MS will surely contact to the Columbia server... but I don't think it will ask the institution to take the server down...
I didn't mean take the server down permanently. What I keep looking at is that if it has been Columbia's policy to have this server run and not require "Columbia affiliated" computers from outside their network to authenticate on VPN in order to activate, then changing that policy at this point in the game seems like it would be quite a bit of work from an IT administrative standpoint and could cause some potential problems passing along the change to affected machines.
This is seriously major league LOL! or WTF! (or both ) depending on your POV I didn't believe for one moment that it was a mistake. It's one thing with the customs guys/Govt. employees in Benelux, but something totally different with the Tech dept. in one of the best Universities on the planet I actually thought some kid was playing a prank or something. But if indeed the above assertion is true, this really blows my mind tbh! @ Aditya - If Jessica Alba's assertion is indeed true, then don't think that's gonna help 'em much Having said that, since with W7, offline activation was available that passed genuine validation, maybe MS didn't bother as much. Now that online seems to be the only method thus far, maybe MS will be a little more forceful?
If "one of the best universities on the planet" decides to publicly expose their KMS, then IMO they are creating an appearance of incompetence, extreme laziness, or defiance...none of which puts them in a good light. I picture a bank with an unlocked door on the sidewalk, with a sign that says "small bills behind this door...take one...customers only please!" Like you, it really blows my mind.
Yes they are available to activate windows... but there are better options of activation available on these forums than using public kms
There is nothing to worry about m8. Consider that Windows 8 is already cracked. We do have our personal KMS servers? Edit: ninja'd by Whazzup.