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February 27th, 2008

KB940510 highlights some counterfeit Windows installations


Yesterday Microsoft released a new update for Windows Vista via Windows Update - KB940510. This update, when installed, will detect certain software used to bypass Windows product activation.

Here’s how Microsoft describes this latest update:

This update enables Windows Vista to detect activation exploits that bypass product activation and that interfere with usual Windows operation. An exploit is a form of software that replaces or modifies authentic Windows components. When exploits are present on a system, it indicates that a software or hardware vendor may have tampered with genuine Windows to enable the sale of counterfeit software. Therefore, the security and the privacy of the computer are put at risk. After this update is installed, you will know if exploits are present on the system.
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And here’s what it does:

When the update is installed, no functionality of your operating system will be affected. If no exploits are detected, the update silently exits. If exploits are detected, you will be provided a link to a Web site that describes how you can remove the exploits. When the exploits are removed, you may be asked to use a valid product key to activate your copy of Windows. If you do not want to remove the exploits, Windows may disable the exploits and then ask you to use a valid product key to activate Windows.
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[fdisker]

Pretty standard countermeasures from Microsoft. This is just the first of many activation hacks they'll be patching against over the life of Vista.

 

[DjLevel9]

well it ain't gonna happen we just come up with revolving software that changed each time Microsoft trys to come up with a patch we counter act it so this we got one over them so there out beaten this time and it's perfectly legal there nothing they can do about the saying there A** is Grass this time lol

 

[fdisker]

Your post just moved into first place on the list of the most confusing things I've read today.

 

[grimreaper]

who says people (who don't have genuine) are gonna download and install this ...it's not like you're being forced to do it...lmao

 

[ajesh]

Would this affect people who buy systems with OEM version of the preinstalled OS purchased from various computer manufactureres?

 

[dmex]

This patch only affects Vista if its patched with timerstop or driver bypass techniques, It will not affect anyone else.

Its not really appropriate for me to discuss the workings of the update but the tests I have done indicate it still fails to detect poeple using linux to bypass Vista activation.

 

[hkancyr]

This would be for the Usenet folks that have pirated copies of Vista. I'm not judging here, just saying.....

 

[DeXtmL]

thru tests under virtual machine. seems that vistaloader still works for all known exploit detectors yet.
If your os is counterfeit and cracked with vistaloader, your illegal copy would not be detected. ms might publish future updates to address this problem.