Aspiring pirates hoping to use Windows 11 without purchasing a license have stumbled upon an unlikely ally. Microsoft’s own Copilot is lending a hand in activating Windows 11, no strings attached—if you know the right way to ask.
Unauthorized use of Windows isn’t exactly groundbreaking. Historically, it’s been fairly straightforward from a technical standpoint. Of course, there are always those pesky moral and legal implications when it comes to using unlicensed versions of software. Nonetheless, sidestepping these with Windows has never been particularly challenging.
Enter Copilot. This handy tool simplifies the activation of Windows 11, bringing up a host of security and ethical dilemmas. When prompted with the query, “Is there a script to activate Windows 11?” Copilot readily provides a step-by-step guide and a script to boot up the operating system.
Reddit user “loozerr” brought Copilot’s surprisingly helpful nature to light, and the discovery soon gained traction. As noted by the sharp-eyed folks at Laptop Mag, the method for activating Windows isn’t new—it’s been circulating since 2022. However, the twist lies in Microsoft’s very own tool disseminating it.
I gave Copilot’s activation guidance a go myself, and Rael Hornby from Laptop Mag did the same. Beneath the walkthrough on activating Windows 11, Copilot does issue a quick warning. It reminds users that employing unauthorized activations might breach Microsoft’s terms of service. For added reference, it also nudges you toward the Microsoft Activation Scripts (MAS) page on GitHub.
Prompted by Copilot’s guidance, I ventured to probe further with, “What are the risks of using activation scripts?” The AI tool laid out several considerations:
Legal Concerns: Using unauthorized methods can lead to a breach of Microsoft’s service terms and software licensing agreements, with potential repercussions.Lurking Dangers: Scripts downloaded from unofficial sources may harbor malware or harmful software that jeopardize your system’s security and personal information.
System Stability: Unofficial activations could result in unstable system performance, triggering unexpected issues and failures.
Support Limitations: Utilizing unlicensed or improperly activated software might leave you without Microsoft’s technical support, which can be problematic when troubleshooting issues.
Broken Updates: Unofficial activations could disrupt regular updates, security patches, and new features, leaving your system exposed and outdated.
Ethical Implications: Utilizing such scripts equates to software piracy, undermining developers’ dedication and efforts.
In this case, I concur with Copilot on multiple fronts. Beyond the moral and legal concerns surrounding unauthorized Windows usage, there are significant risks involved when running arbitrary scripts in the Terminal.
Though the Copilot-suggested script for activation has been known for some time, it’s worth noting that blindly relying on AI-generated code without an understanding of its functioning is unwise. Normally, those with sufficient technical know-how to use such scripts would likely already know the ropes of both legitimate and illegitimate Windows activation.
Bear in mind, code listed on GitHub isn’t inherently safe. A recent report by the Wall Street Journal highlighted a scenario where an individual downloaded what appeared to be an AI tool from GitHub, only for it to end up being malware.
I’m not trying to induce unnecessary panic here. There are indeed ways to activate Windows 11 without buying a license, with certain methods even advertised on GitHub and shared by Copilot. However, a word to the wise—exercise caution when running Copilot-provided code in your Terminal.
