It has been revealed that a Microsoft support agent remotely activated a licensed copy of Windows 10 Pro using a pirated copy activator. This was done to solve the problem of a client that for some reason could not activate the operating system with a license key. Oddly enough, this isn’t the first time Microsoft support has used workarounds to enable the operating system to process customer requests faster.
Image source: Bleeping Computer
South African freelance technologist Wesley Pyburn bought a licensed copy of Windows 10 Pro for $200. During activation, he encountered a problem because for some reason the license key did not perform its function. To solve this problem, Pyburn contacted Microsoft technical support, but even there he was not immediately helped.
During one of their tech support calls, a service technician remotely connected to Pyburn’s computer through the Quick Assist utility and ran several commands in PowerShell that allowed them to run a pirated activator to bypass the Windows activation process. After that, the operating system really didn’t need activation anymore, but the customer was very surprised by the way Microsoft technical support handled their problem. “In fact, it’s easier to hack Windows than to buy it”wrote Pyburn on his Twitter page.
Image source: Twitter
During the Windows activation process, a Microsoft employee connected to an unofficial repository of Windows and Office activation scripts called massgrave.dev. Pyburn later contacted the representatives of this resource and they confirmed that the tech support technician was using an unlicensed activator. He was also informed there that this was at least the second such case.
Image source: Twitter
It looks like the employee who used the piracy activator will be punished. This is because Microsoft is investigating this incident. “We strive to provide our customers with top-notch support. The technique you describe violates our policies. We are investigating this incident and will take appropriate action to ensure proper procedures are followed in relation to customer support for our products and services.”— commented on this issue in Microsoft.
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