Volume License Key - Unauthorized Use

Unauthorized Use

Since Volume Licensing sometimes bypasses activation and has no technical limits on the number of possible activations, some software pirates have exploited VLKs. Windows XP installations will bypass product activation when using a volume license key. However, the product activation system will be on the system, but it will say it is already activated. The FCKGW key (see below) is the most prominent example of VLK exploitation. Although to some, this may seem like an easy way to circumvent Microsoft's product activation feature, each VLK is uniquely linked to the company for which it was purchased. Therefore, should the software be installed on more computers than it was licensed, Microsoft can hold the company responsible, and blacklist the product key in extreme cases.

Volume license keys that have been abused have been blocked by Microsoft, starting with Windows XP Service Pack 1. Microsoft argues that it does not need to cater to the needs of those who did not pay for their software. Microsoft even developed a new key verification engine for Windows XP Service Pack 2 that could detect illicit keys, even those that had never been used before. Several security consultants have condemned the move by Microsoft, saying that leaving a large install base unpatched from various security holes is irresponsible because this unpatched install base can be leveraged in large scale Internet attacks, such as trojan horses used to send spam e-mail. Others have come to Microsoft's defense, arguing that Microsoft should not have to provide support for illegal users. After much public outcry, Microsoft elected to disable the new key verification engine. Service Pack 2 only checks for the same small list of commonly used keys as Service Pack 1. Users of existing installations of Windows XP can also change their product key by following instructions from Microsoft.

A small number of keys have been completely banned by Microsoft and cannot be used with any CD that has been slipstreamed with Service Pack 2. If an original Windows XP CD (or a slipstreamed copy with Service Pack 1) is used to install Windows XP, the key is accepted; however, the system will not allow any newer updates (including Service Pack 2 and 3) to be installed. Microsoft has also released the Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) program, which requires users of Windows XP (and other recent operating systems) to verify their copy before downloading updates and certain programs from Microsoft's website.