Pirated Software And Why You Should Avoid It?
What is Pirated Software?
Software that has been illegally copied or distributed is referred to as pirated software. The term pirated software is also used to describe any software that is used without full ownership or full legal rights.
Copying legally acquired software to multiple computers or sharing such software with friends without acquiring multiple licenses is illegal and referred to as software piracy. Software piracy extends to processes such as software cracking which involves modifying software to disable/remove features considered undesirable by software pirates. Such features include; copy protection features, adware and nag screens which make it difficult for pirated software to be manipulated.
What are the risks, dangers or disadvantages of using pirated software?
It is illegal:
You should avoid pirated software for many reasons. First and foremost, it is illegal. If you are caught copying, distributing or using pirated software, you are at risk of paying a hefty fine or facing jail time.
Most common source of malicious programs:
Pirated software is the #1 source of computer viruses, keyloggers among other malicious software used to steal passwords and sensitive data as well as corrupt computer files.
High risk of malfunctions:
A computer program which has been created improperly or modified illegally is prone to malfunctions. Pirated software tends to malfunction or cause computer problems. If the software doesn’t come with a key or valid identification no., you will not be able to install the program let alone run it.
Risky purchase:
It is almost impossible to get refunded for software you have acquired illegally.
No support:
Illegal software doesn’t come with support or documentation making it difficult to troubleshoot any problems that arise.
No add-ons/offers:
Legal software comes with upgrades, updates, offers, patches, etc. Illegal software is sold as it is with no future add-ons among other perks important for continuity/growth.
Long-term losses for most (if not all) parties involved:
The only beneficiaries of pirated software are the pirates (assuming they aren’t caught). Users of pirated software eventually lose out on innovation, security risks and malfunctions in the long-term.
Why do people tend to crack software instead of buying it?
People still use illegal software despite the obvious risks surrounding such software. There are several reasons why people crack software instead of buying it.
Cost:
This is the most apparent reason. People download illegal software because they don’t want to pay for it. For instance, a person may not be willing to buy software they will only use once or a few times. For others, it’s because the legal version is too costly. However, cost shouldn’t be a reason for anyone willing to pay for original software given you can get great deals for genuine software on Software Deals websites like ours.
Lenient punishment/perception:
People also tend to crack software simply because they can get away with it. People fear doing illegal things like stealing a car over pirating software because your chances of going to jail are slimmer if you are a software pirate. Some people also think it is fine to steal digital products. Such people view digital products differently from physical products.
Software availability problems:
This is another reason/common rationale among people who use illegal sources of software like torrent websites. Software availability becomes a problem when software is available in certain regions only initially depriving people in other regions who may be willing to pay but aren’t patient enough to wait for a release in their region.
Payment problems:
Online stores with payment challenges such as restrictive payment methods can force some willing buyers to buy elsewhere.
Software creators have already earned enough money:
Some people may not be willing to buy software from companies which are already established (have already made “enough” money). What such people fail to realize is; software companies need a lot of money to continue researching and developing newer and better software. Furthermore, pirates don’t have the right to copy and sell the software they have obtained illegally.
Ignorance:
Most people aren’t knowledgeable about copyright law. Such people may not know what is legal or illegal online.
Why pirated software is bad for business
Businesses which use pirated software are exposed to serious risks. Although some businesses do it unknowingly because it is employees who run these programs without the business owner’s knowledge, some organizations use pirated software knowingly. Besides the moral argument against pirated software, there are many other reasons why illegal software is bad for business.
- Hefty fines
The risk of businesses being hit by huge fines because of software piracy is higher than ever. Although the use of unlicensed software has decreased in the recent past globally thanks to innovations like cloud computing, the costs (such as legal settlements) associated with using pirated software are now higher more than ever.
In a nutshell, the cost savings enjoyed by using pirated software can easily be overshadowed by the hefty fines businesses are faced with when found guilty of software piracy by the BSA (Business Software Alliance). Furthermore, ignorance can’t be used as a defense in any court of law. If your business is found to be using illegal software, the fines will still apply. Business owners are solely responsible for what their employees do including running doggy software at work.
- Increased risk of malware
Businesses have more to worry about besides copyright lawyers and hefty fines. Buying software online that isn’t genuine comes with increased malware risks. Pirated programs usually contain spyware and viruses among other malicious programs that have the potential to steal sensitive company information, slow down vital business systems and even run business operations to a halt. Besides losing precious time and potential business, you will have to spend money to get the issue fixed.
In case you were using ransomware (malware that “locks you out” of your computers), you may be required to pay ransom to regain access to your business systems after which you will have to worry about personal and business data theft. You may also be fined for breaching GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) if sensitive customer or staff data has been breached.
- Lack of support
All computer programs are prone to malfunctions among other problems like incompatibility with other programs or software. If you buy genuine software, you can get quick fixes to such problems. Genuine software developers release solutions in the form of updates/upgrades and distribute them online via website downloads or automated update processes. Software pirates have no intention of supporting their customers or troubleshooting problems after they have “cashed-in”.
As a result, businesses using pirated software lose out on a lot including new features and security updates. This means that illegal software tends to be packed with malware, security loopholes and technical problems that remain unsolved increasing business risks.
- Disgruntled employees
Disgruntled employees have an incentive to report their employers thanks to the BSA. Just recently, the BSA started gives rewards to employees among other individuals who report businesses/companies using pirated software. Individuals who report software piracy can get a cash reward amounting to £10,000 for every successful judgment or settlement. Rewards amount to 10% of damages up to a limit of £10,000. This BSA reward is largely responsible for the success of BSA efforts and has largely been supported by employees of organizations using pirated software. The promise of cash makes disgruntled employees more willing to report any infractions.
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