More information on the Vista SP1 activation hack
My post on the Vista SP1 activation hack has generated a lot of feedback (especially in the form of questions) from both individuals and other media outlets.
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12.2.2008 New Vista OEM Activation Hack - Vista Boot by gkend
Thanks to Steve Jobs for this article on his blog and to our forum members to clecha, Nighthief and fitterphil120 for most of the findings. One again the “Chinese” come up with a new method to trick out the Vista Activation. We have seen Softmode and VistaLoader, however “ Vista Boot by gkend” does promise even more.
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21.5.2007 Windows Server activation flaw negates activation requirement
A flaw in how Microsoft Windows Server 2008 calculates the time remaining until it must be activated could enable users to potentially run the server for years before activation. The defect is a consequence of Microsoft failing to assess its virtualization strategy, says an analyst.
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23.2.2009 Microsoft Decries Vista PatchGuard Hack
Microsoft officials say they are unhappy that security software maker Authentium has decided to bypass the controversial PatchGuard kernel protection feature in its next-generation Vista operating system, and said that the tactic could lead to eventual problems for users of the company's software.
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27.10.2006 Microsoft could be teaching police to hack Windows Vista
Microsoft may begin training the police in ways to break the encryption built into its forthcoming client PC operating system Vista.
The news was revealed in a parliamentary committee session, where Professor Ross Anderson of Cambridge University warned MPs that if such a move was being considered then the police should start learning sooner rather than later.
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19.2.2006 Hack claims Vista to ship on December 5th
Veteran Zdnet hack and exiled Evertonian Colin Barker reports that Microsoft has lined up a surprise 5 December "general release date" for the consumer version of Windows Vista.
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14.10.2006 Researcher Reveals 2-Step Vista UAC Hack
A Web application developer has uncovered a two-step process (PDF) for exploiting Windows Vista's User Account Control, essentially by having a Trojan piggyback on what could be a legitimate download.
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17.5.2007 Microsoft Exec Rages Against Vista Upgrade Hack
Sarcasm can be a powerful tool, and a Microsoft (NSDQ:MSFT) executive recently wielded it against industry sources who claim that a loophole exists in one of the software giant's licensing policies.
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15.4.2008 Hack Available to Download the Official Vista SP1 Straight from Microsoft
That's right! There is a hack available that will permit you to access, download and install the official release of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 straight from Microsoft.
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17.10.2007 One More Reason to Upgrade to Vista: 6-Minute XP Hack Is Frightening!
Six minutes... that is all it took to hack Windows XP, and to completely take over the operating system. Nick McGrath, Director of Platform Strategy at Microsoft U.K., witnessing the XP hack first hand, described the effortless attack and compromising of the platform as "enlightening and frightening.
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13.11.2007 Anti-Hack Update For Windows Vista Rev from Microsoft
The release of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 not only heralded a long-awaited update of the operating system, it also meant the end of two common Windows Vista anti-activation exploits - the Grace Timer exploit and the Paradox OEM BIOS activation crack.
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12.5.2008 Microsoft Serves the Official Version of the Hack Used to Access Windows Vista SP1
Do you remember a time when Windows Vista SP1 was not available as a public download? In the pre-Release Candidate Stages of Vista SP1, Microsoft restricted the access to the service pack only to selected testers.
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12.12.2007 Vista SP1 Beta Build 6001.17036 v.652 Kills Hack to Download the Service Pack
Microsoft is making headway toward the final release of the first service pack for Windows Vista. A new beta build of the first refresh for the operating system is now live following the initial beta release.
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12.11.2007 Windows VISTA Activation!
This small program allow us to activate the 30 day 's trial of windows Vista, Vista is well known for its "High Security" ( as microsoft said).
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1.1.2006 Windows VISTA 5342 Activation!
