My real-life friend, Jon, took delivery of a brand-new MacBook Pro today. 🙂

By the time I spoke to him, he had bought and installed this software:-

https://turnkeypoint.com/product/office-2021-home-business-for-mac/?c=36ed69b578b4

Do YOU think he was wise to snap up this bargain?

--
David B.

David Brooks <DGB@nomail.afraid.org> wrote:

>My real-life friend, Jon, took delivery of a brand-new MacBook Pro today. ?
>
>By the time I spoke to him, he had bought and installed this software:-
>
>https://turnkeypoint.com/product/office-2021-home-business-for-mac/?c=36ed69b578b4
>
>Do YOU think he was wise to snap up this bargain?

It *could* be a legit license for the product - but I still would not
do it, even if that is so.

--
Joel Crump

On 20/05/2022 22:11, Joel wrote:
> David Brooks <DGB@nomail.afraid.org> wrote:
>
>> My real-life friend, Jon, took delivery of a brand-new MacBook Pro today. ?
>>
>> By the time I spoke to him, he had bought and installed this software:-
>>
>> https://turnkeypoint.com/product/office-2021-home-business-for-mac/?c=36ed69b578b4
>>
>> Do YOU think he was wise to snap up this bargain?
>
>
> It *could* be a legit license for the product - but I still would not
> do it, even if that is so.

Thanks, Joel.

I checked with VirusTotal
https://www.virustotal.com/gui/url/1f9442c3110c00c2c698c0bbffd372018d925de1a02230743089c895903633f6/details

Although the business web page says they are in Spain, VT says the
server is in the USA.

https://turnkeypoint.com/contact-us/?c=36ed69b578b4

"If something seems too good to be true, it probably is"!

David Brooks <DGB@nomail.afraid.org> wrote:

>>> My real-life friend, Jon, took delivery of a brand-new MacBook Pro today. ?
>>>
>>> By the time I spoke to him, he had bought and installed this software:-
>>>
>>> https://turnkeypoint.com/product/office-2021-home-business-for-mac/?c=36ed69b578b4
>>>
>>> Do YOU think he was wise to snap up this bargain?
>>
>> It *could* be a legit license for the product - but I still would not
>> do it, even if that is so.
>
>Thanks, Joel.
>
>I checked with VirusTotal
>https://www.virustotal.com/gui/url/1f9442c3110c00c2c698c0bbffd372018d925de1a02230743089c895903633f6/details
>
>Although the business web page says they are in Spain, VT says the
>server is in the USA.
>
>https://turnkeypoint.com/contact-us/?c=36ed69b578b4
>
>"If something seems too good to be true, it probably is"!

My preference is to obtain software licenses *directly* from the maker
of the software, which is usually possible nowadays.

--
Joel Crump

On 20/05/2022 22:37, Joel wrote:
> David Brooks <DGB@nomail.afraid.org> wrote:
>
>>>> My real-life friend, Jon, took delivery of a brand-new MacBook Pro today. ?
>>>>
>>>> By the time I spoke to him, he had bought and installed this software:-
>>>>
>>>> https://turnkeypoint.com/product/office-2021-home-business-for-mac/?c=36ed69b578b4
>>>>
>>>> Do YOU think he was wise to snap up this bargain?
>>>
>>> It *could* be a legit license for the product - but I still would not
>>> do it, even if that is so.
>>
>> Thanks, Joel.
>>
>> I checked with VirusTotal
>> https://www.virustotal.com/gui/url/1f9442c3110c00c2c698c0bbffd372018d925de1a02230743089c895903633f6/details
>>
>> Although the business web page says they are in Spain, VT says the
>> server is in the USA.
>>
>> https://turnkeypoint.com/contact-us/?c=36ed69b578b4
>>
>> "If something seems too good to be true, it probably is"!
>
>
> My preference is to obtain software licenses *directly* from the maker
> of the software, which is usually possible nowadays.

A very sensible route to follow!

Thanks.

On May 20, 2022 at 1:59:57 PM MST, "David Brooks" wrote
<hjThK.1133818$sb1.265353@fx11.ams1>:

> My real-life friend, Jon, took delivery of a brand-new MacBook Pro today. 🙂
>
> By the time I spoke to him, he had bought and installed this software:-
>
> https://turnkeypoint.com/product/office-2021-home-business-for-mac/?c=36ed69b578b4
>
> Do YOU think he was wise to snap up this bargain?

