[quote]The fact that Microsoft has relaxed its antipiracy mechanism built into Windows Vista concomitantly with the release of Service Pack 1 failed to stop hackers from providing a crack for the latest version of Windows Genuine Advantage Validation. Various reports point out that Genuine Advantage Validation and Notifications versions 1.7.69.1 (1.7.0069.1) and 1.7.69.2 released in March 2008, following the March 18 availability of Windows Vista SP1 through Windows Update and the Microsoft Download Center, have been cracked.
The workaround is designed to be integrated with pirated copies of Windows XP and Windows Vista in order to render useless the WGA Validation mechanism. According to the reports, applying the WGA crack will permit users of counterfeit versions of Windows to access and download items from Windows Update, Microsoft Download Center and Microsoft Update. The pirated operating systems with the cracked WGA will pass all validations on Microsoft's websites and offer anything from updates to applications that are restricted to users of genuine operating systems only.
Link: Full Article @ Softpedia
The workaround is designed to be integrated with pirated copies of Windows XP and Windows Vista in order to render useless the WGA Validation mechanism. According to the reports, applying the WGA crack will permit users of counterfeit versions of Windows to access and download items from Windows Update, Microsoft Download Center and Microsoft Update. The pirated operating systems with the cracked WGA will pass all validations on Microsoft's websites and offer anything from updates to applications that are restricted to users of genuine operating systems only.
Link: Full Article @ Softpedia
No it wasn't. MS only addressed two of the most widely hacks on WGA: http://arstechnica.com/journals/microsoft....ga-in-vista-sp1
Microsoft's goal is not to kill off piracy, they know that's impossible. Their goal is to make it an annoyance to pirate their software. This news is equivalent to saying that Vista is beating Leopard in sales: it's obvious and everyone knew it was going to happen, including Microsoft.
The unfortunate thing is, is that all any anti-piracy mechanism does, is annoy the legitimate users.
Exactly. These are not anti-piracy mechanisms, but rather anti-consumer mechanisms. Microsoft has unfortunately been doing a great job of alienating their customers and their industry over the last decade or so.
The unfortunate thing is, is that all any anti-piracy mechanism does, is annoy the legitimate users.
I'm legitimate and it doesn't annoy me.
Doesn't annoy me either.
Those who I have known to have illegal copies of Windows on their PCs are not always tech savvy. They got their friend to do it for them.
Thus, WGA does cause a barrier to them, and will eventually make them fed up enough (especially with whoever installed the illegal copy) to go and buy a proper one. I've seen it happen.
Basically, don't assume all people running pirated copies of Windows do this stuff.
The unfortunate thing is, is that all any anti-piracy mechanism does, is annoy the legitimate users.
quoted for truth, this thing its sometimes luck. but pirates have it 100% fail proof.
The unfortunate thing is, is that all any anti-piracy mechanism does, is annoy the legitimate users.
I'm legitimate and it doesn't annoy me.
Didn't say it annoyed everyone all the time. What I mean is that pirates don't get any of the things that can go wrong for a legitimate user. False positives (WGA) or broken CD/DVD Drives (Starforce), for example. Why is it that it is more risky to be legit than to pirate? Should be the other way round, but it isn't.
Doesn't annoy me either.
Those who I have known to have illegal copies of Windows on their PCs are not always tech savvy. They got their friend to do it for them.
Thus, WGA does cause a barrier to them, and will eventually make them fed up enough (especially with whoever installed the illegal copy) to go and buy a proper one. I've seen it happen.
Basically, don't assume all people running pirated copies of Windows do this stuff.
Selling PCs with the Starter Edition here (Brazil), to a lot of people who don’t have access to the internet and get confused calling to activate (all the f*** time.... I'm afraid someday I'll have to kill someone.. ), when everyone I know uses the pirated version of a "genuine" Ultimate.... ... .... have to say, they are doing a great job!!!
I think their goal is to make Windows so annoying that no one wants to use it. They're doing really well so far. WGA, UAC, and the haphazard Vista GUI are all wonderful examples of this.
** Furious mode on**
Good for you! It annoys me and everyone is entitled to it's own opinion right?
