14 DAY TRIAL // Windows 10 is now up for grabs, and while it’s offered free of charge to those on Windows 7 and 8.1, everyone else needs to pay for a license, either $119.99 for the Home version or $199.99 for the Pro.
Obviously, Windows 10 isn’t offered free of charge to pirates, but just as it happened with any other Windows version released in the past, there are some ways to get the operating system without paying for it if you turn down to more or less illegal methods involving cracks and activators.
And because many users are actually willing to do that, cybercriminals try to make the most of the Windows 10 frenzy with videos posted on YouTube that promise to provide them with a free copy of the operating system without paying for it.
Right now, a simple search on YouTube returns hundreds of videos that include links to various download sites where users are promised to find the said Windows 10 activators.
How the scams work
But if it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is. In this case, here’s how the scam works.
First and foremost, when you open a YouTube video that includes the said activator, you are also provided with a link where the uploader claims you can find the crack to activate Windows 10 without a genuine license.
Once you load that link, before you can download the archive with the said files, you need to complete a survey to unlock the download link. The trick is that, when you complete such surveys, which usually takes more than 10 or 15 minutes, the cybercriminal receives a commission.
The download link that you then receive usually lets you get an archive that either doesn’t work or has a fake application doing absolutely nothing.
The bottom line? Don’t try to get such activators because not only that they do not work but they could also infect your computer. So if you want Windows 10, just pay for a license and enjoy all the benefits of a genuine copy.