Vista Activation Cracked

Well, this was fast. apparently by using a spoofed activation server Vista Business/Enterprise can be activated illegally.

http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/12/08/2223204

in one word: pwnt

 

Where there's a will, there's a way. And in the case of software that's as high in demand as Windows Vista, several ways.

 

It's already been defeated, as well.

Everything that's being attempted by the lowlifes with nothing better to do than ruin a perfectly good operating system is well known by Microsoft and won't last. The past 5 years with XP have taught Microsoft many valuable lessons, and everything that is currently being done to get around activation is stuff that already happened in labs over the past 2 years of Vista's development - even the leaked KMS activation server.

It's a never ending battle, but this time Microsoft is prepared, much more than most people can even comprehend.

bb

 

Welcome to piracy

Edit:
I just did some digging, there is actually a DL for this with a tutorial. I wonder if MS has a surprise up its sleeves.

 

well see, the thing is that MS can basically just flip a switch and put your OS into retard mode where a bunch of features are disabled via the internet. I'm sure that if someone tries to do a windows update there will be some WGA check or something for these activation keys.

bbz_Ghost: I don't see how this is ruining an operating system. It's not like MS doesn't already make bazillions of dollars, so all this will to is affect their income for a bit. I'll agree that Microsoft is more prepared this time, though, much more prepared by assuming that their paying customers are criminals with forced activations and forcing them to accept draconian EULA terms.

Huzzah for GPL software!

 

I bolded that one particular part because it's the most stupid and ridiculous thing you could have possibly said. There is no defense for illegal activity, or immoral, period. Microsoft's bottom line or bank account balance is not a defensible point, regardless of where your intentions lay.

And if you think that Windows Update is the only way Microsoft can get information about your PC and possible illegal cracks/hacks/patches/etc, you're sadly mistaken.

bb

 

Meh, nothing wrong with piracy IMO. So it's immoral in your opinion, but that's entirely subjective.

 

I mentioned this because you made it seem like spoofing the activation schemes was going to destroy such a gleaming operating system. However, you are right, it was a poor choice of words. That aside, I will support anything which puts a chink in Microsoft's armour, whether legal or illegal, technical or simply as showing the futility of their actions.

I didn't realize that windows was so feature rich! When you say patches, do you mean third-party fixes for gaping security holes? Good thing I use GNU/Linux.

 

It's not piracy, it's a "third party bug/spyware fix"!

 

Oh okay, so they knew about these things all along, but they are gonna ship a product with these holes, letting people pirate so they'll lose money, so they can pull some switch later on?

 

that's the thing, it IS shipped to enterprises already. it's just the consumer versions which are being held back until the end of January.

you have about as much understanding as a rock trying to do quantum physics.

 

Wow... that's just... pathetic.

bb

 

Depends on what kind of piracy, in this case, it's more of a Robin Hood kind of piracy.

 

And trying to justify it in any way shape or form just makes it that much more pathetic.

bb

 

It's fairly easy to prevent your computer from ever connecting to Microsoft's servers. And if you do that, there's no way they can find out what you're running or how you're running it.
You've got it the wrong way round.

No and no. First, it doesn't "ruin" the OS, second, the OS isn't "perfectly good", and third, while the methods may be well known by MS, they (some of them) will last.
There's just not much MS can do to prevent it, because they have to rely on the internet to tell them what the user is doing. The internet where so many things can go wrong. And they have to rely on the user's computer to send that information (because they can't go out and ask computers. They don't have the IP's, and they can't get through the firewalls.
So they have to rely on the user's computer going out and asking a MS server "Is this ok?". Or "Should I go into retard mode now?"
It's ridiculously easy to stop your computer from ever connecting to Microsoft. A simple way is to edit your hosts file. Alternatively, you could configure your router to discard all packets heading to MS. Or you could just hack the actual dll responsible.

Welcome to security 101.

I don't see why it's "pathetic" to say there's nothing wrong with piracy. It's an opinion. It's as valid as, say, defending the death penalty, or saying it's ok to bomb a country back to the stone age (for their own good, obviously).
It's just an opinion. That doesn't make it any more legal of course (although it is legal in some countries), but I wouldn't call it "pathetic".

