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Hackers Thwart Genuine Advantage

Even as Microsoft unveiled the new, mandatory Genuine Advantage 1.0 last week, hackers were prepared to show anyone who wants to bypass the anti-counterfeit device exactly how to do so.

Genuine Advantage 1.0 was supposed to ensure that only computers using a valid copy of Windows are able to access the company's Windows Update and Microsoft Update download sites, as well as the Microsoft Download Center. Unauthorized versions are still allowed to access security downloads.

According to published reports, users can bypass the ActiveX-driven authentication check by pasting a special JavaScript command in the address bar of the browser. This code is freely available on the Web.

The hack cannot be a surprise to Microsoft; several news reports, including this one from EWeek.com, show that security researchers unearthed flaws in the Genuine Advantage verification process months ago.

According to reports, the company is working on a patch, although no official announcement has been made.

About the Author

Becky Nagel serves as vice president of AI for 1105 Media specializing in developing media, events and training for companies around AI and generative AI technology. She also regularly writes and reports on AI news, and is the founding editor of PureAI.com. She's the author of "ChatGPT Prompt 101 Guide for Business Users" and other popular AI resources with a real-world business perspective. She regularly speaks, writes and develops content around AI, generative AI and other business tech. She has a background in Web technology and B2B enterprise technology journalism.

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