Microsoft blacklists leaked Lenovo OEM Windows 7 Key

iulie 31 17:20 2009

According to Neowin, Microsoft has responded to the latest Windows 7 cracking scheme by blacklisting the Lenovo OEM master key on computers that are not manufactured by Lenovo. Two days ago, Windows 7 Center reported that Windows 7 had already been cracked and activated just a week after the operating system had RTMed. The OEM master key was a special product key issued to Lenovo for activating the many pre-installed copies of Windows 7 Ultimate on their computers. Microsoft’s objective in fixing this particular pirating case was clear:

We’ve worked with that manufacturer so that customers who purchase genuine copies of Windows 7 from this manufacturer will experience no issues validating their copy of Windows 7. At the same time we will seek to alert customers who are using the leaked key that they are running a non-genuine copy of Windows.

Despite the fact that Microsoft has toned down the consequences that occur when WGA detects a non-genuine version of Windows, they still make it clear that pirating Windows 7 will not be easy:

Windows 7 already includes an improved ability to detect hacks, also known as activation exploits, and alert customers who are using a pirated copy. […] The Windows Activation Technologies included in Windows 7 are designed to handle situations such as [the Lenovo case], and customers using these tools and methods should expect Windows to detect them.

Piracy has become an ongoing battle for Microsoft. There is no doubt that we will see more cracks and workarounds to activate Windows 7 in the future. It will be interesting to see how far Microsoft will go to stop the pirates.

Windows 7 Piracy Prevention to be less annoying With Windows 7 RC, we’ve seen that Microsoft is starting to come out of the…
Windows 7 Ultimate cracked and activated with OEM master key Just seven days after Windows 7 RTMed and the cracking community has already found a…