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By George Norman - Software News Editor

Added on 31 Jul 2009(1752 Views)

Thanks to a Windows 7 RTM ISO who leaked from hardware manufacturer Lenovo, Microsoft got owned. Hackers got their hands on the ISO, accessed the OEM-SLP (System-Locked Preinstallation) product key and the OEM certificate, and released a cracked version of Windows 7 into the wild. Microsoft has now acknowledged the issue, adding that the crack only works with hardware from that particular manufacturer. This is odd, because word on the web is that the crack is not limited to Lenovo hardware.

“We were alerted to reports of a leak of a special product key issued to an OEM partner of ours. The key is for use with Windows 7 Ultimate RTM product that is meant to be pre-installed by the OEM on new PCs to be shipped later this year. As such, the use of this key requires having a PC from the manufacturer it was issued to. 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,” explained Director, Product Marketing & Product Management Genuine Windows, Alex Kochis.


Alex Kochis also informed that Microsoft will seek out Windows 7 Ultimate versions that have been activated using the leaked key and will inform these users that they are running a non-genuine copy of the OS. The crack is said to be able to bypass Microsoft’s WGA (Windows Genuine Advantage), but Windows 7 comes with enhanced hack and activation exploit detecting functionality – and a rebranded version of the WGA, mainly WAT (Windows Activation Technologies).

“There is a hack that is said to enable, when paired with the leaked key, a system to install and use a copy of Windows 7 Ultimate,” added Kochis. “Both the hack and the key are indications that a copy of Windows may not be genuine. The Windows Activation Technologies included in Windows 7 are designed to handle situations such as this one, and customers using these tools and methods should expect Windows to detect them.”

For security reasons, Microsoft advises you not to use the cracked Windows 7 Ultimate version that is available in the wild. The company explained that pirated software, besides costing the software industry more than $45 billion per year, exposes the user to malware and identity theft. Microsoft also informed that downloading the OS from torrent sites exposes the user to other dangers that accompany pirated software: viruses, trojans, etc. It's a good thing we have Windows 7 ISO Verifier then.





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Tags: Windows 7 RTM, Microsoft, Crack, Windows 7 Ultimate, Security

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