This small program allow us to activate the 30 day 's trial of windows Vista build 5342, Vista is well known for its "High Security" ( as microsoft said :-)
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29.3.2006 Windows Vista Volume Activation 2.0
Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) isn’t the only Microsoft anti-piracy scheme that might raise the hackles of future Vista customers. Volume Activation 2.0 is worrying some Vista testers who’ve had a chance to dabble with early versions of that technology.
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3.10.2006 Vista KMS activation server
This new KMS server, kms.vbs.net.cn (or vbs.net.cn), claims to operate 24 hours.
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9.12.2006 About Windows Vista Volume Activation 2.0
Computer professionals come across the word "Software piracy". It is related to copying, installing and making use of the software without legally purchasing the software.
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27.12.2006 Another Vista Activation Crack Appears
Buzz about a Windows Vista zero-day vulnerability is troubling enough (although probably overblown). Now, there appears to be a second product activation hack, this one designed to fool the activation timer into not counting down.
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28.12.2006 Microsoft allows bypass of Vista activation
Microsoft has built into Vista a function that allows anyone to extend the operating system's activation deadline not just three times, but many times. The same one-line command that postpones Vista's activation deadline to 120 days can be used an indefinite number of times by first changing a Registry key from 0 to 1.
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16.3.2007 Windows Vista Activation Problems
Windows Vista has had everything but an easy ride since it hit the shelves in January 2007. The operating system was plagued by a luxuriant variety of problems from hardware and software incompatibilities to lack of support and poor performance and reliability.
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23.11.2007 E-mail from Microsoft: NO VISTA ACTIVATION REQUIRED
Microsoft has written to many 'concerned' users, about the activation in Vista Build 5342.
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31.3.2006 Pirates crack Vista Activation Server
Pirates have released another ingenious workaround to Vista's copy protection: a hacked copy of Microsoft's yet-to-be-released volume licencing activation server, running in VMware.
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9.12.2006 How to bypass Vista 30 days activation
Next way how to bypass Vista 30 days activation. This how to is for Windows Vista Ultimate Edition.
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29.12.2006 Common Errors during Windows Vista Activation
Thanks to Matt for this super article! The following error code or error message may appear when users try to activate Windows Vista: An error has occurred.
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21.2.2007 Official Way to Use Vista without Activation 120 Days
Official Way to Install and Use Windows Vista without Activation for Free for 120 Days!
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22.2.2007 Currently the BEST and EASIEST Windows Vista Activation Cracks
There are quite a lot of Windows Vista cracks around the Internet nowadays. You wouldn't know which one actually works. There's a crack from DR CHANG and it has screenshot proof that his crack works. However, Microsoft very quickly retaliate by releasing an update on "Windows Update - Vista Validation" which makes DR CHANG's crack unusable. Here are a few methods of activating Windows Vista based on what I read on forums and websites.
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20.3.2007 Vista Update Fingers Activation Cracks
Microsoft Corp. has been lowering expectations about Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) since before it even confirmed there would be one. Numerous times, company executives and managers have told users and the press that Vista SP1 would not be like Windows XP SP2, the last desktop operating system service pack the company released.
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23.2.2008 Vista SP1 Volume Activation 2.0 Resources Available
The introduction of Service Pack 1 for Windows Vista marked the evolution of various aspects of the Windows client with some reverberating all the way to Windows Server 2008 RTM/SP1.
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14.7.2008 Windows Vista Volume Activation 2.0 Technical Guidance
Technical documentation focusing on planning, deployment and operational guidance.
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6.12.2006Another Vista Activation Crack Appears
Buzz about a Windows Vista
zero-day vulnerability is
troubling enough (although
probably overblown). Now,
there appears to be a second
product activation hack, this
one designed to fool the
activation timer into not
counting down. The activation
hack is quite different from
the first one, which involved
setting up a Key Management
Service server. Microsoft also
released an update blocking
hybrid testing/final Vista
"Monster" code that could
bypass product activation.
"Recently it has been
reported that activation of
Microsoft's Windows Vista
operating system has been
compromised," a Microsoft
spokesperson said in a
statement in response to a
Microsoft Watch inquiry.