Does he have need for it?

--
Personal attacks from those who troll show their own insecurity. They cannot use reason to show the message to be wrong so they try to feel somehow superior by attacking the messenger.

They cling to their attacks and ignore the message time and time again.

On 5/20/22 13:59, David Brooks wrote:
> My real-life friend, Jon, took delivery of a brand-new MacBook Pro
> today. 🙂
>
> By the time I spoke to him, he had bought and installed this software:-
>
> https://turnkeypoint.com/product/office-2021-home-business-for-mac/?c=36ed69b578b4
>
>
> Do YOU think he was wise to snap up this bargain?
>
1/10th cost. I smell a rat!
Use Libre Office. If you can't stand it (and I'd
understand that reaction), then fork out the
monopoly price for M$ Office.

On 21/05/2022 08:05, T wrote:
> On 5/20/22 13:59, David Brooks wrote:
>> My real-life friend, Jon, took delivery of a brand-new MacBook Pro
>> today. 🙂
>>
>> By the time I spoke to him, he had bought and installed this software:-
>>
>> https://turnkeypoint.com/product/office-2021-home-business-for-mac/?c=36ed69b578b4
>>
>>
>> Do YOU think he was wise to snap up this bargain?
>>
>
> 1/10th cost.  I smell a rat!

Me too!

What harm can it do though - to install and run a 'knock-off' product
like this? He's done it before on a Windows laptop with no ill effect.

> Use Libre Office. If you can't stand it (and I'd
> understand that reaction), then fork out the
> monopoly price for M$ Office.

If I REALLY needed one of the component parts, I'd buy it through the
Apple App store (All are available to download).

The 'real McCoy' product may be bought here:-
https://www.currys.co.uk/products/microsoft-office-home-and-business-2021-lifetime-for-1-user-10230883.html

But, as you say, it is ten times the price!

--
David

On 21/05/2022 00:51, Snit wrote:
> On May 20, 2022 at 1:59:57 PM MST, "David Brooks" wrote
> <hjThK.1133818$sb1.265353@fx11.ams1>:
>
>> My real-life friend, Jon, took delivery of a brand-new MacBook Pro today. 🙂
>>
>> By the time I spoke to him, he had bought and installed this software:-
>>
>> https://turnkeypoint.com/product/office-2021-home-business-for-mac/?c=36ed69b578b4
>>
>> Do YOU think he was wise to snap up this bargain?
>
> Does he have need for it?

Probably not! I'm not sure what difference that makes though. It cannot
be legitimate if it's one tenth of the normal retail price.

Supporting criminal activity is disesteemed. I don't do it.

David Brooks wrote :
> On 21/05/2022 08:05, T wrote:
>> On 5/20/22 13:59, David Brooks wrote:
>>> My real-life friend, Jon, took delivery of a brand-new MacBook Pro today.
>>> ?
>>>
>>> By the time I spoke to him, he had bought and installed this software:-
>>>
>>> https://turnkeypoint.com/product/office-2021-home-business-for-mac/?c=36ed69b578b4
>>>
>>>
>>> Do YOU think he was wise to snap up this bargain?
>>>
>>
>> 1/10th cost.  I smell a rat!
>
> Me too!
>
> What harm can it do though - to install and run a 'knock-off' product
> like this? He's done it before on a Windows laptop with no ill effect.

They could have secretly bundled some spyware or adware in the program
itself or in the installer.

On 21/05/2022 10:36, FromTheRafters wrote:
> David Brooks wrote :
>> On 21/05/2022 08:05, T wrote:
>>> On 5/20/22 13:59, David Brooks wrote:
>>>> My real-life friend, Jon, took delivery of a brand-new MacBook Pro
>>>> today. ?
>>>>
>>>> By the time I spoke to him, he had bought and installed this software:-
>>>>
>>>> https://turnkeypoint.com/product/office-2021-home-business-for-mac/?c=36ed69b578b4
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Do YOU think he was wise to snap up this bargain?
>>>>
>>>
>>> 1/10th cost.  I smell a rat!
>>
>> Me too!
>>
>> What harm can it do though - to install and run a 'knock-off' product
>> like this?  He's done it before on a Windows laptop with no ill effect.
>
> They could have secretly bundled some spyware or adware in the program
> itself or in the installer.

That's my thinking.

How will he ever know? The computer is lightning fast as you already
know yourself.

