What exactly is MAS?
MAS, abbreviation of Microsoft Activation Script, is a common technique used
to automate the process of activation of windows by executing powershell
scripts. MAS on its own is legal. Using external or unauthorised script to
activate windows is illegal. It is used to pirate very frequently amongst tech
nerds and people who are reluctant to buy an official copy of windows.
From their side, it feels justified; An almost instant method to activate
without spending a fortune on licenses. However, it is just the tip of the
iceberg.
Before going into the article, I would like to explicitly mention that neither
Divyesh Views nor I, would promote piracy of any application whatsoever. This
article should act as a mode of information to explain how MAS works, and how
one should be cautious of its effects, when used illegally.
How does it work?
It uses multiple modes of activation, but the modes used in majority are KMS
and HWID. Both of them contain their own pros and cons.
KMS - Key Management Service
According to Microsoft themselves, "it is a simple process to set up the KMS
host…and the KMS clients discover and attempt to activate on their own".
Basically, KMS is a client and host model. Let me explain.
KMS host, the server used for KMS, sets up an environment where the activation
takes place. You need to install the key from VLSC (Volume License Service
Center) to activate the system. It is generally used by older versions of
windows.
Meanwhile, the KMS client, or the system you want to activate the operating
system. The system comes with a generic VLSC key pre-installed which is like a
flag to show the host that it is, in fact, a KMS client. The KMS clients
contact the KMS host via DNS and then automatically attempt to discover and
use this service to activate themselves. When in the 30 day Out of Box grace
period, they will try to activate every 2 hours. Once activated, the KMS
clients will attempt a renewal every 7days.
The pros and cons are the same feature, ironically; Activation is not
permanent. But, in case you do not want to activate the system, you can opt to
do so any time.
HWID - Hardware ID-Based Activation
Another popular method MAS uses is
HWID (Hardware ID) Activation. Unlike KMS, HWID ties the
activation status of Windows to the specific hardware configuration of the
device. Here’s how it functions:
-
Permanent Activation: Once your device is activated via
HWID, it stays activated even after reinstalling Windows, as long as the
hardware remains unchanged.
-
No Periodic Renewals: Unlike KMS, HWID doesn’t require
periodic renewals or reactivation, making it more convenient for users who
want a "set it and forget it" solution.
-
Device Lock-In: The activation is linked to your specific
hardware. If you make significant hardware changes (like replacing the
motherboard), you may lose the activation status.
HWID (Hardware ID) Activation works by binding a digital
license to the unique hardware configuration of your computer. When you
activate Windows using HWID, Microsoft’s servers associate the license with
your device’s hardware.
This means that if you ever reinstall Windows on the same hardware, the
system will automatically reactivate without the need for a product key, as
the digital license is already stored on Microsoft’s servers.
The activation is permanent for that hardware setup, eliminating the need
for periodic checks or renewals. However, if significant hardware changes
occur, such as replacing the motherboard, the HWID may change, potentially
requiring reactivation or contacting Microsoft support.
HWID process used here rather sends a modified version of the original HWID,
rather than modifying the system HWID.
Pros and Cons of KMS and HWID
KMS (Key Management Service):
Pros:
- Suitable for enterprise environments with multiple systems.
- Easy to manage and deploy for large-scale activations.
-
Activation of pirated windows can be opted out; in case you do not want to
pirate it.
Cons:
- Requires periodic activation renewal (every 180 days).
HWID (Hardware ID):
Pros:
-
Permanent activation tied to hardware, no need for periodic renewals.
- Simple and convenient for personal use.
- Works well even without continuous internet connectivity.
Cons:
- Activation is tied to hardware; significant changes can revoke it.
-
Not suitable for environments with frequently changing hardware
configurations.
-
You cannot opt out of it with regular hardware. A significant change is
required to remove activation.
How do you use MAS?
MAS is a very simple process. Open powershell and execute the below command
(this code will execute so do it with caution):
irm https://get.activated.win | iex
Choose options according to your needs. HWID is used to permanently activate
Windows and Ohook is used to permanently activate Office. Use KMS to
temporarily activate Windows and/or Office.
Why Should You Be Cautious?
While the ease and convenience of MAS might be tempting, it's crucial to
understand the risks and implications of using such methods illegally:
-
Legal Risks: Unauthorized use of MAS for activation is a
breach of Microsoft's software licensing agreement. This can lead to legal
actions, fines, and penalties.
-
Security Concerns: Downloading and running scripts from
unverified sources exposes your system to malware, spyware, and other
security threats.
Several reports from consumers suggest that even Microsoft support staff uses
MAS to quickly resolve a ticket of a genuine windows key not working. Here's a
post from a user (From X) that claims so:
While many of them claim this to be actually safe, a user suggested that it
may contain trojan horses from this report from
virustotal.
However, the
creators, have something contradictory to say:
MAS is fully open source. It has over 100K stars on GitHub and is used by
millions of people. You can open the batch files with Notepad and verify the
code, or take help from ChatGPT if you don't understand something in batch
scripts. You can even perform the activation manually, check the Docs
section for instructions.
Conclusion
So, there's this huge drama about the whole MAS topic, but your key
takeaways should be that it is mostly safe to do so, since the code is
hosted open source on GitHub.
If Microsoft, so strongly condemns the usage of pirated software (of their
own creation), then why wouldn't they take this down? Because it is a form
of advertisement or promotion for Microsoft.
I see this as a way for people to try Windows, be included in the userbase
of windows, to ultimately maintain their majority market share in the
operating system market. This would make windows more exciting for
developers to develop more apps, advertisers to advertise their content on
windows like a platform, and so on.
It ultimately brings them more profits by narrowing down their assistance or
support usage to only those genuinely activated, which reduces their
operating costs. Moreover, it cuts down marketing costs too.
And this cannot be patched out, since it doesn't use some random key
generator, rather tricks the Microsoft server into thinking that the system
is activated.
For a safe, secure, and hassle-free experience, it’s always recommended to
use legitimate channels for acquiring software licenses. This not only keeps
your system secure but also supports the ongoing development and improvement
of the software we rely on every day.
