14 DAY TRIAL // The top Windows Genuine guru at Microsoft announced that he was leaving the company at the end of the past year. December 31st was Alex Kochis’ last day with the software giant. Previously occupying the position of director of Genuine Windows at Microsoft, Kochis indicated that he was moving onward to greener pastures, noting that he would open his own company. At the same time, the Redmond company’s former director of Windows Genuine revealed that he would continue to focus on anti-piracy moving forward, just not under Microsoft’s umbrella.
“While I’m leaving Microsoft I don’t intend to leave the anti-piracy space. Those of you who follow the subject are likely to see me pop up in the future under my own shingle,” he stated. Those that followed Microsoft closely and the evolution of Windows Genuine Advantage, as well as Windows Genuine Notifications, are already familiar with Kochis.
In the role of director of Genuine Windows, Kochis led the efforts designed to curb the antipiracy of Windows operating system products. It was the Genuine Windows group responsible for killing two of the most prominent Windows Vista cracks, namely the OEM BIOS and Grace Timer hacks.
At the same time, Kochis headed the efforts designed to tackle the first piracy attempts aimed at Windows 7. Back at the end of July 2009, a leaked OEM SLP master product key was used as a part of the first crack for Windows 7 RTM Build 6.1.7600.16385 Ultimate. Kochis revealed that Microsoft acted fast to stop the illegal bypassing methods of Windows 7’s activation process. The key used to circumvent Windows 7’s antipiracy technology was blacklisted.
“I want to thank everyone who read, commented and supported the blog over the years. I believe in the mission of this group and in the overall goal of Microsoft’s Genuine Software Initiative to help customers, Microsoft partners and Microsoft shareholders and employees protect themselves from the consequences and risks of counterfeit software. It’s been truly great working here, the best part without a doubt is the people,” Kochis noted.