Whether or not Microsoft *knows* about the various tricks used to hack the OS (They probably know about most of them, yes), doesn't matter because there's not much they can do to prevent them from being used.
They have to support offline usage (Because not everyone are connected to the internet all the time), and to support offline usage they have to let the OS be able to run without continuously asking MS servers for instructions. And if the OS can do without that, it's impossible for MS to force the OS to connect to their servers.

 

Security 101, eh... funny.

Ok, so I'll modify the statement:

"If you think that insert whatever action you feel will help prevent your computer from communicating with Microsoft here is going to allow you to continue using their operating system illegally/immorally/just plain wrong by any meaning of the word, you're sadly mistaken."

As for ruining the OS, there are countless reports of people that have already messed around with the current batches of cracks/hacks/patches/etc and are now running their umpteenth reinstall because those cracks/hacks/patches/etc didn't work and pooched their machines to the point where they had to reinstall the OS again... and again... and again... and one very well known crack/hack/patch/etc is actually a trojan virus in disguise. Go figure.

But that's ok, according to you and some other people, because "piracy is good, it's a Robin Hood thing." So the people that believe such things waste their time and efforts trying to "put one over on The Man" and rip off Microsoft in the process because "It's not like MS doesn't already make bazillions of dollars" or words to that effect.

You kids really give me a good laugh sometimes, putting forth so much effort to rationalize the simple fact that what you're doing is wrong, period. Doesn't matter if your current country says "It's ok to do it, we approve" or your current laws don't specifically have enough fortitude to say "Ok, this is wrong, plain and simple, so don't do it."

I didn't mean for this thread to turn into bb vs the Pirates, but the simple fact of the matter is the people wasting their time on the cracks/hacks/patches/etc are doing just that: wasting their time.

But that's ok too because it's not like they're doing anything constructive with their talents like writing some killer software application that they could sell to people and make a living from and contribute something back to society. They're wasting time cracking, hacking, and patching an operating system they didn't pay for and shouldn't even be messing with most if not all of the time just so they can "stick it to The Man."

So you people out there, the crackers/hackers/patchers... you keep right on doing your thing. You've apparently got a lot of supporters that are just as pathetic as you are.

Thanks for the laughs... keep 'em coming...

bb

 

I know that one! It's the Windows Vista RTM!

How about this? You're walking down the street, and you see a guy leaning against his Ferrari in a flashy business suit and sunglasses, asking for passer-bys to give him money. Are you going to hand over your money to somebody who quite obviously doesn't need it? No, you're going to keep it for yourself. That's not morally wrong is it?

Doesn't have the fortitude? How about it does have the fortitude, the fortitude to stand up to giant companys that want to tell you how to use you own computer? The fortitude to uphold their citizen's rights to privacy?

Why would it be wasting their time? They have provided a service, and people will use that service.

They're giving $400 worth of software back to the community. Microsoft are potentially taking $400 worth of food or clothing away from the community.

Please leave insults out of this, it doesn't make you look smart. I know plenty of people who could say you were pathetic for supporting such a faceless company.

 

We, honest people at least, work for our money. If its not yours and you didnt come to own it legally its theft. Your more than welcome trying to justify your illegal actions, but in the end, its theft. I wish I had the right to tie a bomb to my car so if someone ever steals it, I can just say yuck it, and blow it and the thief who stole it up. But its not the case with software. I wonder how many illegal hacks that MS has released to the knowing pirate that will download them and boo booing their install. Sounds like a great idea. Thats why when Vista is ready for release and I can afford to purchase a laptop (I dont beleive in stealing those either) that will support it, I will. And I am happy knowing that millions of honest people will too.

 

However if the dude standing next to the Ferrari sells you a nice watch (yeah it may have a scratch or two, but its worth over $200), is it okay to just take the watch and run without giving him a dime? That's called theft! Wow, what a concept!

Microsoft, whether you like it or not, is a business selling a product. Obtaining their product without paying for it is, according to law, illegal. Even if you don't like the seller. Would you walk into Best Buy and steal a 27" high def lcd tv if you knew you wouldn't get caught? Wait, don't answer that. You might make me lose the smidgen of respect I have for the human race.

