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'

Summary

Ex-Microsoft engineer David Plummer has revealed that he was the "primary author" of Windows XP's Product Activation system on the OS side, and so he's got some inside details on the workings behind the infamous "FCKGW" product key . You know, the one that seemed to be written on every pirated, home-burnt CD copy of the OS back in the day. No clue? Me…