David Brooks wrote :
> On 21/05/2022 10:36, FromTheRafters wrote:
>> David Brooks wrote :
>>> On 21/05/2022 08:05, T wrote:
>>>> On 5/20/22 13:59, David Brooks wrote:
>>>>> My real-life friend, Jon, took delivery of a brand-new MacBook Pro
>>>>> today. ?
>>>>>
>>>>> By the time I spoke to him, he had bought and installed this software:-
>>>>>
>>>>> https://turnkeypoint.com/product/office-2021-home-business-for-mac/?c=36ed69b578b4
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Do YOU think he was wise to snap up this bargain?
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> 1/10th cost.  I smell a rat!
>>>
>>> Me too!
>>>
>>> What harm can it do though - to install and run a 'knock-off' product
>>> like this?  He's done it before on a Windows laptop with no ill effect.
>>
>> They could have secretly bundled some spyware or adware in the program
>> itself or in the installer.
>
> That's my thinking.
>
> How will he ever know? The computer is lightning fast as you already know
> yourself.

A traffic monitor could help with that. Adware infiltrates and spyware
exfiltrates each causing traffic. Nothing but brain chemistry will
quell that 'hinky' feeling though, it 'could' always be tunneling.

<cue Twilight Zone theme>

On May 21, 2022 at 12:34:21 AM MST, "David Brooks" wrote
<2C0iK.1133927$sb1.1076614@fx11.ams1>:

> On 21/05/2022 00:51, Snit wrote:
>> On May 20, 2022 at 1:59:57 PM MST, "David Brooks" wrote
>> <hjThK.1133818$sb1.265353@fx11.ams1>:
>>
>>> My real-life friend, Jon, took delivery of a brand-new MacBook Pro today. 🙂
>>>
>>> By the time I spoke to him, he had bought and installed this software:-
>>>
>>> https://turnkeypoint.com/product/office-2021-home-business-for-mac/?c=36ed69b578b4
>>>
>>> Do YOU think he was wise to snap up this bargain?
>>
>> Does he have need for it?
>
> Probably not! I'm not sure what difference that makes though. It cannot
> be legitimate if it's one tenth of the normal retail price.
>
> Supporting criminal activity is disesteemed. I don't do it.

I know there is a gray market for such keys... have read about it in the past.
If I recall it is not technically illegal but generally frowned upon.

--
Personal attacks from those who troll show their own insecurity. They cannot use reason to show the message to be wrong so they try to feel somehow superior by attacking the messenger.

They cling to their attacks and ignore the message time and time again.

On 2022-05-21, FromTheRafters <nomail@afraid.org> wrote:
> David Brooks wrote :
>> On 21/05/2022 10:36, FromTheRafters wrote:
>>> David Brooks wrote :
>>>> On 21/05/2022 08:05, T wrote:
>>>>> On 5/20/22 13:59, David Brooks wrote:
>>>>>> My real-life friend, Jon, took delivery of a brand-new MacBook Pro
>>>>>> today. ?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> By the time I spoke to him, he had bought and installed this software:-
>>>>>>
>>>>>> https://turnkeypoint.com/product/office-2021-home-business-for-mac/?c=36ed69b578b4
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Do YOU think he was wise to snap up this bargain?
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> 1/10th cost.  I smell a rat!
>>>>
>>>> Me too!
>>>>
>>>> What harm can it do though - to install and run a 'knock-off' product
>>>> like this?  He's done it before on a Windows laptop with no ill effect.
>>>
>>> They could have secretly bundled some spyware or adware in the program
>>> itself or in the installer.
>>
>> That's my thinking.
>>
>> How will he ever know? The computer is lightning fast as you already know
>> yourself.
>
> A traffic monitor could help with that. Adware infiltrates and spyware
> exfiltrates each causing traffic. Nothing but brain chemistry will
> quell that 'hinky' feeling though, it 'could' always be tunneling.
>
><cue Twilight Zone theme>

It looks like what the OP posted were simply links to Microsoft Keys.
That means the application is DL from MS and then the key is used to activate it.

Usually these are surplus keys sold by corporations to jobbers who market them. MOST TIMES, they
are legit, but some sketchy folks are out there but it's a matter of the key working or not.
Malware is not part of it unless they offer a download site for the software itself.

