MAS Guide: Free Windows Activation?

Contents

1. What exactly is MAS?
2. How does it work?
3. Pros and Cons of KMS and HWID
4. How do you use MAS?
5. Why Should You Be Cautious?
6. Conclusion

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:

1. 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.
2. 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:

I can't believe it.
My official Microsoft Store Windows 10 Pro key wouldn't activate. Support couldn't help me yesterday.

Today it was elevated. Official Microsoft support (not a scam) logged in with Quick Assist and ran a command to activate windows.

BRO IT'S A CRACK
NO CAP pic.twitter.com/0vcRGu9PDE

— TCNO/TroubleChute (@TCNOco) March 11, 2023

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.