There is an entire library of Windows product keys available online, only a Google search away. And we all can agree that that's by no means very far. While Microsoft is implementing measures such as the activation process and the Windows Genuine advantage mechanism, Windows users are only too keen to post confidential information on websites and make it free for all.

Some of you will go: “So what? Where's the news?” And you would be right. But just bear with me, it will make sense in just a moment. Now, Windows product keys are indeed widely available on the Internet, if you know where to look; however such scenarios largely constitute criminal acts. But this case is quite different.

Windows XP Professional, Windows 2000 and Windows XP Media Center product keys, yes the unique alpha numeric numbers provided by Microsoft with each original copy of the Windows operating system, have been published by the owners of the operating systems.

A little tool called Belarc Advisor - Free Personal PC Audit is also involved. Apparently, Windows users have implemented the tool in order to create a profile of their Windows operating system and then have simply posted the results online. Belarc Advisor - Free Personal PC Audit however also included information associated with the software license of the operating system it evaluates. Including the product key.