM
Very amusing, still sticking with 7.
Very amusing, still sticking with 7.
kanej2007
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#4460471 Posted on: 11/22/2012 01:12 PM
Disagree. Microsoft Security essentials is the biggest pile of $hit I've ever seen & used, completely worthless...
And what about the Xbox? It was hacked almost immediately after being released, piracy is pretty high with regards to xbox games.
Microsoft is pretty darn good with security it being the biggest operating system worldwide... Even if people do get around stuff.
Even if people do get around stuff.Disagree. Microsoft Security essentials is the biggest pile of $hit I've ever seen & used, completely worthless...
And what about the Xbox? It was hacked almost immediately after being released, piracy is pretty high with regards to xbox games.
StewieTech
Chuck Norris
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Chuck Norris
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#4460491 Posted on: 11/22/2012 01:27 PM
I don´t condemn piracy straight away. I think when you can buy something you want, you should. I had windows 7 pirate for a while because it was damn expensive, then i bought it later for a good price. Now i bought windows 8 pro for 29.99 for it was a good and fair price. I have over 100 games on my pc, about 70 are original, bought with my hard earned money for a acceptable price, the rest are pirate. I refuse to pay 50 euros for a game. Piracy should be about exploring and discern what´s worth your money and what´s not. I think that microsoft is learning that lesson. Now with a price like 29.90 i can´t see the point in not buy it either, if you want it. If someone really wants windows 8 and refuse to spend 30 on it, that person is just a plain lecher.
I don´t condemn piracy straight away. I think when you can buy something you want, you should. I had windows 7 pirate for a while because it was damn expensive, then i bought it later for a good price. Now i bought windows 8 pro for 29.99 for it was a good and fair price. I have over 100 games on my pc, about 70 are original, bought with my hard earned money for a acceptable price, the rest are pirate. I refuse to pay 50 euros for a game. Piracy should be about exploring and discern what´s worth your money and what´s not. I think that microsoft is learning that lesson. Now with a price like 29.90 i can´t see the point in not buy it either, if you want it. If someone really wants windows 8 and refuse to spend 30 on it, that person is just a plain lecher.
Tripkebab
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Posts: 32
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#4460493 Posted on: 11/22/2012 01:28 PM
I was of that view also, had the preview installed on my HTPC which is ok for large TV's, easy to navigate start screen with keyboard and nice and big etc.
But had no plans on installing windows 8 on my desktop. Finally got convinced to give it a go on my desktop (made full backups of my win7 install fully intending to revert within a day)
Installed, upgraded my nvidia drivers with latest beta release, reboot and then got black flickering screen. Tried to go into safe mode..... whole different story.
Anyway ended up formatting and installing once more, hated it again. Installed classic shell.
Job done, love it now, much faster, nicer look (in my opinion) and once you remove the god forsaken start screen and uninstall all the preinstalled apps that come with it you wont remember it was even there.
Side note tho, if you set classic shell up to have shift+window key to bring start screen up it acts as a nice interface to group all your fav apps and games up for quick access in addition to the start menu.
Very amusing, still sticking with 7.
I was of that view also, had the preview installed on my HTPC which is ok for large TV's, easy to navigate start screen with keyboard and nice and big etc.
But had no plans on installing windows 8 on my desktop. Finally got convinced to give it a go on my desktop (made full backups of my win7 install fully intending to revert within a day)
Installed, upgraded my nvidia drivers with latest beta release, reboot and then got black flickering screen. Tried to go into safe mode..... whole different story.
Anyway ended up formatting and installing once more, hated it again. Installed classic shell.
Job done, love it now, much faster, nicer look (in my opinion) and once you remove the god forsaken start screen and uninstall all the preinstalled apps that come with it you wont remember it was even there.
Side note tho, if you set classic shell up to have shift+window key to bring start screen up it acts as a nice interface to group all your fav apps and games up for quick access in addition to the start menu.
UZ7
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#4460495 Posted on: 11/22/2012 01:30 PM
Yep, but remember what Bill Gates said, he'd rather have people pirating their software instead of others
Yep, but remember what Bill Gates said, he'd rather have people pirating their software instead of others
kanej2007
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#4460505 Posted on: 11/22/2012 01:34 PM
Shows you how RICH he is, pirating his software won't lose him his billions he already has...
Quite a generous guy Bill Gates is!
Yep, but remember what Bill Gates said, he'd rather have people pirating their software instead of others
Shows you how RICH he is, pirating his software won't lose him his billions he already has...
Quite a generous guy Bill Gates is!
Neo Cyrus
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#4460551 Posted on: 11/22/2012 02:15 PM
M$ were probably well aware of this and don't care, they're desperate to get people using Winblows 8.
You do know he goes out of his way (along with his wife) to contribute buttloads of money to charities and that he's pledged pretty much his entire fortune to charity, right?
If he was one of those greedy soulless bastards like everyone else he'd still be the richest man in the world right now, the only reason he's not is because he's constantly giving his money away.
M$ were probably well aware of this and don't care, they're desperate to get people using Winblows 8.
Quite a generous guy Bill Gates is!
You do know he goes out of his way (along with his wife) to contribute buttloads of money to charities and that he's pledged pretty much his entire fortune to charity, right?
If he was one of those greedy soulless bastards like everyone else he'd still be the richest man in the world right now, the only reason he's not is because he's constantly giving his money away.
Click here to post a comment for this news story on the message forum.
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Someone reported here that it works upgrading from pirated Windows 7 as well.
Not sure which version of Win8 he upgraded to though.
MS will need to start storing the keys used so they can revoke licences.
I imagine they can retrieve some evidence from server logs.