Hackers Finally Break Windows Activation: TSforge Method Patches Token Storage Once and for All

Despite many criticisms of Windows, the OS of this family remains the most popular in the world. They are paid, but there are ways to activate Microsoft products for free, that is, to use these programs pirated. One of the most powerful utilities for these purposes has received an update that activates the system once and for all. It seems that Microsoft is not going to fight this project.

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MAS (Microsoft Activation Scripts) is an open-source tool designed to activate all versions of Windows starting with Windows 7; add-ons for commercial licenses, including Extended Security Updates (ESU); and office suites starting with Microsoft Office 2013. The Massgrave team added TSforge to MAS 3.0, a tool based on a series of exploits used to activate software. This tool directly affects Windows DRM and Software Protection Platform (SPP) components, rather than exploiting individual activation methods. In short, hackers have finally cracked Windows activation: the new TSforge method does not start services, does not add libraries, but simply patches the token store.

Formally, MAS is undoubtedly a pirated program, but for some reason Microsoft does not take any measures to combat the project. The source code of the MAS project is posted on the corporation’s GitHub platform, which means the software giant has the ability to close the project at any time, but it does not. There are even cases when the utility is used by Microsoft employees themselves, if customers have difficulties activating products with commercial licenses, and other methods do not help.

The team detailed the activation process for Microsoft products – for educational purposes only. MAS developers praised SPP as an advanced and well-built DRM system that was a significant step forward compared to Windows XP protection.