 

If you didn't give money to a rich guy who asked for it, of course that wouldn't be morally wrong.

However if the guy GOT rich by developing a product or service that fits the market well, if you want his product you have two morally correct choices - either pay him what he's asking, or seek an alternative.

The free market allows you plenty of alternative choices if you for any reason don't like his product enough for the price he's asking.

Whether or not you think playing Robinhood or Mr Socialist/Communist is acceptible, it's illegal, and still stealing even if it is stealing from the rich and giving to the poor, I doubt your causes are so noble since in this case "the poor" is, conveniently, you.

 

Gosh I didn't see this turning into a heated philosophical debate on copyright laws.

Many good points have been raised in the previous posts. I personally think that we should approach this development with curiosity rather than contempt. After all, as mentioned MS has included a bunch of remote anti-piracy checks in Vista, and the average consumer will not want to rely on a cracked OS anyway. This is just some guy or a bunch of guys curious about the upcoming MS OS messing around with one aspect of it. And when it comes to software, curiosity is good. Keep this in mind the next time you hear about a particular software that silently reports your personal information back to its makers.

 

I don't hold any illusion to the fact that copyright infringement is illegal. I'm just saying that I don't believe it is morally wrong. Just like the general American public seem to think it's okay to torture people, or keep people imprisoned unlawfully, because it might save a life.

Rather than calling it software piracy, I'd rather call it "sharing information for the betterment of the community".

And yes, I am the "poor" mentioned. My total assest amounts to about, well, just this computer I'm typing on, really. But - the poor also includes those people who I may, or may not, redistribute that particular piece of software too.

In a perfect world, I could afford to pay for software all my software, not just most of it, and if Microsoft charged a reasonable amount of money for their products, then I would purchase it. Unfortunately, all of my money goes towards my education. And food.

 

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


That is beautiful.

Just comes to show coders & crackers are living Gods.

Like what was said before, I do not think piracy is wrong.

 

let's not forget that lots of computer companies don't allow you to buy notebooks/pcs without having XP/Vista included

 

So, if you can't afford it because you've chosen to spend your money on necessities like food or shelter, it's OK to steal it? What about waiting until your education is done to legally buy the things you can afford? It's called being responsible. And guess what? When you're responsible and moral, you have a much better attitude about both yourself and the world.

Sure there are some gray areas around crime (is the man who steals a loaf of bread to feed his family really a thief), but this isn't one of them.

MS isn't perfect. There are plenty of improvements we'd all like to see. But they are a legally operating company offering a product that, apparently, a lot of people want. If no one paid for the software, how many of Redmond's coders, secretaries, janitors, marketers, etc. would go hungry because of your theft? Sure, upper management would get along just fine. But all those folks who are also trying to get an education (or maybe weren't lucky enough to get an education) deserve to get paid. So pony up or shut up.

 

I support ""sharing information for the betterment of the community" like Sylvain said.

Piracy is perfectly acceptable. My parents are ok with it.

It also depends where you were came from.

 

Thing is, I might need that software in order to complete my education and get a job. As much as I hate to admit it, chances are I will have to learn Visual Studio to remain emplyable in Australia. And I will have to know how to program for Microsoft Windows.

So, in this context, the software is the loaf of bread.

Funny, I wonder, open source programmers don't eat do they? They aren't dying of starvation. Hey, even the crackers of this Vista (P)OS aren't getting paid to do it.

 

It's a matter of your philosophical view on life. I for one, don't care about abiding by the laws, the confinements of society, doing what's best for others, or doing what's "right". I am completely and utterly selfish, I admit, and, while that may bother you, it sure doesn't bother me.

 

Just curious, but those of you that seem to think it's ok with piracy - aka stealing - I'm wondering if you paid for the computers that you currently own. I see a lot of hardware lists in sigs, and I'm just curious, so humor me. If you're so honest about flat out stating you think piracy - aka stealing - is acceptable behavior, why not head down to a local retailer and steal that laptop you need to finish your education, or maybe the Visual Studio you need.

