Windows 10: Is Cheap Activation Key Reliable?

The subject of the activation key of the Windows 10 it is, to say the least, thorny. Anyone with a little common sense, when buying a new computer without an operating system, must have wondered why so many websites are able to sell a Microsoft activation key - also known as a CD Key – for so little. However, the value sometimes does not even reach 10% of the original officially charged. How, then, does this work?

What are the versions of Windows 10?

Before proceeding and understanding more about licenses and how the activation key works as a whole, it is important to first know what versions of Windows 10 are.

O Windows 10 Home it's the classic Windows many people are used to. It has all the basic operating system functionality like apps, Microsoft store, focus assistant and is constantly updated with security improvements. As the name suggests, it is aimed at home users, unlike the other two versions.

O Windows 10 Pro, on the other hand, is aimed at those who want a corporate experience, with even more security, corporate user sharing, Internet Explorer for those who use old sites that don't run right in the new Edge and even remote desktop. Typically, this Windows is sought after by companies and it's who Microsoft ends up falling for if it has a license violation. An interesting difference is the presence of two data defense programs: the BitLocker, software that triggers the system lock if the PC is stolen, so that no one else can access it; it's the WIP (Windows Information Protection, or Windows Information Protection) that prevents corporate data from being leaked.

In addition, there is still the possibility of using only one login for almost all Microsoft services, including computer passwords. Another very useful feature is the implementation of a dedicated server that can be used by an IT team to manage accounts and the security of network users.

However, there is also the Windows 10 Pro for Workstations, an enhanced version of Windows 10 Pro aimed almost exclusively at research centers, universities, laboratories and the like that require high processing capacity, even more so when combined with a super powerful machine. For example, it is possible to transfer files with a very high rate of speed and also with low latency.

Explaining the Licenses

It is important to keep in mind the distinction between FPP and OEM licenses. The first concerns the product sold at retail, that is, those boxes with the CD for installing the Windows 10 or their digital version. The second is linked to the manufacturer of a computer that sells it together with the original license. In other words, a license FPP is one that a user buys individually and a OEM is the one that comes with a new device. 

But what does that mean? It means that someone who buys a computer with an OEM license will not have to worry about acquiring an activation key, at least while they have that device, as OEM licenses are limited to that computer only. On the other hand, owners of computers without an operating system or who want the latest version of Windows will sooner or later have to look for a license. And this is where the problem begins. 

A quick look at the Microsoft website reveals the price of a genuine activation key: invitations R$1.099,00. Of course, if you think about the labor involved in developing and maintaining an operating system, this value is negligible — but for Brazilians who live outside the capitals (and even in the capitals, let's face it), it's a high value. Why pay that price if, when searching on Google, dozens of companies offer the same thing for much less? 

Activation key legality 

There is, in Brazilian culture, the famous “jeitinho”. For better or worse, it has always been and, it seems, will always be present in the daily life of the Tupiniquim people. Why did I say this? Because that's how these cheap keys are offered — they're not legal, in the legal sense of the word. They constitute piracy. Does it mean they are fake? Neither. See, I said at the beginning that this was a complicated subject, didn't I? 

Piracy has always been a commonplace phenomenon in Brazil, whether in the DVDs we buy on the street stalls or in pirated online games — of course, it would reach Windows 10 activation keys. This does not mean that it is, or should be, acceptable. However, it's important to analyze its minutiae: will someone who earns a little more than minimum wage and got a PC be willing to pay the price for an original license? To say that someone in this condition has the means to spend 730 reais, even if it is in installments, demonstrates a very marked lack of knowledge of social reality. 

You can argue, then, that people spend much more than that on a cell phone or any other electronic device. And yes, they do spend — today's world runs on mobile devices, whether you like it or not, so, fortunately or unfortunately, a cell phone has become a necessity, driven by the media and consumer culture. I will not go into the academic merits of the social analysis of this unbridled consumption because this is a subject, not an essay. 

So let's go back to the activation keys. So far, we know that very cheap licenses are, as a rule, illegal. What happens when someone buys and activates them? At first, nothing. However, they can be deactivated at any time by Microsoft, which is, in a way, a great Russian roulette. In addition, many of them may be compromised in terms of security and their data, which is normally not very secure, becomes even more vulnerable. 

The pirate license problem 

Well, the name itself reinforces the idea: she is a pirate. The high level of illegality discourages the need to lower prices, as it creates a whole network of profit from companies whose origin cannot be determined. Microsoft won't make a dime from buying this cheap activation key, only the criminals who make it available. 

Although the company itself does not seem to care much about it, at least on the individual spectrum, given that its main source of profit is another, it may simply decide to deactivate all illegal licenses as if by magic. You are at the mercy of others in both cases, the difference is that in one there is a serious company behind it and in the other a criminal who, with absolute certainty, will disappear as soon as he takes your money. 

The biggest problem, however, does not rest in the arms of the individual, but in the lap of companies that use this pirated software. Microsoft is known for doing serious and accurate audits, which can literally destroy a business using this type of license. Therefore, it is best to buy an original activation key from the developer's own website. 

But after all, can you buy cheap activation key? 

Are they trustworthy? No, they're not. If they work? Yes, they work, until you have your OS disabled while the salesman disappears and leaves you in the lurch. Whether you prefer to buy and promote piracy anyway, rather than pay the money for an original license, is up to your conscience, your worldview and your wallet. 

Oh, another thing: the invoices issued by these alleged Microsoft partners are not helpful. They say this to gain confidence using a fallacy. Another aspect that doesn't make any sense is to say “official partners” — just contact Microsoft support and confirm the name of the store, either by phone or online. And a recommendation: whenever the site has crass spelling errors, the chances of it not being legitimate are very high. See the Free Market, that lawless land. 

Just in case, always be wary of low prices, especially in YouTube ads, news portals and even in big stores. Always look for the official website that sells the activation key, whether for operating systems or other programs.

Sites with Windows 10 Activation Keys You Can Trust:

• Microsoft website;
• Windows Store (hint, go to the Windows Store from a Windows PC to find the cheapest price);
• Kabum! – Windows 10 Home version
• Kabum! – Windows 10 Pro version

Did you like this tip? Take the opportunity to meet 10 Windows 10 tricks:

Source: Microsoft support