Windows Vista KeyGen is the latest method to bypass the operating system's activation. The workaround involves a brute force process of randomly searching for legitimate Windows Vista product keys. According to the Vista KeyGen's creator, identified only as "Computer User," the tool goes through some 20,000 product keys an hour, taking a lot of time and system resources in order to produce a valid result, that is a 25-character alphanumeric string product key.

Microsoft has downplayed the relevance and impact of the Vista KeyGen. "The attack randomly searches for legit keys. This is called a brute force attack because there really isn't much intelligence involved and the goal is to just randomly cycle through key after key after key until a legit one is found. One report indicates that the script written to perform this attack goes through about a thousand keys every half an hour; frankly, that's a pretty slow brute force attack," said Alex Kochis, senior product manager of WGA.

However, once the news got out, and Microsoft confirmed that it was investigating Vista KeyGen, Computer User, the workaround's creator apologized to Microsoft. Computer User stated that he loved Windows Vista, and that he would disassociate himself from the crack-project in the future. Here is the apology (the syntax is that of the author):

"For all you guys working for microsoft! If you are reading this thread. I apologize for exposing the workaround in question. but we all know its highly unlikely to ever work.

I regret the fact that it has been leaked all over the net, which i guess was to be expected.

I simply love windows vista, and i happend to stumble upon this trick. I thought mysef alittle vbscript and that was it. I guess it just happened to work although truthfully i never though it would!.

I seriously beleive that everyone should stop spreading this idea around. and stop using the brute force keygen altogether because it takes away from legitimate customers. This is why say the timecrack is better.

I also hope that all you guys at microsoft find a way to prevent people from doing this type of workaround in the future. Iguess maybe if i had been working for you guys i would have noticed this and informed you guys about it!!!!!!!

from now on i will no longer be apart of the project in the development of this tool. sorry guys

In, addition, as i have mentioned I never intended to make money of this nor will i ever. I haven't got any keys yet. I will never give anybody a key.

I strongly encourage everyone to stop using the keygen and revert back to the 120 rearm mechanism that is legal."