When piracy sacks the user

May 14, 2008

In my daily interactions with small business owners, information technology departments, and even consumers, one of the most common questions I get about software is how to ensure that the products being purchased online or in a storefront are genuine.

The proliferation of high-speed Internet access at home and at work has ushered in a new era where e-commerce and legal file sharing by consumers are commonplace. However, there is a growing black market online where consumers unwittingly purchase software from anonymous online vendors at grossly discounted prices. These software pirates gain the trust of users by providing what appears to be an authentic copy of the original, but consumers are often surprised to find the illegal software is actually altered to contain malware and spyware, which puts confidential personal and business information at risk.

Software pirates make illegal copies of software by altering the source code used to create the original version. In addition to the malware that pirates often include in their copies, the hacked software opens up additional security holes, leaving the user vulnerable to viruses and worms that can cripple software, steal identities, expose files on the network and provide the pirate with full access to the target computer.

The simple solution for consumers and businesses to protect themselves from being tricked into purchasing counterfeit software is to purchase genuine software products from an authorized dealer. In addition to consumers, legitimate retailers are hurt by pirated software. Sold far below what honest store owners can ever match, the pirated software creates unfair competition that affects profits for local businesses. Customers can also speak to these local authorized dealers to learn more about the effect software piracy has on their business.

Buying locally through a reputable source will ensure that customers are getting a high-quality product with proper customer support.

Craig Kampel is the metro New York general manager for Microsoft’s Small Midmarket Solutions & Partners Group. This article first appeared in Long Island Business News, another Dolan Media publication.

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