Recently I re-installed a legal OEM version of Windows XP on a laptop here in Vietnam but activation failed (happens often with OEM versions) and I tried to activate by phone. But surprise surprise: no toll-free phone number available in Vietnam, not even a normal one! No, Microsoft expects you to call to Singapore (yes, Microsoft expects you to call an international number in order to activate a legal bought version) because they do not take the effort to offer a local Vietnamese number.
And then you expect me to say: " I'm legitimate and it doesn't annoy me"? I will say this: "I'm legitimate and it annoys me". If Microsoft wants to reduce piracy maybe it should start be offering at least toll-free numbers for EVERY country.
** Furious mode off**
no, dont give people a reason to pirate
Other than making Windows freeware I have no idea what you would suggest in order to do that. Don't say lower the price, because people would still pirate it if it only cost one dollar.
Don't say lower the price
ok i wont
There will always be a way around any copy protection if you are determined enough.
WGA is nonsense, sure it acts as a deterant but little else and does more harm than good.
Seriously, cant they see themself that WGA fails? Legitimate users suffer from it and it doesnt stop pirates
Seriously, cant they see themself that WGA fails? Legitimate users suffer from it and it doesnt stop pirates
How does it negatively affect legitimate users? So they have to install a browser plugin to download from the MS download center. Big deal.
Were you not reading the front page last week? The MBA was hacked in two minutes, the Vista box hacked on the third day; Linux (Ubuntu) was not hacked. Care to retract your bull**** statement?
Were you not reading the front page last week? The MBA was hacked in two minutes, the Vista box hacked on the third day; Linux (Ubuntu) was not hacked. Care to retract your bull**** statement?
However, did anyone *honestly attempt* to hack the Ubuntu laptop? The hacker community (largely running Linux and other open-source and/or no-cost operating systems, such as Free/Open/NetBSD) could very well have some sort of informal non-agression pact concerning such operating systems; such a pact would make a mockery of any challenge to hack into an open-source-OS-powered box. Leopard and Windows, of course, actually cost money, so they are fair game.
Why does anyone too mean to buy the O/S, start messing about with BIOS hacks, when a simple "legal" registry key change will give you a "legal" evaluation version, for as long as you like
to...
to...
thanks for the english lesson. Unfortunately your beginners class on "how to be a smart arse" gave you too little information and you've now made yourself look like an ass, when trying to look cool... FAIL
indeed.
Last edited by leo221 on 02 Apr 2008 - 16:46
Like others have said, it does absolutely NOTHING except to annoy the paying customers. It IS a huge hassle despite anything anyone claims.
Its not like they are losing a physical object/money. So its totally pointless to even add this WGA or whatever crap. The true thief in all this is Microsoft.
so true...they put so much effort into preventing privacy.
i wonder if someone can make a patch or summin to strip all the drm crap outta vista? hmmm... just thinking! lol.
Of course, those who do in fact knowingly hack their computers get caught up in it too, which is rightly so, however I don't personally think WGA was setup primarily for this.
People have even managed to take things 1 step further and have an illegally 'activated' OS, then remove the bootloader whilst still keeping activation
Why bother with medicines? That's just hurting the patient.
Instead make prices to a point that more people can afford it without looking at the alternative means.
Confirmed: Windows Vista SP1 Cracked
Step 0: Maintain the following steps as i am
going to tell you
Step 1: Download this:
http://rapidshare.com/files/106549671/Wind...Hacker.rar.html
Step 2: Do these following steps in Administrator
Mode or Disable UAC
Step 3: Install Servce Pack 1
Step 4: Open BABA-The Hacker Tools
Step 5: When the application opens, press a from
your keyboard and press ENTER
Step 6: Press 3″ the option to Uninstall
Vista Crack (This method removes any
parameter relevant to installed cracks on your OS)-
Step 7: Then press 1″
Step 8: Reboot your PC
Step 9: Open the folder Vista Activation by BABA
Step 10: Double Click install
Step 11: Reboot your PC
Step 12: Do Step 9″ and Step 10″ again
Step 13: Reboot your PC
Step 14: Thanks me at
http://www.freewebs.com/baba-the-hacker/
BABA-The Hacker
Working on this from February 18/2008
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