Vista SP1 fails to stop software pirates
Microsoft said that Vista SP1 would disable two of the most common hacks for making illegal copies of the operating system “think” they were legitimate. The two hacks are the OEM BIOS and the grace timer exploit. The OEM BIOS hack attempted to make the copy legitimate by telling the operating system that it was installed from a manufacture like HP, Acer or other. The grace timer hack just kept resetting the “time bomb” that told Vista when to deactivate. Both have been shown to work. But they work no more, not with Vista SP1.
When ZDnet tested both of those hacks on Vista SP1, the operating system successfully ignored them and continued to require a valid activation key. However, a new hack has cropped up that allows illegal copies of Vista SP1 to be activated as genuine.
According to Adrian Kingsley-Hughes the hack is not complicated and is relatively easy to find in the shady corners of the Internet, along with those trying to sell $10 “genuine” Rolex watches. He says all you have to do is download the hack, run it, reboot and Vista will be activated. Screenshots are provided as proof.
Original Vista hacks have been dealt with but Microsoft has opened up an entirely new way, possibly easier way of hacking the activation system. It’s not clear if Microsoft has a way of checking to see if a Vista system has been hacked or not. Remember that Vista occasionally rechecks to see if it is still genuine with the Microsoft servers.
It’s illegal to use or install pirated software, be it an operating system or other and Microsoft doesn’t take too kindly to it. Our advice is to go genuine and forget that these hacks even exist. Unless you want to look forward to letters from Microsoft spelling out fines and jail time, don’t do it.
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