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Filed under: OS Updates, Security, Microsoft

Microsoft admits Vista OEM hack works

VistaDespite 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]

Filed under: Developer, OS Updates, Utilities, News, Windows, Macintosh, Apple, Microsoft, Freeware

Boot XP on Intel Macs with software from Apple

boot camp from appleI come back from a walk in the park with my son, and what do I find? Apple has released Boot Camp, a tool for installing Windows XP on Macs. Sure, someone else beat them to the punch, but this is highly unusual for two reasons. One, Apple almost never releases a public beta (at least, not for free, as in OS X). Two, this is pretty much saying, "we know you still need Windows for stuff." Either way, it's most excellent for everyone. This move has some thinking OS X might be heading to PC's everywhere, in a sort of tit-for-tat bizarro-world twist. May we live in interesting times indeed. Is it just me or is the icon they're using a little off-putting?

[Via TUAW]

Featured Time Waster

The World's Hardest Game 2.0 - Time Waster

So, just how good at time waster games are you? Think you've got the stuff? Well, The World's Hardest Game 2.0 doesn't think you do. Yes, amazingly, it's possible to have a sequel to a game called "The World's Hardest Game". It doesn't seem logically possible, since if the first one was actually the world's hardest, how could another one come along and share the moniker? It made me doubt the name in the first place. That is, until I tried the game. The mechanics of the game are very simple. You are a small red square, ...

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