Hot Take Upcoming Windows 11 builds won't have the ability to install without internet connectivity and a Microsoft Account.

[numike]

Will Dormann (@wdormann@infosec.exchange)

 

[Bot]

Sorry, but as a bot, I can't interact with URLs or external content. However, I'm here to discuss the topic of Windows 11 builds requiring internet and a Microsoft Account for installation. Do you have any questions or thoughts on this?

 

[roger_m]

I'm sure you'll still be able to use Rufus to create installation media without the MS account requirement.

 

[Vitali Ortzi]

There will always be builds for embedded devices , governments etc without those requirements and very likely consumer builds could be patched to bypass it too

 

[bazang]

I am all for it. To fight Windows piracy. Microsoft should deactivate every single illegal instance of Windows out there. The Microsoft Account should be where the Windows license resides and only 1 activation per license. There should be no other way to install Windows.

Half the world are Windows thieves and don't want to pay their way. Freeloaders. Criminals.

 

[Victor M]

Thank you @bazang on behalf of the Linux world. If MS implements your policy, there will be a flood of Linux installations.

 

[roger_m]

I am all for it. To fight Windows piracy. Microsoft should deactivate every single illegal instance of Windows out there. The Microsoft Account should be where the Windows license resides and only 1 activation per license. There should be no other way to install Windows.

But as no doubt you are aware, Microsoft doesn't care too much about piracy outside of business use, as they would rather people used pirated Microsoft software than alternatives. Which is why they rarely take action against people illegally selling cheap Microsoft licenses.

 

[Marko :)]

Will Dormann (@wdormann@infosec.exchange)

Please quote the source so people don't have to visit links. No point in posting just links as links can be taken down every moment.

I'm sure you'll still be able to use Rufus to create installation media without the MS account requirement.

There are billion ways to install Windows without internet connection. Windows is so complex and complicated in code, that, whenever they "patch" something, there is always another way of doing the same.

There will always be builds for embedded devices , governments etc without those requirements and very likely consumer builds could be patched to bypass it too

This! They can do that to home users. Home users are used to eating sh!t served by the companies. But they certainly can't do that to businesses, governments and education institutions.

I am all for it. To fight Windows piracy. Microsoft should deactivate every single illegal instance of Windows out there. The Microsoft Account should be where the Windows license resides and only 1 activation per license. There should be no other way to install Windows.

Half the world are Windows thieves and don't want to pay their way. Freeloaders. Criminals.

You do realize that Microsoft gives Windows away for free on purpose? Can't pirate something that's free.

Thank you @bazang on behalf of the Linux world. If MS implements your policy, there will be a flood of Linux installations.

No, there won't be. There was a backlash against Windows 8, 8.1, 10 and now 11. Linux never got the surge of users people called for. Meta messed with privacy policy of WhatsApp outside of the EU and while Signal got some users, WhatsApp still remains the messaging platform number 1 globally.

It's harder to switch platforms than to buy bread in grocery store.

But as no doubt you are aware, Microsoft doesn't care too much about piracy outside of business use, as they would rather people used pirated Microsoft software than alternatives. Which is why they rarely take action against people illegally selling cheap Microsoft licenses.

They still earn plenty of money on free users with ads inside Windows, sponsored apps and data collection. This way, people get free Windows and don't have to install it from shady websites and Microsoft still gets to earn something on user that aren't willing to pay.

 

[TairikuOkami]

I do not mind MSA, I encourage people to use it, but many devices fail to use internet either due to lack of drivers or other, I have 63 characters password, I am not typing it manually.

 

[Marko :)]

I do not mind MSA, I encourage people to use it, but many devices fail to use internet either due to lack of drivers or other

I have Microsoft account because I use Outlook.com as my primary e-mail address. But I struggle to see any benefits of using it in Windows. I always used local account and I have no plans in stopping using it.

I have 63 characters password, I am not typing it manually.

Why?

If Microsoft user data base leaks, your password will still be exposed, it doesn't matter if it had 10 or 1100 characters. 2FA is more important today than the password itself.

 

[TairikuOkami]

But I struggle to see any benefits of using it in Windows.

MSA can be protected with a password, local account can not.

Why?

I am talking about WiFi password. Changing it just to be able to install 11 while disconnecting all other devices.
One of the benefits of MSA is that I can login using MS authenticator only, no other 2FA app allows that obviously.

