Windows Activation Technologies Detects Circumvention

Updated validation software capable of detecting more than 70 known methods to circumvent or bypass Windows activation is now available for Windows 7. Activation is the process of associating a copy of Windows with one computer during or shortly after installation, and validation is an ongoing process of ensuring the activation software has not been compromised. By validating Windows, users are primarily helping Microsoft combat piracy and protect its revenue, but they also can be more confident that they have a genuine copy of the OS, since nongenuine copies have been found to contain malware.

Activation and Validation: What’s the Difference?

Although activation and validation are often used interchangeably, they are different processes. Validation attempts to detect unauthorized changes that pirates make to get around activation, and it confirms the authenticity of the product by verifying the product key that was entered during activation.

Activation

Activation targets the casual copying of Windows by end users, which is sometimes called end-user piracy or softlifting, by making it harder for people to share Windows in a way that infringes or violates the software’s license agreement.