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Crazy cheap licenses, are these for real?
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Crazy cheap licenses, are these for real?

MavelliMavelli Member
edited May 2020 in General

So, somehow I ended up on bitcointalk and found them offering all kinds of digital goods dirt cheap.

Like this guy https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5197582.0
he sells windows server keys for $3 ea. o.O

Then there is this guy https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5240927.0
this guy still doesn't have any other's posts and is quite recent, so hard to tell if he's reliable.
He sells (ok too lazy to write, so just copying some lines)
win server 2019 Essentials 2 user:$2
win server 2019 datacenter 2 user:$2
win server 2019 standard 2 user:$2

Windows Server 2012/2016/2019 CALs User/Device:$9
winserver 2019 std 16 core : $14

Windows Server 2019 Datacenter 100 user mak:$200
Windows Server 2019 Standard 100 user mak:$200
Windows Server 2019 Standard 500 user mak:$200
Windows Server 2019 Essentials 100 user mak:$200

And these are the prices I found from google
License Version 2016 Pricing
Windows Server Datacenter edition $770 per two cores
Windows Server Standard edition $110 per two cores
Windows Server CAL $30 per device, $38 per user

idk about this guy, but the first guy does escrow, so that means safe?
I know a lot of you guys are providers, so what are your thoughts? Tbh it got nothing to do with me, but just curious :p

Comments

  • fpmagicfpmagic Member
    edited May 2020

    It's basically keys from a volume license / software assurance, or technet subscription or similar scheme, the key will be technically valid, and it might even activate correctly without any disable-internet trickery (and continue to maintain activation for a year or even more if you're lucky - hence escrow bullishness), but you're not any more legit than an XP installation using the old famous FCKGW RHQQ2 YXRKT 8TG6W 2B7Q8. meaning - you're not compliant with the licensing just cos the key wordks - and ignorance is never accepted as an excuse should FAST, Microsoft or someone else take you to court..

    But if you understand that risk, and fully accept that you are not licensed, not legit, and it says for some test rig, then $2 for the convinence of not having to google for a key not on the verge of blacklisting is probably a fair price. Just don't be one of the idiots that says 'why should I pay $100 for win10 pro license when I can get it on ebay for $4'.. The reason is clear - if you want to legitimate you can't go this route.

    No reputable provider will go down this route..

    Thanked by 2MrPsycho webcraft
  • koliekolie Member

    Definitely not legit. They will typically activate once. When you go to use it 12 months down the road on a reinstall don't expect much from it.

    A large source of these keys is targeting different markets. A key in certain European countries with a weak currency will sell locally for a reasonable rate. When you translate that into USD it is very tempting. The EULA on these licenses is pretty clear - they are only to be used in their intended market.

    None of this will pass a software audit and as a hosting provider claiming ignorance isn't going to cut it.

  • hzrhzr Member

    kolie said: Definitely not legit. They will typically activate once. When you go to use it 12 months down the road on a reinstall don't expect much from it.

    Shit, when you use it 7 days later it's probably not going to work.

    kolie said: A key in certain European countries with a weak currency will sell locally for a reasonable rate.

    Hacked MSDN-equivalents are also common.

  • They are real keys, but they are not allowed to be sold, hence why they are so cheap. I have used a few in the past and had never had problems. You would be going against Microsoft's terms, so if you are hosting anything important, that might not be a good idea incase Microsoft choices to fight back.

  • jhjh Member
    edited May 2020

    They might not even be real keys - could be keygen. Our worse bought with a stolen card. I definitely wouldn't pay for them.

    Thanked by 1webcraft
  • desfiredesfire Member

    I bought one Windows 10 pro one on Amazon (more or less the same price) and I activated it vía phone number, microsoft didn't ask anything and it was validated right away.

  • chrispchrisp Member

    Mavelli said: somehow I ended up on bitcointalk

    Well, did you see whatelse is sold there? :sweat_smile:

    Thanked by 1webcraft
  • HostMayoHostMayo Member, Patron Provider

    I got an office and windows key from ebay at dirt cheap price. They worked seamlessly but I knew at heart this is not benefiting the original company i.e. Microsoft so they must not be legal or allowed to sell in open market.

  • PulsedMediaPulsedMedia Member, Patron Provider

    They also like to sell same keys many times over.

    Some might be old Win7 keys as well, i hear those work on Win10 as well due to MS's push for getting everyone to Win10.

    Only the seller knows the source, but it's possible to get legitimate keys that route too. There are a lot of computers being recycled constantly, and those doing that likes to collect all the keys they can as well.

  • It works but its not legit.
    Many cheap keys from MSDN / Bizspark / Dreamspark which is not allowed to be sold, and sometimes its Volume License. Also, many sellers sells 1 key to multiple buyers. For example, 1 Windows 10 Keys can be sold to 10 people.

  • CConnerCConner Member, Host Rep

    If you're in the EU, it was ruled that no company may prevent any license from being resold just like how it isn't illegal to resell literally anything else.

    Thanked by 1PulsedMedia
  • PulsedMediaPulsedMedia Member, Patron Provider

    CConner said: If you're in the EU, it was ruled that no company may prevent any license from being resold just like how it isn't illegal to resell literally anything else.

    I've always thought about something similar too. But then again you cannot resell your Steam games for example.

  • WebProjectWebProject Host Rep, Veteran

    The price so good to be true, such license can be revoked at any time, example: if the same license is used on multiple computers at some point it will be picked up by Microsoft, so highly recommended to avoid such purchase of licenses.

  • CConnerCConner Member, Host Rep

    @PulsedMedia said:

    CConner said: If you're in the EU, it was ruled that no company may prevent any license from being resold just like how it isn't illegal to resell literally anything else.

    I've always thought about something similar too. But then again you cannot resell your Steam games for example.

    Has no legal foundation if you're an EU citizen.

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