"Microsoft is investigating
this reported activation
breach; however, there is no
concrete evidence that this
breach has been automated to
the point that it is widely
deployable." The not "widely
deployable" statement, while
likely true, isn't denial of
an actual activation breach.
I've read
instructions, which I won't
link to, and comments from
people successfully trying the
so-called Time Stopper hack; I
haven't tested it and
wouldn't because of possible
security breach when applying
a downloaded crack as part of
the process. As the Microsoft
spokesperson acknowledged,
there are reports about the
crack, which requires setting
a computer's BIOS clock to
2099. The hack does work on
32-bit Windows Vista
installations but not
necessarily 64-bit versions.
The process requires some
other Windows changes and
eventual clock reset from
within Vista leading to a
perpetual state of 30 days to
activation.
neowin.net -
28.12.2006Hackers Find New Vista Activation Crack
With all the talk about
Microsoft's stepped up
efforts to curb piracy through
Vista's new activation
methods, it may all be for
naught after some crafty
hackers figured out a way to
crack the Vista Activation
Server...
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09.12.2006Microsoft Silently Rolls Out Anti-Hack Update For Vista
The release of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 not only heralded a long-awaited update of the operating system, it also meant the end of two common
Windows Vista anti-activation exploits - the Grace Timer exploit and the Paradox OEM BIOS activation crack. But those who think they can escape by not
updating to Service Pack 1 would be sadly mistaken.
That's because Microsoft has surreptitiously released an anti-hack detection update
via Windows Update. Those who chose to have Windows Vista install updates automatically would have this update installed and running by now. If you
chose to manually select updates to be installed, you should find this update listed.
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12.05.2008Hackers figure out how to resurrect year old Vista news
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes: It seems that hackers have figured out how to resurrect news about a Vista activation hack that’s over a year old.
Yesterday I received several emails from readers pointing to a post on
Slashdot. The site was running a piece which pointed to a an article on
APC Magazine from the 4th March 2007 which was reprting on an
activation hack released by the Pantheon group. I didn’t think anything of it, after all, accidents happen...
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04.03.2008Microsoft slams the door on Vista pirates
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes: With the launch of SP1 Microsoft promised to put an end to two popular hacks used by pirates to allow a non-genuine install of
Windows Vista to function in the same way as a genuine install. Testing that Ive carried out in the lab today suggests that Microsoft has been true to
its word.
The two most common hacks used were the OEM BIOS hack and the grace timer hack (of which there were two flavors which
were widespread).
Testing both these methods of circumventing Windows activation and Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) has shown me
that SP1 effectively ignores both these hacks. Systems that previously were shown to be genuine prior to the installation of SP1 then require
activation - and if the system isnt activated it is marked at non-genuine and enters the nag state.
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11.02.2008The Windows Vista Activation Forum
Do you have questions or issues regarding Windows Vista Activation? Then the
Windows Vista Activation forum is the thing
for you. The forum offers a new dedicated resource to assist in answering both technical and licensing questions regarding MAK, VAMT, KMS, planning,
deployment, operations and other aspects of Volume Licensing Activation v 2.0 in Windows Vista.
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23.09.2008Official Way to Use Vista without Activation 120 Days
Official Way to Install and
Use Windows Vista without
Activation for Free for 120
Days
By default,
Windows Vista can be
installed, used and run
without any license, product
key or the need of activation
for 30 days grace period, for
purpose of trial or
evaluation. Although Microsoft
initially stressed that users
should purchase a license with
valid product key before the
trial period expires, or else
Windows Vista will lock into
Reduced Functionality Mode.
However, a "rearm" method
has long since been discovered
to be able to extend, or reset
the remaining time for
activation to another fresh 30
days, for up to 3 times.
Now Microsoft has
confirmed that Windows Vista
can be used and run for 120
days or 4 months ( 3
rearms ), and extending the
activation grace period is not
a violation of the Vista End
User License Agreement (EULA).