HTH,

--
Helmut
"If you don't like Linux, you might tick incorrectly"

On 5/21/22 00:22, David Brooks wrote:
>> 1/10th cost.  I smell a rat!
>
> Me too!
>
> What harm can it do though - to install and run a 'knock-off' product
> like this?  He's done it before on a Windows laptop with no ill effect.
Also keep in mind that this could be pirate and
there is that pesky commandment not to steal.
Buying stolen goods is just as bad a steeling it
yourself.
Or it could be a fire sale for some economic
calamity that befell the guy. But those are
usually just one off sales, not groups of
the same item

Helmut Achterberg brought next idea :
> On 2022-05-21, FromTheRafters <nomail@afraid.org> wrote:
>> David Brooks wrote :
>>> On 21/05/2022 10:36, FromTheRafters wrote:
>>>> David Brooks wrote :
>>>>> On 21/05/2022 08:05, T wrote:
>>>>>> On 5/20/22 13:59, David Brooks wrote:
>>>>>>> My real-life friend, Jon, took delivery of a brand-new MacBook Pro
>>>>>>> today. ?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> By the time I spoke to him, he had bought and installed this software:-
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> https://turnkeypoint.com/product/office-2021-home-business-for-mac/?c=36ed69b578b4
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Do YOU think he was wise to snap up this bargain?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 1/10th cost.  I smell a rat!
>>>>>
>>>>> Me too!
>>>>>
>>>>> What harm can it do though - to install and run a 'knock-off' product
>>>>> like this?  He's done it before on a Windows laptop with no ill effect.
>>>>
>>>> They could have secretly bundled some spyware or adware in the program
>>>> itself or in the installer.
>>>
>>> That's my thinking.
>>>
>>> How will he ever know? The computer is lightning fast as you already know
>>> yourself.
>>
>> A traffic monitor could help with that. Adware infiltrates and spyware
>> exfiltrates each causing traffic. Nothing but brain chemistry will
>> quell that 'hinky' feeling though, it 'could' always be tunneling.
>>
>> <cue Twilight Zone theme>
>
> It looks like what the OP posted were simply links to Microsoft Keys.
> That means the application is DL from MS and then the key is used to activate
> it.
>
> Usually these are surplus keys sold by corporations to jobbers who market
> them. MOST TIMES, they are legit, but some sketchy folks are out there but
> it's a matter of the key working or not. Malware is not part of it unless
> they offer a download site for the software itself.
>
> HTH,

Can such a key be revoked?

T <T@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>On 5/21/22 00:22, David Brooks wrote:
>
>>> 1/10th cost.  I smell a rat!
>>
>> Me too!
>>
>> What harm can it do though - to install and run a 'knock-off' product
>> like this?  He's done it before on a Windows laptop with no ill effect.
>
>Also keep in mind that this could be pirate and
>there is that pesky commandment not to steal.
>Buying stolen goods is just as bad a steeling it
>yourself.

Let's assume, for a moment, that it's a legit key, being resold by
this third party. Can you guarantee that they haven't sold the same
key, to someone else? If I deal with Microsoft directly, I *know*
that I'm the only one who bought that key.

--
Joel Crump

On 2022-05-21, FromTheRafters <nomail@afraid.org> wrote:
> Helmut Achterberg brought next idea :
>> On 2022-05-21, FromTheRafters <nomail@afraid.org> wrote:
>>> David Brooks wrote :
>>>> On 21/05/2022 10:36, FromTheRafters wrote:
>>>>> David Brooks wrote :
>>>>>> On 21/05/2022 08:05, T wrote:
>>>>>>> On 5/20/22 13:59, David Brooks wrote:
>>>>>>>> My real-life friend, Jon, took delivery of a brand-new MacBook Pro
>>>>>>>> today. ?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> By the time I spoke to him, he had bought and installed this software:-
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> https://turnkeypoint.com/product/office-2021-home-business-for-mac/?c=36ed69b578b4
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Do YOU think he was wise to snap up this bargain?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> 1/10th cost.  I smell a rat!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Me too!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> What harm can it do though - to install and run a 'knock-off' product
>>>>>> like this?  He's done it before on a Windows laptop with no ill effect.
>>>>>
>>>>> They could have secretly bundled some spyware or adware in the program
>>>>> itself or in the installer.
>>>>
>>>> That's my thinking.
>>>>
>>>> How will he ever know? The computer is lightning fast as you already know
>>>> yourself.
>>>
>>> A traffic monitor could help with that. Adware infiltrates and spyware
>>> exfiltrates each causing traffic. Nothing but brain chemistry will
>>> quell that 'hinky' feeling though, it 'could' always be tunneling.
>>>
>>> <cue Twilight Zone theme>
>>
>> It looks like what the OP posted were simply links to Microsoft Keys.
>> That means the application is DL from MS and then the key is used to activate
>> it.
>>
>> Usually these are surplus keys sold by corporations to jobbers who market
>> them. MOST TIMES, they are legit, but some sketchy folks are out there but
>> it's a matter of the key working or not. Malware is not part of it unless
>> they offer a download site for the software itself.
>>
>> HTH,
>
> Can such a key be revoked?

