With all the news at the moment on Windows XP's soon to be beta tested/released/leaked (whatever!) Service Pack 1 (SP1), I read this interesting snippet on The Register.
- And one last thing readers who're no better than they should be should bear in mind about SP1. Microsoft is going to engineer it so that it won't work on a widely-warezed activation key, which as we recall escaped form a large friend of Microsoft beginning with D. It would appear that Microsoft does not intend application of SP1 to vape systems installed using that key, but simply to freeze them where they are, and to block their ability to use Windows Update. Microsoft has used service packs to disable installations it deemed pirated in the past, and we'd guess it's decided not to do this because it might hit legit systems by mistake, or generate adverse publicity from innocent victims.
Disabling Windows Update access does however up the ante, as it'll at least make it more difficult for readers who're no better than they should be to get hold of updates and patches. Long term it is also logical for Microsoft to try to make this impossible, not just difficult, so it's an area worth watching. And lastly, Microsoft is no doubt aware of considerably more compromised keys for XP than just the one, so we'd actually be surprised if it was just the D one that got nuked in SP1.
- All those who have a LEGAL key for use on XP, put their hands up... Oh I see plenty.. ok.
- All those using the OLD Corp key that Microsoft leaked eons ago, put their hands up... Not so many...
- Now all those who have their OWN *cough* corp or otherwise key put your hands up... Ooh....
News source: The Register