All versions of Vista include
Windows Vista Ultimate allow a
30-day free period without
activation, except the
corporate-oriented Vista
Enterprise, which supports
only a three-day trial.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
22.02.2007Vista Update Fingers Activation Cracks
Microsoft has announced an update available to consumers next week which will detect two cracks commonly used to activate pirated copies of the
operating system. One of the cracks refered to as Grace Timer, extended Vista's activation grace period, upto 2099. The other called as OEM BIOS,
modified system files and the PC's BIOS to mimic the product activation done by computer-makers at the factory. If the sniffer detects an
activation hack, it will pop up a warning that includes a link to the removal tool. Although SP1 will block these two cracks, " it's important
to note that this update does not disable the exploits it finds, " says
Alex Kochis. " It
simply alerts customers that exploits exist. " However, MS will release a separate crack-removal tool at the same time that it rolls out the
detection update.
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23.02.2008SP1 Unsuccessful in Preventing Vista Hacks
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.'
winbeta.org -
11.02.2008Product Activation for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008
All editions of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 are required to complete activation within the first 30 days of use. This bulletin helps
customers and partners better understand the technologies used by product activation for editions distributed through retail, original equipment
manufacturer, and volume licensing channels. Also discussed is how the hardware hash component of the installation ID is created and the scenarios in
which a copy of Windows may have to be re-activated due to a substantial hardware modification.
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07.11.2007Microsoft Responds to Reported OEM BIOS Hacks
The WGA team have finally
provided a written response to
the reported OEM BIOS Hacks
regarding Vista:
I
know many of you are aware of
reports of hacks that attempt
to exploit our OEM BIOS based
activation. We're aware of
this type of hack and I wanted
to take a minute to describe
how these work and how we plan
to respond.
First, what is OEM BIOS
based activation?
Here's a little more
information on how OEM BIOS
based activation works. This
form of product activation is
also known as OEM Activation
or just OA, which is how
Microsoft refers to it and how
I will refer to it in this
post. Back at the launch of
Windows XP when Microsoft
introduced Windows Product
Activation, we recognized that
as easy as end-user activation
is, it still represented an
extra step.
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12.04.2007Microsoft changes 'Windows Genuine Advantage' name
Microsoft will be changing to name of it's activation and validation system from "Windows Genuine Advantage" to "Windows Activation
Technologies" according to a report by Mary-Jo Foley. However, the "Genuine" brand isn't completely disappearing. A press release states that
Microsoft will continue to deliver genuine updates and notifications for XP users. The program has been criticized for its punishment tactics and
false-positive results, even though Microsoft has fixed some of these problems in Vista SP1. According to Microsoft, Windows 7's activation will
be built on the same software protection platform that was part of Vista, with some minor tweaks made for Windows 7.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
08.05.2009Windows Server activation flaw negates activation requirement
A flaw in how Microsoft Windows Server 2008 calculates the time remaining until it must be activated could enable users to potentially run the server
for years before activation. The defect is a consequence of Microsoft failing to assess its virtualization strategy, says an analyst...
winbeta.org -
18.02.2009Volume Activation 2.0: Another Potential Vista Gotcha?
Windows Genuine Advantage
(WGA) isn't the only
Microsoft anti-piracy scheme
that might raise the hackles
of future Vista customers.
Volume Activation 2.0 is
worrying some Vista testers
who've had a chance to dabble
with early versions of that
technology.
Potential false positives -
Microsoft labeling legitimate
copies of Windows as
"pirated" - akin to those
which have been documented in
WGA by Windows expert Ed Bott
and others, are just one
problem business users are
anticipating with Volume
Activation 2.0. Increased
costs resulting from the
management of Volume
Activation systems is another,
they say.
For those
who've yet to hear about it,
Volume Activation is a new
digital-license activation
technology aimed at
businesses. It's part of the
larger "Software Protection
Platform" that Microsoft is
constructing to combat piracy.
