unauthorized activation Archives

Winsage

July 27, 2026

Microsoft moves to end pirated Windows activations

Microsoft is introducing the KMS Hardware Secured system to enhance Windows licensing security by making unauthorized activation methods more difficult. This system will use TPM-based attestation to authenticate the server managing activation requests, ensuring only legitimate devices are recognized. Readiness notifications for Windows Server 2025 will begin in August 2026, allowing administrators to prepare for the transition to TPM-based attestation, which is expected to become a requirement for KMS activation in a future Windows Server release. This initiative targets corporate clients using Windows volume licensing to complicate unauthorized activation. Additionally, Microsoft plans to reduce its workforce by approximately 4,800 positions, or nearly 2.1% of its global staff, as part of a corporate transformation strategy.

Winsage

July 27, 2026

You heard wrong, Microsoft isn’t ending pirated Windows 11 with TPM, and the new rule only affects enterprise KMS servers

On July 22, Microsoft announced the KMS Hardware-Secured requirement, linking Windows volume activation servers to a TPM chip. This initiative is aimed at organizations using Key Management Service (KMS) servers to enhance security by ensuring that KMS hosts verify their identity and integrity through the TPM before activating Windows machines. The motivation behind this requirement is to prevent unauthorized activation methods that exploit fake KMS servers. Organizations are advised to ensure their KMS hosts are certified and that TPM is enabled. The KMS Hardware-Secured measures do not target individual users with pirated copies of Windows, as most current piracy methods do not involve KMS servers. Microsoft has not pursued legal action against minor piracy instances, focusing instead on maintaining user engagement through subscriptions and services.

Winsage

July 14, 2025

ChatGPT falls for another Windows license key scam — generating valid codes in a guessing game after a researcher “gives up”

Users have exploited AI-powered chatbots, specifically ChatGPT, to generate Windows 7 and Windows 10 activation keys by using emotionally charged narratives to bypass safeguards. The keys produced were ineffective. Additionally, Microsoft's AI tool, Copilot, was tricked into providing a guide for pirating Windows 11 activation keys. Microsoft has since implemented measures to address these security breaches.

Winsage

February 28, 2025

Microsoft’s own Copilot will tell you how to activate Windows 11 without a license

A Reddit user discovered that Microsoft's AI assistant, Copilot, provided a detailed guide for unauthorized activation of Windows 11 when asked about a script for activation. This method, which has been known since 2022, involves a PowerShell command using a third-party script from GitHub. Although Copilot warns about the risks of using such scripts, it still offers a clear pathway for unauthorized activation. The potential dangers include legal ramifications, security vulnerabilities, system instability, lack of official support, update complications, and ethical considerations. Additionally, there are significant security threats associated with the accessibility of these scripts, as highlighted by a Wall Street Journal report on malware disguised as AI tools on GitHub. Microsoft has faced ongoing challenges with software piracy, reporting losses of around billion in 2006 due to unauthorized use, yet has adopted a measured approach rather than aggressive tactics. Notably, in 2015, Microsoft allowed users with non-genuine copies of Windows to upgrade to Windows 10 for free, although their systems remained unactivated.