Genuine Advantage Bypassed

To be honest, I don't know how people put up with going through checks for an OS they PAID for. It is terrible was MS is doing to customers.

http://www.boingboing.net/2005/07/28/microsoft_genuine_ad.html

Also, GA has been bypassed by pasting this into the titlebar in IE.

Quote

Before pressing 'Custom' or 'Express' buttons paste this text to the address bar and press enter:

Code

javascript:void(window.g_sDisableWGACheck='all')

It turns off the trigger for the key check.

Well. that little code does not appear to work. My copy got validated.

I'm at work and cannot test the hack. Even so, I run Windows 2000 and do not suffer from Microsoft's attempts to stop me from enjoying an OS I purchased.

edit: I just found this..Looks like it may work for those that don't want that big brother MS looking after them.

http://www.extended64.com/blogs/rafael/archive/2005/07/27/1026.aspx

Looks like it DOES NOT work with Firefox..should have known, you can't update Windows using Firefox or any browser other than IE..

"Thank you for your interest in obtaining updates from our site.

To use this site, you must be running Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 or later.

To upgrade to the latest version of the browser, go to the Internet Explorer Downloads website.
"

Probably won't take Microsoft very long to re-write the Javascript that was overridden. I'm sure they're looking into it right now. You'll probably see some encryption technique applied to the Javascript, or they'll manage to put the code into their ActiveX control. Or they'll apply some random key value that will be used in place of that Javascript override that was posted.

I mean, that boingboing.net post made it onto Google, I'm sure it won't work for long.

But who cares, I don't use any of Microsoft's software except the operating system. Security updates are still free. Unless you're worried about getting the newest bloated Media Player.

Hell, you can always pay for it.

It was featured on Slashdot as well (screwed). As I was reading comments at Slashdot, many people think that they will not change the scheme. After all, this does stop the Joe Shmo type pirates and not the serious ones.

Perhaps. Microsoft has to watch that they don't piss too many people off so they're going about things very slowly.

Either way, I'm sure the hackers/crackers out there will find a way around anything they create. They always have.

I am worried about Windows Vista (Stupid Name). This might be the first Windows version I skip because of Microsoft's insistance on checking up on its paying customers.

Said By Aron Schatz

I am worried about Windows Vista (Stupid Name). This might be the first Windows version I skip because of Microsoft's insistance on checking up on its paying customers.

I GURANTEE I will not be buying MS Vista UNLESS it has some sort of huge breakthrough technology, which I'm sure it does *sarchasm*

I've done spent my 300+ dollars on two copies of WindowsXP for my Home office..Why in the world, Microsoft, , would I want to invest another 300+ dollars in an upgrade to nothingness????????

I had a copy of a beta release of Longhorn..and it was simply a spiced up version of XP, which is being generous.

Well, it's 1 AM on August 2nd and I used that javascript code to get past the validation on my not totally legal copy of Windows (I do have a legal copy, but this copy is easier to install) without any problems. so I guess they're not fixing it as of yet.

Said By Aron Schatz

It was featured on Slashdot as well (screwed). As I was reading comments at Slashdot, many people think that they will not change the scheme. After all, this does stop the Joe Shmo type pirates and not the serious ones.

Found an article stating that Microsoft will be fixing this in their next version of WGA.

"A Microsoft spokesperson conceded on Friday that hackers had indeed succeeded in cracking the WGA program, but said that the software giant will fix the flaw they exploited in an upcoming version of the WGA program."

<a href="http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,122058,00.asp">Click here for full story at PCWorld.com</a>

Also, visit the above link to read about another way to bypass the WGA add-on.

http://www.sinhack.net/GenuineAdvantage/

Run in Win2K compatibility mode.