 

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

Windows 11 is not killing off hack that lets you bypass Microsoft account, but it takes more effort now

Despite what you might read on the internet today, it’s still possible to install a fresh copy of Windows 11 without a Microsoft account. Microsoft has made the process slightly more complicated, as Windows 11 now requires you to create a Registry entry before you can bypass the Microsoft account requirement.

Windows 11 has always required you to use a Microsoft account, similar to how it’s mandatory to use an Apple account on iOS and a Google account on Android. However, unlike its competitors, Microsoft has allowed users to bypass this mandatory requirement and use the operating system with a local account.

Microsoft has only removed the automatic script and it’s also pretty obvious from the company’s statement, which clearly mentions “removes script from the build.”

The bypass isn’t going anywhere… at least for now.

Windows 11 is not killing off hack that lets you bypass Microsoft account, but it takes more effort now

Microsoft has made the process slightly complicated because Windows 11 now requires you to create a Registry entry before.

www.windowslatest.com

 

[Marko :)]

MSA can be protected with a password, local account can not.

Are you sure? I have local account protected with password.

I am talking about WiFi password. Changing it just to be able to install 11 while disconnecting all other devices.

Still, 63 characters for any password... it's just too much.

One of the benefits of MSA is that I can login using MS authenticator only, no other 2FA app allows that obviously.

Because it's all connected. Other 2FA apps don't have that kind of connection with Microsoft servers. Anyway, I prefer to type the password on my device other than reaching for a phone to unlock my PC.

Windows 11 is not killing off hack that lets you bypass Microsoft account, but it takes more effort now

Windows 11 is not killing off hack that lets you bypass Microsoft account, but it takes more effort now

Microsoft has made the process slightly complicated because Windows 11 now requires you to create a Registry entry before.

www.windowslatest.com

There's always an option of selecting Work or school account, then Domain-join instead and it will automatically go to create a local account.

 

[TairikuOkami]

Are you sure? I have local account protected with password.

Local password can be bypassed within secs, for example using utilman method, MSA can not and it is used to protect/encrypt local data.

 

[Marko :)]

Local password can be bypassed within secs, for example using utilman method, MSA can not and it is used to protect/encrypt local data.

I know it's not the strongest protection, but it's not like I'm taking my laptop everywhere with me and someone will steal it from me. Maybe if I did, I'd opt for something more secure. For us home users, just a simple password is more than enough.

 

[bazang]

But as no doubt you are aware, Microsoft doesn't care too much about piracy outside of business use, as they would rather people used pirated Microsoft software than alternatives. Which is why they rarely take action against people illegally selling cheap Microsoft licenses.

Yes, I was born in a nation where 91% or more of all Windows users do so with a pirated license.

Microsoft does care about Windows and Office piracy, but it has a history and pattern of legally pursuing only those that conduct software piracy at large scale for business purposes or profit. We're talking about 1,000,000 Euros and higher - both individuals, businesses, and organizations.

Microsoft leaves the "little guy," the individual user, alone for the most part. Microsoft overlooks and ignores (even though not allowed per its EULA and Terms of Service) the piracy of Windows for personal use, but not business use. Why? Because to this day Microsoft is fighting an obsolete ideological battle of operating systems that was established by Bill Gates nearly 50 years ago. There is a lot of tinfoil hat paranoia at Microsoft about other OSes, particularly Linux - which is a joke - but nevertheless an ingrained company operational strategy for Microsoft to maintain its stranglehold on the world, its OS monopoly, and hold the world hostage with Office products.

Still, I wish Microsoft would crack down globally as I hate thieves. I pay my way. It is not easy but I do it in all things. I am not a freeloader. I am not a thief. I view any software piracy as thievery and those that do it as criminals. It does not matter

You do realize that Microsoft gives Windows away for free on purpose? Can't pirate something that's free.

Microsoft does not give away valid retail licenses for free. It just has chosen to look the other way to suppress any possibility of another OS from competing against it and eroding its market share. Hardly altruistic. The Microsoft behavior of not prosecuting pirates is monopolistic and meant to oppress any opposition and to make it next to impossible for anyone to introduce better alternatives. This is the primary reason that the FOSS community is so militant against Microsoft.

Any software pirating makes the person doing it a criminal. They are thieves.

 

[bazang]

Thank you @bazang on behalf of the Linux world. If MS implements your policy, there will be a flood of Linux installations.

It will never happen because of Office, Adobe, and a hundreds of other productivity software - not even mentioning games - that do not work properly on Linux or are just not available for Linux.

