subject: The Dangers of Installing Software That Has Been Illegally Copied [print this page] The Dangers of Installing Software That Has Been Illegally Copied
Let's consider the perils of software that has been illegally copied. There are a variety of them. Listed below are the 3 most common issues:
1) Spyware and adware
Very often people illegally distribute software with the purpose of installing spyware on it. Then, every time somebody installs it the spyware will automatically be installed onto their system.
The majority of us are very well aware of the threats of spyware. Your identity is at risk of being stolen. One is always in danger of identity theft when getting an an unlicensed software.
2) No technical support
The person who is circulating illegal software will not have the ability to provide support for it. This means that if you run into difficulties, you can find yourself without any-one to assist you.
3) Copyright infringement
By using this software it means that you are simply ignoring copyright laws. Even though, right now it is not common, this might potentially get you into legal issues.
Most of the time the distributors will be prosecuted. However, it is possible that you might be also. So why take that risk?
So how how can you tell you are not guilty of copyright violation?
The truth is, nearly four in ten copies of software nowadays are illegal copies. For that reason, having the ability to tell legal copy from a duplicate is crucial.
Often individuals that illegally distribute applications pretend to be the original company. This can easily trick you into buying software which is unlicensed.
So firstly ensure that you purchase from official websites. If you go to a website by clicking a link in an email, it may not be legitimate.
Additionally, be skeptical of very low prices. Illegal software programs are often offered for much less than the official program. This is often a sure sign the website is not legit.
Lastly, never get software from an auction.
If you still are not sure, search for review articles about the site you are considering. Assuming it's a legit site, there will be plenty of favorable feedback about it. In cases where you can't find any facts on it, you definitely should stay away.
Even though it is tempting you shouldn't borrow software from somebody you know. The licenses are normally just for one computer. It is illegal to install the software program onto multiple computers. If you really want to buy it for a friend, then purchase multiple licenses.
If you be employed by a software company, you must never install it onto your personal computer. When it is found this could easily get you fired, and possibly into legal issues.
The conclusion: illegal use of copyrighted software seriously isn't worthwhile. Even without all of the explanations above, it's just the incorrect thing to do. Just think about the fact that the software programmer has worked probably for months on developing that program. They need to earn a living, like anyone else. If you don't purchase it from them, you are actually depriving them of the fruits of their labor.
