Redazione RHC : 10 October 2025 16:39
On October 10, new revelations emerged regarding one of the most notorious license keys in computing history: FCKGW-RHQQ2-YXRKT-8TG6W-2B7Q8 , tied to Windows XP . For years, this character sequence has been synonymous with pirated software, but today a different truth emerges.
Dave W. Plummer , a long-time Microsoft engineer and creator of the Windows Product Activation (WPA) activation system, confirmed that the key was not generated by a crack , but rather the result of a serious internal data leak .
According to Plummer, the key was intended as a Volume License Key (VLK) intended exclusively for businesses, to allow multiple, automated installations of Windows XP. However, due to a management error and poor oversight, the code was leaked , quickly spreading among hackers and piracy communities. From then on, it was shared widely on the internet, allowing anyone to install unauthorized copies of the operating system.
In early versions of WPA , Windows XP’s validation process involved generating a hardware ID based on the computer’s CPU, RAM, and other components. This ID, along with the product key, was sent to Microsoft servers for verification.
If the key was suspicious or did not match a valid profile, the system flagged the installation as non-genuine.
However, since the FCKGW key was an official company key , it was whitelisted by the activation system. This meant that, during installation, simply selecting “Yes, I have a product key” and entering it completely bypassed verification , with no activation required or time limits.
The lack of effective controls made the key extremely attractive. Soon, “pre-activated” Windows XP CDs and ISO images began circulating online, making XP piracy a mass phenomenon.
Even early security updates were unable to detect rogue copies, as the system did not associate any hardware ID with the license key.
Over time, Microsoft blacklisted FCKGW , preventing its use in subsequent releases. Starting with Service Pack 2 (SP2) , the key and the original VLK mechanism were completely removed, marking the end of one of the most notorious data breaches in software history.
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