For users in a trial period, the command slmgr -rearm can be used in an elevated Command Prompt to reset the 30-day activation timer, though this is only a temporary measure.

Since these tools are unauthorized, they are often used as "Trojan horses" by bad actors to bundle malware, spyware, or ransomware into the executable.

The WGA system was created by Microsoft to ensure that users have a genuine, licensed copy of Windows. If a system fails this check, users may see "This copy of Windows is not genuine" watermarks and face limited functionality.