this post was submitted on 30 Aug 2025
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Piracy: ꜱᴀɪʟ ᴛʜᴇ ʜɪɢʜ ꜱᴇᴀꜱ

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cross-posted from: https://programming.dev/post/36600876

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[–] stevedice@sh.itjust.works 1 points 4 days ago

I highly doubt they can't stop it and slightly suspect they don't want to. You can install any version of Windows (even enterprise), use MASgrave, wipe the whole thing, reinstall it, and it'll pass online activation as genuine. There's just no way that's an accident.

[–] mr_right@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 4 days ago

the ingenious thing is that they are still making buck both ways

the house always wins, remember that Microsoft owns github

MS knows that this happens it simply doesn't care if you are a domestic user but if you are a company they can bankrupt your company with fines

[–] adarza@lemmy.ca 148 points 1 week ago (2 children)

they actually still 'win', because you're still using their platform.

[–] somerandomperson@lemmy.dbzer0.com 68 points 1 week ago (22 children)

JUST. MOVE. TO. LINUX.

I don't get why people complain about windows when there's CLEARLY an alternative.

[–] frongt@lemmy.zip 54 points 1 week ago (4 children)

It doesn't fit everyone's use case.

[–] Goodlucksil@lemmy.dbzer0.com 21 points 1 week ago

Perfect is the enemy of good. It fits most people's use case.

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[–] heavy@sh.itjust.works 44 points 1 week ago (1 children)

As a Linux enjoyer, I agree with you but try not to sound so negative, it's off putting to normal folks.

[–] ramble81@lemmy.zip 13 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (3 children)

The rabid amount of Linux fanboyism on Lemmy is quite off putting in general. Any conversation about Microsoft gets brigaded with “Just use Linux!” even if the conversation has nothing to do with it. It makes it a pain to have any decent discourse about things.

[–] Moonguide@lemmy.ml 18 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Think people who got on lemmy originally lean techy (and thus more likely to use linux and be passionate about it), and people who joined after the IPO thing have more diverse reasons for abandoning reddit.

[–] dubyakay@lemmy.ca 9 points 1 week ago

Lemmy pretty much converted me from Windows to Linux within a year of API-gate.

[–] crunchy@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 points 1 week ago

Well yeah, people that are seeking out an open decentralized platform are more likely to not be fans of a closed centralized operating system.

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[–] Vitaly@feddit.uk 19 points 1 week ago (13 children)

Linux is enough for me personally, but some ppl use software like Photoshop so it's impossible unless they use winapps or something

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[–] Cevilia@lemmy.blahaj.zone 18 points 1 week ago (13 children)

As a Linux user: PLEASE. CUT. IT. OUT.

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[–] potatoguy@potato-guy.space 11 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

To a lot of people it's difficult. Vendor lock-in, support, cartels (the old kind) and familiarity are very important factors in choosing what you're going to use to compute things.

We should embrace the new ones and build things that they are going to use.

[–] Jessica@discuss.tchncs.de 11 points 1 week ago (3 children)

Virtual reality on my valve index is basically unplayable on Linux currently due to driver issues :(

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I'll use what I want, when I want, how I want, where I want.

Who are you to demand otherwise? People like you are the reason other see Linux people as hostile neck beards.

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[–] LodeMike@lemmy.today 7 points 1 week ago

They also tell people to use it if there's something wrong with their license.

[–] salacious_coaster@infosec.pub 50 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Microsoft owns GitHub, which hosts mass graves. If they wanted people to stop using Windows and Office for free, they could make that happen by flipping a few switches. Given a choice between "pirating" Microsoft products and using an alternative, Microsoft wants you to use their stuff for free. Anything but give Linux any oxygen.

[–] matey@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 6 days ago

Microsoft uses this script themselves.

[–] Goodlucksil@lemmy.dbzer0.com 13 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Doesn't Massgrave have mirrors exactly for that reason?

[–] salacious_coaster@infosec.pub 10 points 1 week ago

It's Microsoft's own activation mechanism, not some backdoor crack. The point is they know full well it exists and are doing nothing to curb it, because they don't want FOSS picking up steam. Microsoft doesn't make their money off consumers. They make their money off enterprises that don't view Linux environments as feasible because all their workers have ever known is Windows.

[–] BurgerBaron@piefed.social 41 points 1 week ago (1 children)

irm https://get.activated.win/ | iex

I love how ez it is now. XP was harder.

[–] just_an_average_joe@lemmy.dbzer0.com 41 points 1 week ago (3 children)

QW4HD-DQCRG-HM64M-6GJRK-8K83T

sometimes i forget the names of the people but this XP activation key never leaves my brain

[–] Thorry@feddit.org 18 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (4 children)

Wow that's crazy! I've also gotten an XP key burned into my brain, but it's a different one. I had no idea there were multiple people memorised:

FCKGW-RHQQ2-YXRKT-8TG6W-2B7Q8

It used to have it's own Wikipedia page, but now it's just a mention on this page:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volume_licensing#Leaked_keys

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[–] BurgerBaron@piefed.social 9 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Impressive I can't say I've ever memorized a serial key haha

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[–] Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 1 week ago

I have my own version of it:
eBay auction number 234839940

Die hard in swabian dialect: https://youtu.be/WM35KnAx0gY

[–] cupcakezealot@piefed.blahaj.zone 18 points 1 week ago (7 children)

one batchy boi activates windows 11 so really there's no winners here

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[–] AmanitaCaesarea@slrpnk.net 14 points 1 week ago

Their business model is data harvesting. So more users is just a win. Still better than paying them

[–] Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe 9 points 1 week ago

A script that even Microsoft uses?

[–] phoenixz@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Actually, Linux will win. >>INSERT CURRENT YEAR<< is the year for desktop Linux!

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[–] howrar@lemmy.ca 7 points 1 week ago (5 children)

I present a third contender: Ignoring the watermark in the corner.

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[–] DieserTypMatthias@lemmy.ml 7 points 1 week ago

You should memorize this PowerShell command btw: irm https://get.activated.win/ | iex

[–] grrgyle@slrpnk.net 7 points 1 week ago

What's next, sideloading apps on your desktop??

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