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Ex-MS engineer reveals the story behind the infamous 'FCKGW' Windows XP key: 'Pirates started baking the key into images or just writing it on the CD with a Sharpie'
Former Microsoft engineer David Plummer, the primary author of Windows XP's Product Activation system, revealed the story behind the infamous 'FCKGW' product key. The key, FCKGW-RHQQ2-YXRKT-8TG6W-2B7Q8, was intended for Volume License customers and relied on a secret 'binary blob' within the disc image, which was an encrypted version of Microsoft Bob. Piracy group Devils0wn leaked a complete Windows XP Pro Corporate ISO with the key five weeks before launch, enabling widespread piracy.
