Crack spits out WinXP activation keys

A new program manufactures activation keys that can't be separated from Microsoft's own keys, thus making Windows XP's activation feature useless. Supporting all versions of Windows XP as well as Office XP, the new crack is a major threat to Microsoft's struggle against software piracy.

A new program manufactured by a hacker group called Blue Line is able to produce activation keys for Microsoft's Windows XP operating system, that is the first operating system from Microsoft requiring people to call the software giant for activating their products. The activation feature has got a lot of criticism from users, and is among Windows XP's most unpopular features.

The new program is divided in two parts. The first is the installation part, which starts non-activated versions of Windows XP in safe mode to exploit a flaw in Microsoft's program. It then reboots the computer, and when returning to normal mode the program has removed the activation check. This will allow people to install pirated versions of Windows XP without having to activate their product, as long as they are able to obtain a version of the crack - which is available for free off the Internet.

The second part of the program is able to spit out valid activation keys according to the different components found in your computer. In a test done by the German website Heise.de, the program was able to produce 25 valid keys over a night. Apparently the program has managed to discover the variables and routines Windows XP uses to produce an activation key, as the keys produced by the program were accepted when calling Microsoft's support telephone.

This is a very bad development for Microsoft, as it is impossible for the company to separate a version of Windows XP activated by the crack and one activated the legal way. Adding in that the program works with all versions of Windows XP (Home, Professional and Corporate) and Office XP as well, it is clear that Microsoft's activation feature is doomed as an effective method of stopping software piracy.

(Sources: Heise.de)

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