14 DAY TRIAL // The Korean subsidiary of Microsoft has a hard time dealing with the growing number of leaked Windows 10 product keys that go on sale on online shopping platforms in the country.
As per a report from the Korea Times, Microsoft not only that can’t stop the illegal sales of these license keys, but at the same time, the company can’t determine where the product keys come from in the first place.
“It is almost impossible to know where products keys are leaked from as Windows is a widely used operating system and there are too many leakage cases,” a Microsoft Korea official is quoted as saying by the cited source.
“Product keys distributed through online shopping platforms are mostly unfit for general consumers and are vulnerable to security issues.”
A Windows 10 key costs just $2 in Korea
A Windows 10 product key is being sold in the Microsoft Store in Korea for 200,000 won, which is about $165 at today’s currency rates. On the other hand, a leaked product key is available for only 2,500 won, which means it costs some $2 when purchased from third-party online sellers.
Most listings were published on Coupang and TMON, two of the largest online shopping platforms in the country, and Microsoft says it has reached out to both in order to block the sale of the illegal product keys.
“We have sent official letters to online shopping platforms and asked them to take appropriate steps to prohibit illegal sales,” a Microsoft Korea official told the source.
Needless to say, Microsoft warns customers that purchasing product keys from any other place than an official store or an authorized reseller exposes them to a series of risks, including compromised security and restricted access to Microsoft services in the future, if the key ends up getting banned.