Designed to render useless over 70 activation exploits for the OS

Jul 7, 2010 08:11 GMT  ·  By

The first “major” upgrade for the latest iteration of the Windows client will be designed not only to catalyze the evolution of the operating system, but also to thwart a multitude of illegal workaround for the platform’s activation mechanism. Windows 7 Service Pack 1 will include a cracks killer refresh that Microsoft released earlier this year through Windows Update to all customers running the RTM Build 7600 of the OS. In fact, the Beta development milestone of Windows 7 SP1 already contains the Windows Activation Technologies Update for Windows 7.

When it first unveiled plans to offer the Windows Activation Technologies Update for Windows 7, the software giant revealed that the refresh would kill more than 70 exploits that have been deployed since RTM to illegally circumvent the activation process for the OS. Microsoft never offered details about what Windows 7 RTM cracks specifically was the Windows Activation Technologies Update designed to tackle, but their number indicates that the company was attempting to handle the vast majority of exploits set up to bypass Windows 7 activation.

Windows Activation Technologies Update for Windows 7 (KB971033) had been available not only through Windows Update, but also via Microsoft’s Windows Genuine website, and through the Microsoft Download Center. As of the Beta Build, KB971033 is also included into Windows 7 SP1, and there’s no doubt that the RTM versions of the service pack will also include the cracks killer.

“Windows Activation Technologies helps you confirm that the copy of Windows 7 that is running on your computer is genuine. Additionally, Windows Activation Technologies helps protect against the risks of counterfeit software. Windows Activation Technologies in Windows 7 consists of activation and validation components that contain anti-piracy features,” Microsoft stated.