A Redditor asked Microsoft’s Copilot if there was a script to activate Windows 11, and the Copilot outlined the instructions. The Copilot AI guided the Redditor through step-by-step instructions on illegally activating Windows copies using the Microsoft Activation Scripts.
Microsoft’s Copilot detailed how to access copies of Windows 11 illegally by running a simple PowerShell command. The PowerShell command isn’t new; it has been a method for activating Windows illegally since at least November 2022.
Microsoft’s Copilot helps users pirate Windows 11
The LA Times reported in 2006 that software piracy had caused Microsoft a loss of roughly $14B that year alone. The company recorded losses despite the millions it spent trying to prevent the copying and re-distribution of its software and the Windows Operating System.
Microsoft has previously taken a more calculated approach to piracy by publicly maintaining a zero-tolerance stance. The firm’s founder, Bill Gates, has always been aware of the potential benefits of piracy. He revealed during a public talk at the University of Washington in 1998 that the company was going to figure out how to tackle the issue in the future.
“Although about three million computers get sold every year in China, people don’t pay for the software. Someday they will, though. And as long as they’re going to steal it, we want them to steal ours. They’ll get sort of addicted, and then we’ll somehow figure out how to collect sometime in the next decade.” – Bill Gates, Founder of Microsoft.
Gates believed piracy was a short-term loss that could lead to long-term dominance in Windows adoption and user familiarity. The tech firm revealed to Reuters in 2015 that it would allow non-genuine Windows PCs to upgrade freely to Windows 10.
The firm has never directly facilitated piracy of any kind, but its Copilot AI did so after guiding users on how to pirate Microsoft’s Windows OS. The Copilot gave the user step-by-step instructions on illegally activating copies of Windows using a simple PowerShell command.
The AI directed the user to a popular option to pirate Windows called the Microsoft Activation Scripts (MAS), which had been floating around since November 2022. Microsoft’s Copilot was also aware that using the script violated Microsoft’s terms of service and was illegal.
Microsoft Support Community advises users on how to tackle the Copilot
Windows Forum conducted tests that showed that the AI’s response was not a one-off anomaly. The Microsoft Support community acknowledged that other users may replicate the same steps issued by the Copilot AI with minimal persuasion.
Microsoft’s community also added that activation scripts from unknown sources, such as AI, were well-known getaways for malware and remote access trojans. Windows Forum argued that any user who unwittingly followed the AI’s instructions could compromise their systems. Unauthorized scripts could also potentially disable key security services like Windows Defender. Running unauthorized scripts like the one the Copilot issued for Windows 11 piracy could also alter system files and leave systems unprotected against various cyber threats.
Windows Forum also argued that the Copilot might inadvertently encourage piracy by providing both the method and execution steps for initiating Windows 11 piracy. The Microsoft Support Community maintained that Copilot’s facilitation of the illegal activation of Windows 11 encouraged behaviour that directly violated Microsoft’s licensing policies. The community also stated that Microsoft may face legal challenges from both regulatory bodies and affected parties if a widespread misuse of Copilot’s instructions occurred.
The community of Windows experts advised that users should always ensure that scripts or code snippets used for system modifications were sourced from official or well-vetted providers. They also suggested that users refrain from using unauthorized activation tools like the PowerShell Command since they can pose serious cybersecurity threats.
The Windows community also acknowledged that users can access regular updates on Windows security patches and advisories to access necessary safeguards against emerging threats. Users can also report dubious AI outputs like the one issued by Microsoft’s Copilot to Microsoft support or community forums.
Community members argued that the incident wasn’t just about Windows 11 privacy but reflected a broader risk across all AI systems integrated into consumer technology.
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