Yes it can but it is very rare.
Microsoft is like the corner drug dealer. Get the people hooked and then collect.
They count on people upgrading hardware to the point where the key no longer works.

--
Helmut
"If you don't like Linux, you might tick incorrectly"

On 21 May 2022, Joel wrote
(in article<bsii8ht8bref44rf461ld3abd2fa7bo0t0@4ax.com>):

> T <T@invalid.invalid> wrote:
> > On 5/21/22 00:22, David Brooks wrote:
> >
> > > > 1/10thcost.Ismellarat!
> > >
> > > Metoo!
> > >
> > > Whatharmcanitdothough-toinstallandruna'knock-off'product
> > > likethis?He'sdoneitbeforeonaWindowslaptopwithnoilleffect.
> >
> > Also keep in mind that this could be pirate and
> > there is that pesky commandment not to steal.
> > Buying stolen goods is just as bad a steeling it
> > yourself.
>
> Let's assume, for a moment, that it's a legit key, being resold by
> this third party. Can you guarantee that they haven't sold the same
> key, to someone else? If I deal with Microsoft directly, I *know*
> that I'm the only one who bought that key.

It appears to be an enterprise key. Typically those keys are authorized for
at least hundreds, more typically thousands, of users, and if the company
which bought the enterprise key has some left over they can either keep them
around as spares (what I do) or sell the excess. You can get an enterprise
key with several thousand installs very cheaply indeed. The larger the buy,
the cheaper on a per user basis. Someone may have access to a few
dozen/hundred user keys from an enterprise buy, and is selling them. So long
as the total installs doesn’t go over the limit for that particular key,
they should be good.

Now, if the company which bought the enterprise key doesn’t know that the
user installs are being sold, they may try to activate additional users, and
sooner or later will run over the limit... and MS will be upset. And will
revoke the old key, giving the company a replacement key, while waiting to
see who calls in to report that their bought and paid for copy of MS
Application X isn’t working any more. If, however, the keys are being sold
by a legit source which simply doesn’t need all the installs, then the
buyers are golden. This kind of thing isn’t new, it’s been going on since
MS introduced keys decades ago. I still have theoretically working enterprise
keys for Vista. (I wasn’t the one who bought far too many licenses, I just
inherited them...)

Wolffan <akwolffan@zoho.com> wrote:

>> Let's assume, for a moment, that it's a legit key, being resold by
>> this third party. Can you guarantee that they haven't sold the same
>> key, to someone else? If I deal with Microsoft directly, I *know*
>> that I'm the only one who bought that key.
>
>It appears to be an enterprise key. Typically those keys are authorized for
>at least hundreds, more typically thousands, of users, and if the company
>which bought the enterprise key has some left over they can either keep them
>around as spares (what I do) or sell the excess. You can get an enterprise
>key with several thousand installs very cheaply indeed. The larger the buy,
>the cheaper on a per user basis. Someone may have access to a few
>dozen/hundred user keys from an enterprise buy, and is selling them. So long
>as the total installs doesn’t go over the limit for that particular key,
>they should be good.
>
>Now, if the company which bought the enterprise key doesn’t know that the
>user installs are being sold, they may try to activate additional users, and
>sooner or later will run over the limit... and MS will be upset. And will
>revoke the old key, giving the company a replacement key, while waiting to
>see who calls in to report that their bought and paid for copy of MS
>Application X isn’t working any more. If, however, the keys are being sold
>by a legit source which simply doesn’t need all the installs, then the
>buyers are golden. This kind of thing isn’t new, it’s been going on since
>MS introduced keys decades ago. I still have theoretically working enterprise
>keys for Vista. (I wasn’t the one who bought far too many licenses, I just
>inherited them...)

