News Vista is a cracker's dream

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2006/03/01/vista_ships_versions_cd/

 

This is certainly beginning to get interesting. I can't wait to see what the P2P sites look like 6 months after this is out. Hell, as it is now, you can already find DVDs with every version of Windows on them. Maybe the guys at MS are just trying to make it easier for the underground?

 

You won't hear any complaining from me :>

Though I'd bet they implement some sort of halfway-decent locking system. It will probably take at least a week or so to successfully crack

 

Going on the basis that anything is crackable, this doesn't seem to bad an idea. Face it- if you wanted to get XP for free, you could. If you want to get Vista for free, you undoubtably will be able to at some point. Thus having an exploitable upgrade system where the user has already payed at least something to Microsoft isn't really much of a big deal- what you have to realise is that it does what is says on the tin, ie makes upgrading much, much easier.

<A88>

 

Lol, is it me or is this just stupid, I mean that is just asking to be cracked...

 

Think about when it works in reverse though - you haven't paid your license renewal fees, and you have to pop in the disc to downgrade or else you lose all functionality.

However A88 makes a valid point too, and I'd hope that that's what MS is going for.

 

So let me get this straight...every time a company comes out with a product, we laugh at their incredibly stupid efforts to protect their software. We joke about how it's nothing but a hassle to the consumer, and tell them that they should just tone it down and worry about making a product better.

Now, here comes MS. With Vista, they've REALLY LISTENED to something. The OS looks more stylish, it looks to be more smartly designed. And they haven't imposed 15 seperate copyright schemes to protect the software that just annoy us endlessly.

And yet...out of 5 posts, I find 2 that are laughing at them for listening! Guys, this is a good thing. The biggest software manufacturer in the world just said "You know what? You're right." Celebrate and embrace their change of heart.

Sorry, I'm sick, so please don't mind my tone.

 

And (hypothetically, of course - I can't believe it's this simple) when MS reveal the really nasty DRM riddled bit you need to use if you want to run any third party program or non DRM media file?

- H.

 

im gonna love seeing many many cracked copys flying round the interweb but then cry at why i cant run the OS due to the minimum specs being so high, and im still running a Socket A platform

 

Well, th main trouble is going to be windows update - it will probably need to run its "genuine advantage" validation rubbish. Of course you will then need a valid serial code. The main trouble with this is that it will be riddled with holes - which will need to be patched. For all those who love MS, it WILL be riddled with holes, any OS is to start with. If I can wait a year or two (until DX10 games come out) then I will crack it. Oh hang on, I was going to P2P it anyway

 

To me it sounds as if it will be an extreeme either way. It will be incredibly easy to crack, or incredibly difficult to reinstall should you need to.

 

no point to touch the OS untill either SP1 has come out or a few years down the line once there are plenty of automatic updates avail.

XP is still a good OS, no point to throw it out just yet.

 

I've known that it was going to be all on the same DVD for aaaages..
Yes its begging to be cracked but im sure MS make enough money through people like DELL not to worry anyway.
Though I find the comment "more stylish" funny. Just more like something made by a kids toy company (like mac os) imo.

 

I think it's a great idea to be honest. As has been said, people who want to get a cracked copy for free will do so regardless of whether or not all three editions ship on the same retail DVD.

I predict that MS will make a decent, steady revenue out of people buying their e.g. Dell box with Basic or Premium, then decide they would like the extra features of Premium or Ultimate, and pay the upgrade fee. If the upgrades are reasonably priced, I think it will fly. Contrast the situation with XP - if you buy a PC with XP Home, you'll probably just stick with it rather than shell out to upgrate to XP Pro, because it's a hassle to have to mess about with upgrades and so forth. If the upgraded features are all there and just waiting to be unlocked with a simple online purchase, then there should be fewer problems with upgrades too.

 

I hear you on this, I am running an Xp3200+ which is by no means a slow system but I will be tied to the lowest version as it is 'only 32 bit'.

Oh well, looks like I found my 'excuse' to spend money on an upgrade hehe

 

scoffing at this is just silly tbh. if someone is going to bother to crack windows then they arent going to even shell out the money for the cheapest version to get a cd.. theyre going to download the image precracked...

the only reason this is could be considered making a crackers job easier if if the person bought a computer from a retail store with home installed. then you dont have to reformat to get ultimate, just crack... but then if youre the kind of person who wants ultimate, you will probably format a retail computer anyway, or build your own, soooo, that might be a moot point too.

 

It's all networked now, MS doesn't give a flying hoot whether you can crack the install or not, it's all about databasing and licensing these days.
MS makes money off sustained service rather than yay it installed now I can play DX10 games, wait how come I can't install the latest patches or download the newest DX10 releases?
As far as MS is concerned they only care about the OEM and Company licensing as for the rest of society they couldn't care less even if they gave you a free copy to install cause without being registered to the MS database with genuine serial you won't be able to have long termed stable service updates.
It's just like MMORPG's the OS is just a foundation the sustained service is what you're paying for.

 

As I walk through the valley of the shadow of warez
I take a look on eMule and see my copy of Vista there
Cause I've been hacking and cracking so long that
Even my pirate friends thinks my mind is gone.
But I ain't never crossed an app that didn't deserve it.
Me being given a blue screen, you know that's unheard of.
You better watch how you're leeching and where you're uploadin'
Or you and your 'puter end up on ma botnet

I really hate the RIAA, cause guys like they me screw
As they sue, I see myself on P2P fool!
I'm the kinda cracker that little n00bs wanna be like,
On IRC all the night
drinkin caffeine in the moonlight.

( chorus )
Been spending most of our lives living in the cracker's paradise
(x2)
Keep spending most of our lives living in the cracker's paradise
(x2)

I'll remember you all when I'm famous

 

Looks like a good idea to me. I don't think the official line of the article should have been "oh that'll be easy to crack then".

Remember, "those types" won't be buying the basic version and then unlocking it, they'll just download the full version anyway. This "topup" system looks more likely to make it easier for those actually shelling out for the software, which after all is what all the anti-protection types harp on about ALL THE TIME, to choose which version they need.

Buy the "crap" one, play about with it, if it's good enough just stick with. If you want some more adminny stuff, send MS 30 quid and hit a button and it's yours. Sounds pretty damned sensible.

 

Make sense really it means they only need to create one disc for everyone. It means you just need your cd key and a generic disc and away you go.

Don't think it will make any difference to the hackers/crackers really