[K.L.Devine]

Hackers have managed to find a way around one of the key antipiracy protections built into Windows 7. Ordinarily, the users are required to activate their copy of Windows 7 within 30 days. However, a recently outlined method allows the normal notifications to be turned off.

Two of the most prominent methods to bypass Windows 7 activation are RemoveWAT and Chew-WGA. These hacks are designed to disable the platform’s Windows Activation Technologies (WAT).

Microsoft itself has already come across the Windows 7 activation workarounds and has indicated that it will tackle the problem. "We're aware of this workaround and are already working to address it," a Microsoft representative revealed.


Neither RemoveWAT nor Chew-WGA activate Windows 7 per se. Instead, the process is circumvented altogether, in which case, the operating system no longer requires a product key to run. Under normal conditions, Windows 7 offers end users a grace period of 30 days, in which the OS can be run as trial software. Initial grace can be prolonged up to 120 days with the slmgr /rearm command, but, at the end of those 120 days, customers are still required to enter a product key and activate Windows 7 in order to continue using it. RemoveWAT and Chew-WGA essentially cut off access to the Software Protection Platform (SPP) and to the Software Licensing Client (SLC), Windows Activation technologies responsible for dealing with licensing and activation.

In this manner, RemoveWAT and Chew-WGA kill Windows 7 activation, keeping the operating system in the initial grace period indefinitely. While it is in trial-mode, Windows 7 delivers full functionality to end users, and behaves identically to a genuine and activated copy, allowing pirates to enjoy the same range of benefits as legitimate customers, but without paying a single cent. Such benefits include access to components, content and software reserved for genuine Windows users and the ability to download and install all the security updates offered by Microsoft.

Cnet

[PurplePeopleEater]

MS will jump on that crack, they wont let anyone ruin Windows 7.... expect iPie maybe

[Burned Phoenix]

It's a cat-mouse game.

[fediaFedia]

^
+1

As long as there will be payware software, there will be workarounds and cracks.

[Villain]

yeah, witch is why doing pay or donation ware no longer works, every one either wants something for free, or waits till it is cracked / patched / hacked, then they go steal the software.

sure am glad i dont need to, oh, you know, EAT or anything. Makes me happy to put weeks and weeks of work in to an app, ask for $5 for it, then the next day find out that some one has bypassed my activation methods, or just removed them. as i said before, i sure am glad i dont need to eat, pay bills, or make money of any kind what so ever.

[Secured Tim]

@Villain
LOL, comment of the day!

This post has been edited by Secured Tim: 17 November 2009 - 10:21 PM

[Merforga]

Yeah, my friend let me borrow his copy and activation, his online alias is spelled Da Pyrit Bei or something.

[CAS91572]

Villain, on 17 November 2009 - 02:06 PM, said:

yeah, witch is why doing pay or donation ware no longer works, every one either wants something for free, or waits till it is cracked / patched / hacked, then they go steal the software.

sure am glad i dont need to, oh, you know, EAT or anything. Makes me happy to put weeks and weeks of work in to an app, ask for $5 for it, then the next day find out that some one has bypassed my activation methods, or just removed them. as i said before, i sure am glad i dont need to eat, pay bills, or make money of any kind what so ever.

Great reply!

[theapu]

If you got RTM version then there are windows7 activator cracks (cractivators) which uses oem activation. These cractivators were out even before win 7 was officially realesed on 22nd last month.

[hab]

For some reason - this is the first ever thing I actually want to buy - I feel like Win7 is legit and is actually worth it - and I believe its cheaper for students xD

[datacenter]

Villain, on 17 November 2009 - 09:06 PM, said:

yeah, witch is why doing pay or donation ware no longer works, every one either wants something for free, or waits till it is cracked / patched / hacked, then they go steal the software.

sure am glad i dont need to, oh, you know, EAT or anything. Makes me happy to put weeks and weeks of work in to an app, ask for $5 for it, then the next day find out that some one has bypassed my activation methods, or just removed them. as i said before, i sure am glad i dont need to eat, pay bills, or make money of any kind what so ever.

Don't get me wrong, but people don't give a sh*t for each other... so no one really does for you too. That's the world....

Ontopic: The cracks are available from a long time now and they are working just fine. The OEM bios emulation trick is still kicking ass. In my country, people don't buy software for personal or home use... the know better

[ayoshi]

yeah, bottom line, piracy is still there.

[Shaun of the Seven]

There is nothing un-crackable in the world!

[pCgv r t x]

Everything made by man can be cracked, hacked, by man. That's the way it works and as stated above, it's a cat and mouse game.