In the end, users will always choose what will give them what they want. When forced to, they will come up with the money to pay. So Microsoft is stupid. It could be making another 50 or 100 billion Euros per year by cracking down on Windows and Office pirates.

 

[Marko :)]

Microsoft does not give away valid retail licenses for free. It just has chosen to look the other way to suppress any possibility of another OS from competing against it and eroding its market share. Hardly altruistic. The Microsoft behavior of not prosecuting pirates is monopolistic and meant to oppress any opposition and to make it next to impossible for anyone to introduce better alternatives. This is the primary reason that the FOSS community is so militant against Microsoft.

Any software pirating makes the person doing it a criminal. They are thieves.

They aren't giving license for free, but Windows is literally free to use. You don't have to buy a product key or activate Windows for it to will work normally. Sure, you'll have that annoying watermark which can be removed, along with limitation on personalization of your PC. You can even use built-in workarounds to personalize your PC. Beside these "downsides", Windows will remain completely functional as no other features are limited. This is why I said free. Technically, it's not free, but considering you don't have to pay for ability to use the operating system like that was the case in Windows XP, Vista and 7; it's free.

Microsoft doesn't prosecute pirates because it would cost them way too much time and money with limited results. This way, as I said, users are happy because they didn't pay a dime for Windows. Microsoft is happy because it shows users ads, installs sponsored apps and collects hell a lot of data. Windows isn't the Microsoft's cash cow anymore; it's the Azure and other business related services. Windows is just something they have for the sake of bragging, marketshare as you'd said.

 

[bazang]

They aren't giving license for free, but Windows is literally free to use. You don't have to buy a product key or activate Windows for it to will work normally. Sure, you'll have that annoying watermark which can be removed, along with limitation on personalization of your PC. You can even use built-in workarounds to personalize your PC. Beside these "downsides", Windows will remain completely functional as no other features are limited. This is why I said free. Technically, it's not free, but considering you don't have to pay for ability to use the operating system like that was the case in Windows XP, Vista and 7; it's free.

Microsoft doesn't prosecute pirates because it would cost them way too much time and money with limited results. This way, as I said, users are happy because they didn't pay a dime for Windows. Microsoft is happy because it shows users ads, installs sponsored apps and collects hell a lot of data. Windows isn't the Microsoft's cash cow anymore; it's the Azure and other business related services. Windows is just something they have for the sake of bragging, marketshare as you'd said.

It is not free. It just works for personal use. If you try to use it in enterprise, then it will not function correctly when connected to other Microsoft enterprise products. To integrate and work, it must have a valid (or stolen license).

Bill Gates wrote a manifesto some 40 years ago as to why Microsoft will not prosecute individuals that use pirated Windows for personal use. It is by design and Microsoft adheres to an ideology and a business strategy - not altruism. The point being for Microsoft to maintain its Windows OS monopoly and stranglehold on the world's nations, all governments, all businesses and all the people. The ideology and strategy is to protect marketshare, but by protecting that marketshare Microsoft has continuously killed-off innovation, competition, and better solutions. Want to talk about the Techonology Evil Empire - then Microsoft is it. First and foremost.

$40 billion in lost revenue due to Windows piracy - which is not collected via ads, collected data or by any other means - is a revenue shortfall that matters a lot to Microsoft investors.

I really don't care. People and businesses that pirate ANY software are thieves and criminals. All criminals - even jay-walkers that don't pay their jay-walking tickets - should be prosecuted. All the fines collected would be a financial windfall for world governments. If people cannot pay, then seize whatever property they have that will cover the fines. Far, far too many people in this world today get away with crimes.

For every Windows pirate, Microsoft charges a fee (%) to those who legitimately pay for Windows. So the paying Windows license buyers subsidize all the freeloaders and criminals. India and countries like it are notorious for that crap.

 

[TairikuOkami]

For us home users, just a simple password is more than enough.

I am more concerned that remote UAC elevation might require a password and bypassing a local password is a breeze. Honestly, I would not feel safe using a local account.
Windows Hello using MSA can not be bypassed remotely, it is impossible, even if you would use PIN 0000 and the hacker would know it, a local password is a different matter.

For every Windows pirate, Microsoft charges a fee (%) to those who legitimately pay for Windows. So the paying Windows license buyers subsidize all the freeloaders and criminals.

MS prefers paying customers, MS365 users. Windows licence is not a deal breaker, especially since EU allowed to resell used licenses, you can buy Pro for $1 and MS can not do anything about it.