I'd much prefer to just do it the honest way.

--
Joel Crump

On 21 May 2022, Joel wrote
(in article<ceoi8h96v5n575pe7ufvopadph8te2pmqt@4ax.com>):

> Wolffan <akwolffan@zoho.com> wrote:
>
> > > Let's assume, for a moment, that it's a legit key, being resold by
> > > this third party. Can you guarantee that they haven't sold the same
> > > key, to someone else? If I deal with Microsoft directly, I *know*
> > > that I'm the only one who bought that key.
> >
> > It appears to be an enterprise key. Typically those keys are authorized for
> > at least hundreds, more typically thousands, of users, and if the company
> > which bought the enterprise key has some left over they can either keep them
> > around as spares (what I do) or sell the excess. You can get an enterprise
> > key with several thousand installs very cheaply indeed. The larger the buy,
> > the cheaper on a per user basis. Someone may have access to a few
> > dozen/hundred user keys from an enterprise buy, and is selling them. So long
> > as the total installs doesn’t go over the limit for that particular key,
> > they should be good.
> >
> > Now, if the company which bought the enterprise key doesn’t know that the
> > user installs are being sold, they may try to activate additional users, and
> > sooner or later will run over the limit... and MS will be upset. And will
> > revoke the old key, giving the company a replacement key, while waiting to
> > see who calls in to report that their bought and paid for copy of MS
> > Application X isn’t working any more. If, however, the keys are being sold
> > by a legit source which simply doesn’t need all the installs, then the
> > buyers are golden. This kind of thing isn’t new, it’s been going on
> > since
> > MS introduced keys decades ago. I still have theoretically working
> > enterprise
> > keys for Vista. (I wasn’t the one who bought far too many licenses, I just
> > inherited them...)
>
> I'd much prefer to just do it the honest way.

It is honest, if the seller has permission to sell the excess. I wouldn’t,
I’d keep the excess as spares. A lot of people order a few hundred extra
licenses and sell the excess. And make a profit on it. MS doesn’t care.

On 5/21/22 14:57, Wolffan wrote:
> If, however, the keys are being sold
> by a legit source which simply doesn’t need all the installs, then the
> buyers are golden
That would depend on the license agreement. Most of
them are for you (or your company) only

On 5/21/22 15:04, Joel wrote:
> Wolffan <akwolffan@zoho.com> wrote:
>
>>> Let's assume, for a moment, that it's a legit key, being resold by
>>> this third party. Can you guarantee that they haven't sold the same
>>> key, to someone else? If I deal with Microsoft directly, I *know*
>>> that I'm the only one who bought that key.
>>
>> It appears to be an enterprise key. Typically those keys are authorized for
>> at least hundreds, more typically thousands, of users, and if the company
>> which bought the enterprise key has some left over they can either keep them
>> around as spares (what I do) or sell the excess. You can get an enterprise
>> key with several thousand installs very cheaply indeed. The larger the buy,
>> the cheaper on a per user basis. Someone may have access to a few
>> dozen/hundred user keys from an enterprise buy, and is selling them. So long
>> as the total installs doesn’t go over the limit for that particular key,
>> they should be good.
>>
>> Now, if the company which bought the enterprise key doesn’t know that the
>> user installs are being sold, they may try to activate additional users, and
>> sooner or later will run over the limit... and MS will be upset. And will
>> revoke the old key, giving the company a replacement key, while waiting to
>> see who calls in to report that their bought and paid for copy of MS
>> Application X isn’t working any more. If, however, the keys are being sold
>> by a legit source which simply doesn’t need all the installs, then the
>> buyers are golden. This kind of thing isn’t new, it’s been going on since
>> MS introduced keys decades ago. I still have theoretically working enterprise
>> keys for Vista. (I wasn’t the one who bought far too many licenses, I just
>> inherited them...)
>
>
> I'd much prefer to just do it the honest way.
>
1+

