A recent announcement by the hacker group Massgrave has raised significant concerns regarding software security. The group claims to have successfully bypassed Microsoft’s software licensing protection mechanisms, potentially leading to widespread copyright infringement.
Massgrave, known for its activities in the software cracking community, states that they have developed a method capable of circumventing the copyright protections in nearly all Microsoft software. This includes various versions of Windows, from Windows Vista through Windows 11, and extends to Server 2025. They described this event as “the biggest breakthrough in the history of Windows/Office copyright cracking.”
One key feature of the method is its ability to allow mass activation of computers using a client-server model, which would enable users to activate multiple systems simultaneously. Furthermore, the group plans to release a new jailbreak tool through their Microsoft Activation Scripts (MAS) project in the upcoming months. The tool is touted to be user-friendly, requiring no extra software installation or significant system changes. Importantly, it may give Windows 10 users access to free security updates beyond the official end-of-support date, set for October 2025.
Experts believe that addressing this vulnerability could pose a significant challenge for Microsoft, potentially necessitating a complete overhaul of the existing activation system. Despite the ongoing issue of software cracking, Microsoft appears to focus more on its other business ventures, such as advertising, cloud services, and artificial intelligence, rather than on combating the piracy of older software.
This development serves as a critical reminder of the risks associated with software copyright infringement, which could have considerable repercussions for Microsoft and the broader software development community.
