Indian cracks Microsoft's anti-piracy program

Found on Rediff on Wednesday, 22 June 2005
Browse Software

An Indian researcher has breached the much-touted "impenetrable" Windows Genuine Advantage of Microsoft.

Bangalore-based Debasis Mohanty has cracked WGA through an "easy-to-exploit" weakness in the software for generating illegal copies of the Windows XP programme.

Microsoft confirmed the claims of Mohanty, but sought to downplay it saying, "It represents very little threat." A company spokesperson said they did expect counterfeiters to try a number of different methods to circumvent safeguards provided by WGA.

I'd never claim a system or software un-crackable. There can always be something you forgot. Well, ok, I'm quite sure that a "Hello World" program is pretty secure, but I still wouldn't bet on it.