One of you apparently runs a free OS - namely a Linux distro that's pretty popular - and says they've got to learn Windows to get a job. That's a new one on me. Most colleges and universities supply their students with the software they need when it comes to course material, or provides students with HUGE MASSIVE PRICE CUTS so even those of you struggling to survive can manage to afford these software packages to learn with. And amazingly, the colleges and universities are providing said software at discounts because they themselves get the software at discounts from the devil itself... Microsoft.

So humor me, let's all be honest - what did you actually pay for since piracy - aka stealing - apparently is second nature to some of you and "It's ok..."

bb

 

To what I have read not only is Enterprise cracked all the others are too. Though the others are activated with the RC1/RC2 keys.

 

I pay for non-software things because stealing physical things is way more difficult, with an infinitely greater risk of getting caught. Another thing is, my pirating (mostly) doesn't hurt anyone in the slightest, as (most) of the programs I steal are too expensive for me to afford, and had they not been illegally available, I wouldn't have bought them anyways. When you steal a laptop, the manufacturer, store-owner, etc, lose something. Things like pirating software, music, satellite tv, etc, are more acceptable.
But yeah, I have no morals; anything beneficial to me = good.
Aaand, I'm not in university until next year; maybe I'll pay for software then if it's convenient enough.

 

I hate threads like these. I would gladly buy Vista, I really don't care but what stops me is the fact that I got my Sony notebook in April with XP pro while people who got it after October get Vista for free.

Now thats where people result to Piracy. I mean seriously whats changed? We all knew vista was going to be released a long time ago. So why not give it to those people too.

 

Stealing tangible item - Not ok

Downloading information shared by others - Ok

 

I try to be honest, but piracy keeps getting thrown on my lap. But I don't have any guilt being that MS and other corps are not honest them self.

We live in a differ world. It's time for compaines to start acting like it.

 

I made a livelihood as a software developer and appreciated when people paid for the work I did. On this site we battle with people stealing our content and posting it in other places on a weekly basis, we get hacker attempts daily, people spam the forums hourly. I believe ethics and doing unto others is pretty darn important, and stealing is stealing.

 

Read: It's OK to steal a Ferrari because it's too expensive and you can't afford it, but not a Saturn.

Amazing.

 

True, but if Ferrari were the only cars that were allow to drive on the expressways and only cheap cars like Saturn were only allowed on the back streets then it would be a problem.

Not the best example, but you get what I'm saying. lol

 

Um, no, because with software, I'm not physically removing someone else's possessions, I'm simply copying them.

It's like, if I had a giant cloning machine, it would be okay for me to clone a Ferrari, instead of buying one; lol. Nobody loses. It would be slightly less ethical for me to, say, clone a Saturn, if I had been planning to buy one, because that way somebody loses business; but I would never had paid for the Ferrari.

 

I thought this thread was closed?

bb

 

Well I guess that's a legitmate point, at least with regards to idea that copying software itself doesn't raise the software publisher's costs.

Anyway, I'm not some holy roller. I bought my 1st PC in 1987 and in 20 years I've used my share of copied apps, especially in the years before copy-protection. Maybe Sierra went under because I copied my buddy's Liesure Suit Larry disks instead of buying my own. It's probably a rare PC user who's never used copied software.

But I guess I just find it amusing for folks to be publicly defending the practice of theft (and that's what it is) as some sort of noble deed. Normally you'd expect people to be ashamed of such things.

 

Exactly (meaning I agree with Fountainhead's last statement above).

One person saying stealing software is akin to stealing a loaf of bread to survive is ludicrous. If any of these kids were mine I'd beat 'em stupid with my bare hands - I come from a family that believed in such punishment and it made me the person I am today, so who am I to say my Mom was wrong?

The points these children make are silly: "I'm not hurting anyone" - wrong. "It's not hurting insert company here" - wrong. "It's ok with me" - wrong. "I have no morals, I admit it" - so very wrong.

Pathetic isn't a strong enough word, now that I think about it.

bb

 

Nicely put bb.

I've been thinking about this thread. I pity the employers that will have to face the young people who posted such feelings. But life still has a lot to teach them yet.

And, as someone who comes here for info and help, how can I trust anyone who thinks theft is acceptable? If theft is OK, why wouldn't lying to some anonymous poster be OK?

 

I guess you can't trust over 16+ million users that use P2P apps like Limewire.

