Windows Vista product activation cracked

Vista ActivationWell that didn't take long. Just over a month after the wide release of Windows Vista, a hacker over at KezNews has figured out a way to generate valid product activation keys.

This is a brute force hack, meaning it basically keeps throwing random keys at Vista until one seems to work. This can take hours. And then you have to manually check the key.

The KezNews main page includes a disclaimer suggesting that the program was an experiment, and that users should go out and buy a copy of Vista if they really want one. That said, it's just a matter of time before product keys start floating around the dark corners of the internet.

If you want to test out Vista for longer than the 30-day trial period and don't want to break the law, you can always extend your trial period by up to 90 days.

[via The Inquirer]

Tags: activation key, ActivationKey, hack, keygen, osupdates, vista