On 5/21/22 15:22, Wolffan wrote:
> On 21 May 2022, Joel wrote
> (in article<ceoi8h96v5n575pe7ufvopadph8te2pmqt@4ax.com>):
>
>> Wolffan <akwolffan@zoho.com> wrote:
>>
>>>> Let's assume, for a moment, that it's a legit key, being resold by
>>>> this third party. Can you guarantee that they haven't sold the same
>>>> key, to someone else? If I deal with Microsoft directly, I *know*
>>>> that I'm the only one who bought that key.
>>>
>>> It appears to be an enterprise key. Typically those keys are authorized for
>>> at least hundreds, more typically thousands, of users, and if the company
>>> which bought the enterprise key has some left over they can either keep them
>>> around as spares (what I do) or sell the excess. You can get an enterprise
>>> key with several thousand installs very cheaply indeed. The larger the buy,
>>> the cheaper on a per user basis. Someone may have access to a few
>>> dozen/hundred user keys from an enterprise buy, and is selling them. So long
>>> as the total installs doesn’t go over the limit for that particular key,
>>> they should be good.
>>>
>>> Now, if the company which bought the enterprise key doesn’t know that the
>>> user installs are being sold, they may try to activate additional users, and
>>> sooner or later will run over the limit... and MS will be upset. And will
>>> revoke the old key, giving the company a replacement key, while waiting to
>>> see who calls in to report that their bought and paid for copy of MS
>>> Application X isn’t working any more. If, however, the keys are being sold
>>> by a legit source which simply doesn’t need all the installs, then the
>>> buyers are golden. This kind of thing isn’t new, it’s been going on
>>> since
>>> MS introduced keys decades ago. I still have theoretically working
>>> enterprise
>>> keys for Vista. (I wasn’t the one who bought far too many licenses, I just
>>> inherited them...)
>>
>> I'd much prefer to just do it the honest way.
>
> It is honest, if the seller has permission to sell the excess. I wouldn’t,
> I’d keep the excess as spares. A lot of people order a few hundred extra
> licenses and sell the excess. And make a profit on it. MS doesn’t care.
>
In that case, the guy had better come clean and show documentation as to
him being allow to do that.

On 21/05/2022 21:44, Helmut Achterberg wrote:
> On 2022-05-21, FromTheRafters <nomail@afraid.org> wrote:
>> Helmut Achterberg brought next idea :
>>> On 2022-05-21, FromTheRafters <nomail@afraid.org> wrote:
>>>> David Brooks wrote :
>>>>> On 21/05/2022 10:36, FromTheRafters wrote:
>>>>>> David Brooks wrote :
>>>>>>> On 21/05/2022 08:05, T wrote:
>>>>>>>> On 5/20/22 13:59, David Brooks wrote:
>>>>>>>>> My real-life friend, Jon, took delivery of a brand-new MacBook Pro
>>>>>>>>> today. ?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> By the time I spoke to him, he had bought and installed this software:-
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> https://turnkeypoint.com/product/office-2021-home-business-for-mac/?c=36ed69b578b4
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Do YOU think he was wise to snap up this bargain?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> 1/10th cost.  I smell a rat!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Me too!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> What harm can it do though - to install and run a 'knock-off' product
>>>>>>> like this?  He's done it before on a Windows laptop with no ill effect.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> They could have secretly bundled some spyware or adware in the program
>>>>>> itself or in the installer.
>>>>>
>>>>> That's my thinking.
>>>>>
>>>>> How will he ever know? The computer is lightning fast as you already know
>>>>> yourself.
>>>>
>>>> A traffic monitor could help with that. Adware infiltrates and spyware
>>>> exfiltrates each causing traffic. Nothing but brain chemistry will
>>>> quell that 'hinky' feeling though, it 'could' always be tunneling.
>>>>
>>>> <cue Twilight Zone theme>
>>>
>>> It looks like what the OP posted were simply links to Microsoft Keys.
>>> That means the application is DL from MS and then the key is used to activate
>>> it.
>>>
>>> Usually these are surplus keys sold by corporations to jobbers who market
>>> them. MOST TIMES, they are legit, but some sketchy folks are out there but
>>> it's a matter of the key working or not. Malware is not part of it unless
>>> they offer a download site for the software itself.
>>>
>>> HTH,
>>
>> Can such a key be revoked?
>
> Yes it can but it is very rare.
> Microsoft is like the corner drug dealer. Get the people hooked and then collect.
> They count on people upgrading hardware to the point where the key no longer works.

Your thoughts on this are much appreciated, Helmut.

I've also asked for views, here:-
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/product-purchase-query-can-you-help/fec7638f-5daa-4246-9af8-b7764c3ab5a9

It's beginning to sound as if nothing nefarious is afoot!

I have read here; has anyone else? https://turnkeypoint.com/faqs/

Everything sounds bonio fido! :-D