Microsoft Tests Reveals 91% PCs In India Have Pirated Software

When you think about software, Microsoft is probably one of the first companies that come to your mind. Bill Gates founded the company in 1975 and it has a major contribution to the evolution of personal computing. The company is the developer of the world’s most popular desktop and laptop Windows operating system. Microsoft recently performed a survey in nine Asian countries, including India. The survey was conducted to check the penetration of pirated software in personal computers.

Test Results

Between May & July, Microsoft purchased and tested personal computers from multiple local sources in nine nations. The tests reveal about 83% of all the computers had pirated software on them. 91% of India bought computers had pirated software which was followed by Indonesia at 90 %, Taiwan at 73%, Singapore at 55 %, and the Philippines at 43%.  While 100% of the computers bought in Malaysia, Vietnam and South Korea have pirated software. 

Additionally, a key Microsoft Singapore representative, Mary Jo Schrade reports 85 % of Indian computers with pirated software also had some type of malware. These shocking results raise major security concerns which one can associate with software piracy. Some of the common issues include bugs, crashes, and no updates & support. While other potentially harmful risks could be as follows:

• Identity theft- Cyber fraudsters plant malware into pirated software that is capable of sneaking into the personal files of the users. The files may contain sensitive data like banking information and healthcare documents which the hacker can use for ill intentions.
• Criminal Liability- Software piracy is not only a civil issue but, it is a serious crime and it is the duty of an organisation to ensure they comply with the legalities of using a software. Otherwise the people in charge can land up for some jail time.

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To conclude, consumers should keep the use pirated software at bay. Instead, they can opt for free and open-source software. Some examples of which are VLC media player, Chromium browser and GIMP photo editor.