Windows 10 ESU Cracked: Free Security Updates on the Horizon?
The MAS team, led by developer @Massgravel, has reportedly bypassed the paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10, potentially allowing users to receive security updates for free even after official support ends in October 2025.
Microsoft’s ESU program offers extended security updates for Windows 10, with businesses able to purchase up to three years of coverage. Individual users, however, are limited to a single year of updates for $30 per device. This program mirrors a similar initiative for Windows 7, which also saw developers successfully circumventing the paid update system.
Following in the footsteps of @abbodi1406, who cracked the Windows 7 ESU program, @Massgravel has leveraged their popular open-source tool, MAS, to bypass the Windows 10 ESU mechanism. MAS is widely used for activating Windows and Office, and its latest application involves manipulating Custom Server Volume Licensing Keys (CSVLK), which Microsoft uses for large-scale enterprise licensing.
This development, confirmed by @Massgravel on the X platform, suggests that users may be able to receive free security updates for Windows 10 beyond the official cut-off date. Furthermore, emulating an enterprise license through methods similar to those used for Windows 7 could potentially grant users access to the full three years of ESU updates without charge.
This is the largest breakthrough in Windows / Office piracy ever.
This solution will be available in the coming months—stay tuned for updates! pic.twitter.com/8wwM3JjSJF— MAS (@massgravel) November 29, 2024
While this news may be welcomed by users seeking to prolong the life of their Windows 10 systems, it remains to be seen how Microsoft will respond. The company may attempt to patch the exploit or implement other measures to enforce its paid update program.
As Windows 10’s end-of-life approaches, the effectiveness and longevity of this ESU bypass will undoubtedly be a topic of considerable interest.
