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Coders Claim a Crack in Windows -(kracked in phive dayz!)
New Scientist via Cosmiverse website ^ | November 1, 2001 08:00 CDT | Cosmiverse Staff Writer

Posted on 11/01/2001 9:16:27 PM PST by prisoner6

Coders Claim a Crack in Windows XP

November 1, 2001 08:00 CDT

Software crackers have reportedly developed a technique that bypasses the complex anti-piracy system that is supposed to protect Microsoft's new operating system Windows XP.

According to New Scientist, engineers at a UK computer security company have tested the method. They told News Scientist that they have successfully used it to install the same copy of the operating system on more than one computer. The very thing that Microsoft hoped to prevent with Windows XP.

"It's unbelievable to be honest," John Safa, chief technical officer of Bit Arts, the company that has tested the crack told New Scientist. "The cracking community appear to have bypassed the product activation altogether."

Safa added that the tools are already available on the Internet. These consist of a number of customized files and an executable software "patch". They deactivate the system that links Windows XP to a particular PC, making it possible to install the software on any number of computers.

According to New Scientist, Microsoft is still investigating the allegations and has not confirmed that it works. Nevertheless, the company is working to have web sites that provide the files shut down.

The company also stressed that the product activation system that comes with Windows XP is not meant to be infallible. "Product activation is not adequate to stop sophisticated piracy," a spokeswoman told News Scientist.

The product activation system in Windows XP is designed to prevent owners installing multiple operating systems without a license for each. This "casual copying" has been a major piracy problem in the past, Microsoft told New Scientist.

Once Windows XP is installed on a computer, the new operating system locates unique serial numbers built into different pieces of the hardware and generates a unique key. Then the user has to complete installation by registering this key over the Internet or by telephone with Microsoft. Therefore, the same version of XP cannot be registered with Microsoft for a different computer.

However, so that corporate customers do not have to distribute thousands of disks and serial numbers, a single "master" key exists that can bypass all this security for a special version of the operating system. Safa told News Scientist that the crackers have apparently obtained a copy of a master key and discovered a way to make it work with consumer editions of Windows XP.

According to one independent security expert, the security protecting Microsoft's software has often been bypassed in the past. David Litchfield of Next Generation Security Software, based in the UK, told New Scientist that "It wouldn't surprise me if this worked. This has always been the way with Microsoft products."

Source: New Scientist


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events
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Ummmm...Let's see...Release October 25th...Cracked and reported by November 1st...

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Of course in the good'le dayz it would have been cracked BEFORE release...

Wonder if XP is up on any of the warez groups?

prisoner6

1 posted on 11/01/2001 9:16:27 PM PST by prisoner6 (b_carnes@hotmail.com)
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Comment #2 Removed by Moderator

To: prisoner6
Man, I lost my bet - I bet a friend that it would only take the crackers three days, instead of the five listed here. *sigh*, oh well, at least we know that Microsoft's crappy activation plot is just that - crappy.
3 posted on 11/01/2001 9:32:58 PM PST by egarvue
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To: prisoner6
Heh,, I can tell you that each version of the beta software had been hacked just days after their release. The hacking community loves a challenge and, as usual, successful...

I don't support the hackers, but I do not care for MS's activation either......

I think hackers are the "checks and balances" of the software community.
4 posted on 11/01/2001 9:33:34 PM PST by phalynx
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To: prisoner6
Looking....
5 posted on 11/01/2001 9:37:10 PM PST by Bill Rice
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Comment #6 Removed by Moderator

To: egarvue
at least we know that Microsoft's crappy activation plot is just that - crappy

Makes ya kinda wonder if XP is as good - or bad - as their activation plot.

prisoner6

7 posted on 11/01/2001 9:51:35 PM PST by prisoner6
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To: Bush2000; safisoft; Dominic Harr; innocentbystander
Comments?
8 posted on 11/01/2001 9:53:23 PM PST by ikka
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To: phalynx
I don't support the hackers, but I do not care for MS's activation either......

I think hackers are the "checks and balances" of the software community.

Dittos to that!

prisoner6

9 posted on 11/01/2001 9:53:44 PM PST by prisoner6
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To: prisoner6
Program is a piece of dung anyway. Hope MS chokes on it.
10 posted on 11/01/2001 9:57:35 PM PST by A CA Guy
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To: prisoner6
Hint: Do a google search for "XP activation". I found a BUNCH of patches!

Now I just need someone who'll let me back up their copy in case of a fire!

11 posted on 11/01/2001 10:07:22 PM PST by Bill Rice
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To: Bill Rice
Kewl! I'm checking it out now. Thanks!

prisoner6

12 posted on 11/01/2001 10:11:40 PM PST by prisoner6
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To: prisoner6
This story is wrong. In china they have been selling windows XP copies a few days ago. It took less then five.
13 posted on 11/01/2001 10:14:17 PM PST by Libertarian_4_eva
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To: prisoner6
I'm not saying, I'm just saying. I'm still "beta" testing the consumer version since launch. Snicker snicker.
14 posted on 11/01/2001 10:16:10 PM PST by TemplarAkolyte
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To: Bill Rice
One word.... Kazaa.
15 posted on 11/01/2001 10:17:42 PM PST by Dirt
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To: prisoner6
I don't think there are any such sites at this time with any such files!
16 posted on 11/01/2001 10:20:59 PM PST by A CA Guy
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To: Dirt
WHOA! Man I'm really slipping. I've been outta it so long I forgot where it wuz!

prisoner6

17 posted on 11/01/2001 10:26:02 PM PST by prisoner6
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To: ikka
I'm far more interested in the 'undocumented features' that are in XP that no one has really found yet, just like all the other MS offerings.

Win2k was *the most vulnerable* OS to Code Red.

Anyone who uses XP before it's been out less than 2 years must not need their machine for anything critical . . . with Microsoft's history, you'd have to be financially tied to Microsoft most likely!

18 posted on 11/02/2001 6:13:04 AM PST by Dominic Harr
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To: A CA Guy
I don't think there are any such sites at this time with any such files!
And if there are, none of you have found them, of course.

Certainly, certainly no one would ever use such a file, if it did exist and if anyone actually did find one.

Right?

patent

19 posted on 11/02/2001 6:25:03 AM PST by patent
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To: patent
>I don't think there are any such sites at this time with any such files!
And if there are, none of you have found them, of course. Certainly, certainly no one would ever use such a file, if it did exist and if anyone actually did find one.

Right?

Why of course not. Everyone knows that if you are going to bootleg Windows XP, you should get the Professional version which offers more features without any anti-piracy checks at all :)
20 posted on 11/02/2001 6:32:50 AM PST by Dimensio
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