Microsoft admits Vista OEM hack works

Filed under: OS Updates, Security, Microsoft

Microsoft admits Vista OEM hack works

by Brad Linder Apr 13th 2007

Despite proud boasts that Vista was the most hack-proof version of Windows to date, Microsoft Senior Product Manager Alex Kochis has written on a developers' blog that Microsoft has recognized two ways that hackers have cracked Vista's product activation.

Basically the hacks affect OEM copies of Vista that are meant to run on a specific piece of hardware. The first hack changes some code in a computer's BIOS to make Vista think it's installed on the correct PC. The other hack does something similar, but with software.

Basically, Kochis says Windows XP was vulnerable to the same sort of hack, but Microsoft never paid much attention because there were far easier ways to obtain a bootleg copy of Windows XP.

And it turns out Microsoft isn't going to place much priority on combating this hack now either. Since it's a relatively tricky and dangerous way to get an illegal copy of Vista running, the company figures most users won't try modifying their BIOS. Microsoft will instead focus on "organized counterfeiters and protect users from becoming unknowing victims."

[via CNet]

Tags: activation, bios, crack, hack, vista, vista activation, VistaActivation

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Todd said 4:45PM on 4-13-2007

Hey, how come I don't ever hear about "cracks" to "trick" the operating system aimed at Ubuntu? Oh that's right, theres no need to crack it - it's free.

Besides my troll comment I have a request of The Download Squad:

Please perform and publish a detailed, side-by-side test of a completely green install of Vista and Ubuntu.

Brad Linder said 4:47PM on 4-13-2007

Hey Todd,

I probably won't get around to this for a while, but I did just buy a new laptop with Vista Home Premium pre-installed. The first thing I did was repartition the hard drive and install Kubuntu 7.04, which was easy as cake.

For reasons too difficult to explain right now, I won't be able to use Kubuntu much for the next month or two. But I definitely plan to write up a bit more Linux news this summer, and when I have time to write up some comparisons of Vista and Kubuntu.

Todd said 5:12PM on 4-13-2007

Mr. Linder, if it has to wait until summer, that's cool. I just really want a published test of the installs of both Vista and Ubuntu to put the Linux haters in their place once and for all. Use identical hardware on brand new hard drives.Speaking of Linux haters...

Heres a leaked email by Bill Gates asking how to destroy Linux:

http://antitrust.slated.org/www.iowaconsumercase.org/011607/3000/PX03020.pdf

Travis said 10:36PM on 4-13-2007

All bill is saying in that email is that he doesnt want his company to spend the resources and make his partners spend resources just so the linux community can take the work for free. Linus is their competition; why make it easy for them? Just because they turn a profit does not make them a bad company.

Yayaja said 2:02PM on 4-19-2007

Gates WANTS competition for Windows. The second that windows destroys OS X and linux, is the second that the anti trust lawyers will come in an shatter microsoft into 30 different companies. I even heard that gates bailed apple out of bankruptcy just to ensure that there was still a competitor for his windows.

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