 

If you could trust them, you wouldn't be able to steal software, music, movies, or get a buttload of viral infections.

 

Here's my take on it. It doesn't matter whether or not the assets are tangible or intangible, downloading copyrighted material is still stealing. Most people would not think twice stealing items at a store but would not hesitate to download 'information'. Yeah, I agree information should be free and not restricted to improve the overall 'community' but this concept would fit under items like free and open source software and not for paid-for 'information'.

Only, if you had no opportunity to buy it in the first place, you would not have it anyways. You would have had to use an alternative. So these companies by this definition is losing out because they accrued the opportunity cost of losing the revenue which should have been a part of the product.

True if the information was originally intended to be open and free.

The difference is that the bread is a necessity while downloading 'information' isn't. I'm sure you could argue that its a necessity by the means that you must learn it for 'educational' purposes. Please humour me, given the fact that any decent educational facility always provides you free access to programs on site (I sure haven't seen a pay on demand computer terminal at any campus...), or even free copies through MSDN (every computer science course I've taken has offered this even), or at the very least heavily subsidized student discounts.

 

1) MS sells the product for profit.
2) Stealing is stealing, physical item or not.
3) You download a for-profit program for free, original seller loses the money.
4) This isn't robin hood theory...this is just robbery to benefit you.
5) How does your illegal download benefit the community? It doesn't so stop trying to justify it.
6) How would you like it if you didn't get paid for your work?

This thread has too many insults and too much argument trying to justify what amounts to stealing. Stop trying to justify it. This thread has gotten pretty far, and people need to start playing nice and not insult others. Otherwise, it gets closed...okay?

Play nice...

 

It was closed earlier today by abaxter, but for some reason unbeknownst to me (since I'm not an Admin or Mod) someone reopened it. I'd prefer to see it closed myself, but that's just me. Those persons who believe piracy to be perfectly acceptable and not wrong by any meaning of the word won't change, and that's the saddest part of all.

bb

 

I think it was re-opened because no one is actually talking about how to pirate stuff or where to illegally download it. Just a "friendly" debate on the morals and ethics of software use.

In any event, I've got my eye on this thread (and I don't think I'm the only one).

Personally, reading this thread is quite the eye-opener. I never could have even thought of some of the excuses used to attempt to justify piracy. It's actually a little depressing that people can have so little respect for others...

 

I work for a cable tv/internet/telephony provider. We deal all day with people that feel since its just a signal its ok to steal it. "You cant stop the flow of information". Its then that I show them how I can cut thier cable line that leads to their house. I have a family to feed also. Where do you work? I bet I can find some kind of way to steal food from you and your family's mouths. Microsoft employs thousands of people, who are just like each of us, with family to feed.

 

I do so enjoy how the anti-pirates logic is... completely illogical. The onyl thing correct is that it's stealing, all this other stuff... Do you really think illogical arguments will change someone's opinion?

So Microsoft basically knew about these things for a long time, yet they are willing to let people use the hacks, making Microsoft lose money, so that they could pull some switch later on?

Not to mention that the longer a person uses something, the more of a chance they'll have of finding a REAL hack.

Oh, and you have families to feed? I've known people from Microsoft, so don't give me that. Considering how much they make, I'm sure their kids will live if they don't get that brand new Porshe this christmas.

(They don't exactly make enough for a Porshe, but they do make alot... I was generalizing)

Not to say that the non RIAA wannabees are any better... Robin Hood? You do realize Robin Hood stole because of an evil ruler, not because someone expects you to buy from them...

To both sides: Are you gonna make some sense, or are you just gonna pounding away at the same illogical arguments?

Or are you gonna get mad and mod me again because you don't like the truth?

This reminds me of school. Instead of showing the truths of drugs, people just continue pounding down that 'drugs are bad, umkay?', instead of showing what can TRULY happen to someone... Instead, they just say it.

If you really want to change someones opinion, show them the truth, not this.

The thing about having to support your family is close, and if your just answering calls at Microsoft, I'd hafta agree. Otherwise though, a bit more of reality is something I'd like to see, not moe pounding of the truth.

Sorry for being so harsh about it, but sometimes you must be blunt.