Security Centre
Software Piracy What You Have to Watch Out For
Software piracy is one of the most common forms of piracy especially propelled by the Internet. By definition, this is the illegal copying and distribution of software, and this is commonly done over the Internet.
Software Piracy – What You Have to Watch Out For
Software piracy is one of the most common forms of piracy especially propelled by the Internet. By definition, this is the illegal copying and distribution of software, and this is commonly done over the Internet. The figures have reached a record high; recent counts estimate the number of Internet sites distributing illegal software to be more than 800,000. A large percentage of the customers who buy from these sites unfortunately do not get the products they bought, and a large percentage of these victims do not get their money back. It is easy for the illegal distributors to shut down a website and escape identification, bringing with them the hard-earned money of duped victims.
If you want to purchase software online, make sure you are protected from the dangers of software piracy. A lot of consumers rely on testing the site’s authentication based on its look and feel, but this is not an effective way to tell a genuine site from an illegal online business. These websites often strive to achieve a professional look, and since software is not like actual physical objects that you can examine, sometimes, it is impossible to tell.
Your best defence is awareness of how you can protect yourself when you go shopping for software online. Here is a series of steps you should take when buying software online. Along the way, you will be able to test your seller’s authenticity.
First, get the full company name, address, and contact information of the company you’re dealing with. Try to verify the information before making any further dealings with the company. If a company cannot provide the information, especially an actual street address, chances are the company is fly-by-night. Most legitimate software distributors has an actual base of operations and do not operate solely online.
Next, get all necessary details about the service and warranty policies of the company. Watch out for companies who are unable to give you sufficient information about their policies, especially after-sales policies and services. Aside from weeding out illegitimate distributors, this step will also let you know where you can go to for after-sales service in case you encounter problems with software you purchase from legitimate sellers.
Also, the product prices should be another guide. Prices of similar software sometimes differ for each seller. However, these prices are often within the similar range. Do not fall for sellers who offer half-prices or prices that largely differ from the regular market prices, as these are usually signs of bogus sellers. Software, unlike consumer products, tends to have uniform market-based retail prices.
Before you conclude your sale, make sure to document the entire transaction. Print out the important pages of your transaction, especially the page with your specific order and payment details. Most importantly, hold on to any order confirmations sent to your e-mail by the seller as these e-mails are your only links to the sellers. Do not delete them until your purchase arrives and you are satisfied with its legitimacy and quality.
And if you become a victim of software piracy, make a report about it online to help protect other users and to fight software piracy and piracy in general.
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