Software Piracy Exposed
Exploring the personalities and motivations of those behind much of the illegal software distribution on the Internet, this book delves into the inner depths of the software piracy scene.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Software Piracy Exposed
Appendix B: Why Software is Pirated
Overview
Solutions in this chapter:
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Extent of the Problem
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Cost or Availability
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Curiosity
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Corporate Policy
Introduction
Digital integrity is crucial in the electronic environment, and computer users go to great lengths to ensure that the applications they run are legitimate. Because viruses, worms, spyware, and key loggers are common on the Internet, there is good reason to be vigilant when installing software or running a new application. The opportunity to distribute a worm or virus through pirated software is a very real threat.
End users are forced to trust that the people who pirate the software do not embed any viruses or malicious code within it. This blind trust is easily exploitable and creates a large window for attack on users of pirated software.
This chapter focuses on people that put themselves at technical and legal risk to use pirated media. It also discusses why these people do not see the risk in using pirated software.
Extent of the Problem
One out of every three programs is pirated, and while it is impossible to know the exact extent of the damages, the losses from pirated software (e.g., lost sales, lost tax revenues, lost jobs, diminished software development, increased prices, and stymied innovation) are most likely in the many billions of dollars per year. The risks associated with using pirated software include:
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Incomplete or defective programs
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No written manuals or other documentation
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Virus infections
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No warranty protection
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No upgrade options
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No customer support
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Personal and company liability resulting from copyright...
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