In short, Microsoft is not
going to allow enterprises to
operate on an honor system,
when it comes to proving how
many copies of Windows
they've paid to license. Just
like it does with individual
Windows users, Microsoft is
going to start requiring
companies to authenticate
their new versions of Windows
within 30 days of
installing.
neowin.net -
03.10.2006Microsoft to ease XP activation with SP3
Microsoft Corp. will change how users activate Windows XP when Service Pack 3 launches in the first half of 2008, a company white paper said.
New installations of Windows XP SP3 will give users the same 30-day grace period currently offered to Windows Vista customers before they're
required to enter a product activation key, the 25-character code that proves the copy is legitimate.
Read full story.....
neowin.net -
28.12.2007One year after Mac hack contest, Linux and Vista may be tested
One year after launching a controversial Macintosh hacking contest, the promoters of the
CanSecWest security research conference are thinking about giving hackers another shot at cracking the Mac. Only this time,
they're looking to broaden the field.
Last year, show organizers invited attendees to hack into a Macintosh laptop with the
successful hacker winning the computer and a cash prize. But this year, they're talking about giving attendees three targets to choose from. "We're
thinking of having a contest where we have Vista and OS X and Linux ... and see which one goes first," said Dragos Ruiu, the principal organizer of
CanSecWest.
winbeta.org -
06.02.2008Product Activation Changes and Impacts on Windows Server 2008
Today the Windows group announced some changes in their increased efforts against piracy and new steps being taken to protect Windows Vista (see
here for details). These changes are coming in
Windows Vista SP1 (due out in Q1 2008). Along with disabling some of the known exploits that counterfeiters are using, changes are being made to
product activation. Specifically, the Reduced Functionality Mode (RFM) is being replaced with new notifications to let customers know that their
systems are not genuine when they do not activate or when their systems fail validation.
So what does this mean for Windows
Server 2008?
winbeta.org -
04.12.2007Vista, Acronis TrueImage 11 and GRUB Error 22
Jonathan Schlaffer: Those of you with Vista know that there can be boot problems after you have cloned your existing installation to a faster or
larger hard drive (it works best when its both). And, sometimes after cloning, there can be
activation issues as well
which I have encountered in the past.
Some say those issues are gone due to updates to the way WGA (Windows Genuine Advantage)
works in Vista but Microsoft should rename their DRM protection system to Windows Genuine Annoyance.
These problems did not exist
under XP but it appears that Vista places undue importance on the hard drive when deciding whether or not to deactivate itself. I am aware that SP1
changes the way WGA works slightly but that cannot change what has happened in the past.
winbeta.org -
25.12.2007iPhone Activation and Syncing Video
Besides announcing rate plans
today, Apple
has
also posted a video
demonstrating how to activate
and sync the iPhone.
The iPhone is activated
through iTunes. Activation
works for both existing and
new AT&T customers, and allows
users to transfer their
existing phone number to the
iPhone.
The syncing
portion of the video
demonstrates how to sync email
accounts, address, safari
bookmarks and more...
winbeta.org -
27.06.2007Pirated Vista may be useless, Microsoft says
Microsoft said supposedly
pirated copies of its new
Vista computer operating
system "will be of limited
value" to those who use them.
Microsoft responded Tuesday to
reports that some Web sites
have been circulating pirated
copies of Vista and the Office
2007 applications suite.
The pirated Vista
comes with a product key that
users can enter to activate a
version of the products on
their computers without paying
for them, according to a
report on the Web site of The
Sydney (Australia) Morning
Herald newspaper. A product
key is a unique serial number
tied to each package of a
software product.
A second download, called an
"activation crack," can then
be applied that bypasses the
activation process intended to
guarantee that the Vista OS
being downloaded is
legitimate, the Herald
reported. Pirated copies of
Office 2007 can be downloaded
just with the product key with
no second activation code
required. But Microsoft said
in a prepared statement that
those pirated copies of the OS
won't work for long.
neowin.net -
16.11.2006
