I don’t believe that Windows activation scripts will ever be an official recommendation on PrivacyGuides as to not condone piracy but I wonder what the general views of community members around these scripts are? Do they pose any risk to the user?
Actually, I don’t think it will be problematic if PrivacygGuides recommended it. It is literally hosted on Github which Microsoft owns.
EDIT: As long as you don’t run it in a business environment you are safe.
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I’m not concerned about potential legal issues but rather any potential security regressions or issues that can occur as a result of using MAS. I remember reading online that it was not recommended to use MAS and to get a genuine Windows license instead but no argument was provided as to why.
Well… it is open source. I would worry if Windows could remotely lock out of your OS. But Linux would suffice if that is one of your concerns,
Privacy-wise, it is better to install a Linux distro if your computer doesn’t already come with Windows preinstalled and you’re technical enough to install your own OS.
If you do need Windows activated, it’s better to download the script from GitHub and check the code before running, as opposed to use the irm|iex method to execute remotely (reveals your IP address.)
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how? and can you pls elaborate?, thanks.
Well, you can check the code on the GitHub page jerm linked, or you can see the manual activation process here: HWID Activation | MAS
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that’s safe, right? thanks, nonetheless.
Well, judging from the manual process, it seems safe to me (you are downloading something from Microsoft’s own servers and proceed from there), however others may give a more informed opinion on it (I suppose the GitHub code is an automation of this manual process, but I haven’t checked it honestly).
If you mean safe as in “will Microsoft come for me”, I do not know, but if it is your personal PC and not something for business, I suppose they won’t. AFAIK one can have an unactivated Windows copy for an unlimited period of time, so they don’t care in a way?
made sense but my main concern is as mentioned above “privacy”. however the process wouldn’t result in any privacy issues, right?
It doesn’t seem to create any additional privacy issues as far as I can see.
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okay, but what about security issues?
Hi, using scripts from the internet can never be “that’s safe, right?”. But from what I have seen from others running activation scripts, and from what I have read from other users’ experiences, it seems to be safe. Also, it seems even MS support staff use them 
(source)
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I Think you are asking for certainty that nobody can provide for you, unless you either:
- Read and understand the code yourself (and can verify that what you download is what you read)
- Or have a basis for trusting the first party (the developer(s)) or trust some 3rd party that vouches for it.
Asking strangers on the internet if another strangers script is safe is not a good basis for forming trust on its own.
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point taken, was just concerned about as mentioned above: potential security regressions. thanks, nonetheless.
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and according to my research, on the other hand, just like the person had encountered, MAS was not recommended and in fact there was no argument provided as to why.
I consider Massgravel reasonably safe. It is a very popular project on GitHub, used by many, also in the privacy space, and not that complicated.
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Microsoft Activation Scripts is safe to use as it incorporates official authentication methods used by Microsoft, however obtaining these keys remains an issue in terms of “legality”.
Recommended to purchase a license key.
Hell nah.