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- on Sat 26 Sep 2009
- 02:51:48 PM UTC
Piracy is NOT fine
Pirated software is NOT fine to use whether it harms your computer or not. By the very nature of it being pirated, there is usually something amiss within the software, and that's when problems creep in as we see all too often.
Besides all that, there is the question of copyright law. Whether an individual is trying to be 'honest' ("the good pirate"), they are still doing something which is technically illegal.
If you don't want those problems, however insignificant they may be, stay away from pirated software.
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- on Sat 26 Sep 2009
- 04:06:21 PM UTC
most pirated
By far, the most pirated software on the planet are operating systems by Microsoft, from the older DOS versions on through the evolutions of Windows. It wasn't until Windows XP that Microsoft started to implement key registration restrictions; which wasn't all that long ago. I remember seeing DOS 3.3 - 6.x in wholesale houses for under 50 USD - at their release. As the PC user-base increased, especially with the promotion "Microsoft Windows 95 / 98 / XP" as being installed by the manufacturer the cost of the operating system increased ten fold, not only because of the changes made to the OS directly, but also because of the systems that were required to be created to discourage the piracy. In the long run, piracy has forced the honest consumer to pay more for the product.
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- G7W -
- on Sat 26 Sep 2009
- 06:14:01 PM UTC
(>_<) i think the argument
(>_<) i think the argument is going too far & too many question here & there (making me dizzy), so i won't agrue w u any more but obviosuly u r a very honest person & the kids should learn from u, thats it...
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- on Sat 26 Sep 2009
- 10:31:43 PM UTC
Re: I think the argument
Then the rest of us can continue the discussion, because I think the topic has merit.
You are certainly free to bow out, but DO read it and try to get something from it besides a headache.
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- on Sun 27 Sep 2009
- 12:26:23 AM UTC
Running in circles
People who justify pirating software will use ANY far fetched excuse they can to validate themselves in their own mind.
I came across a blog the other day which had the fines for white collar crimes roughly added up. Software piracy, in their estimation, was about 500% more costly in the eyes of the court system than say the collapse of Enron Corp. Another one describes how pirating software is environmentally friendly, complete with a chart.
You will get further, faster, chasing your tail then you will arguing with these guys.
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- on Sun 27 Sep 2009
- 04:44:53 AM UTC
Piracy
I find anyone who thinks pirated software OK is an idiot. Pirated software puts you or your PC in risks. Ever heard of "keygens, hacks and cracks?" They are usually bundled with malicious files that cause unwanted changes to your computer, and even though that is not the case, did people ever thought that getting pirated software is cheap and that it will affect the recession we have now?
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- on Sun 27 Sep 2009
- 06:19:36 AM UTC
My definition
Good pirates: pirated obsolete software OR people who spread pirated software very efficiently?
For my answer for "what good are pirates," the only good thing is you either get it cheap or free.
I am not a pirate so I am not 100% certain.
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- on Sun 27 Sep 2009
- 03:19:47 PM UTC
RE: My definition
Good pirates: pirated obsolete software
It's highly unlikely that there is no existing patent or copyright therefore obsolete or abandoned are just words. It's still owned by the creator.
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- on Sun 27 Sep 2009
- 07:33:49 AM UTC
good? what good?
Argh matey! A good pirate works hard for his plunder and never shares his loot!
What good are pirates?
There are some interesting stories, Blackbeard comes to mind as well as some decent and some recent movies.
This appears to be both entertaining and informative; fun site:
www.thepirateking.com <= good for Green IMO.
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WOT Services Ltd. - gives us safety through Web of Trust.
WOT Community - gives us security through unity.
Thank you all
- G7W -
- on Mon 28 Sep 2009
- 07:41:14 AM UTC
S/he is;
S/he is; http://www.mywot.com/en/scorecard/hosts-file.net/c...
Also says that annontalk.com is a good site; http://www.mywot.com/en/scorecard/anontalk.com/com...
I know that's not related...
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- on Mon 28 Sep 2009
- 01:59:48 PM UTC
What is so bad about Cracks, Pirated software, warez, etc.?
I have been questioned many times on why these things are bad. I will tell you that they are one of the top distributors of malware, and are rarely safe.
Most popular cracks or keygens I see, are for Adobe CS3, a lot of different games, Nero, Kaspersky Antivirus, and much more. All of these cracks and keygens have what is called "cloaked malware." Most hacks for games that come in the form of a program or installer, will also be infected. It is the opportunity for attackers to present a seemingly safe situation where the opportunity to steal something is in play, while the malware infects your system in the process. Yes, it will install what you were looking for, but also allow malware to potentially take control of your computer.
Lastly, it is illegal.
~DragonMaster Jay, malware researcher,
Admin, helpmyos.com -
- on Mon 28 Sep 2009
- 10:07:41 PM UTC
I work for a software company
Putting aside ethical, moral, or legal issues for a moment...
Pirated software is bad because people like me, who make software, deserve to get paid for our work.
By pirating software, you implicitly acknowledge that you value that software. If people don't buy my company's software, but do use pirated copies, I and my colleagues are put out of work, the useful product ceases to exist, and the entire world fails to benefit from our collective expertise and knowledge. So we're all worse off.
What has never been adequately addressed is the needs vs means balancing act-- ie, you really need software X but cannot afford the price software company X wishes to charge. Company X would like to get paid, and might even be willing to bend a little, or a lot, on the price just so they can sell you a properly licensed product, but in the marketplace as it currently exists, there is no way for either party to negotiate.
It is this kind of inflexible market environment which leads to software piracy. THAT is what needs to be addressed.
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- on Mon 28 Sep 2009
- 11:55:29 PM UTC
But...one word...
Piracy is stealing. In the real world, stealing is considered a crime, usually and people get punished. Online, people do not get punished, usually.
~DragonMaster Jay, malware researcher,
Admin, helpmyos.com
Pirated Software
This is a continuation of this post
One of our members maintains that pirated software is OK "as long as it does not try to cause any harm to me or my pc"
I disagree very seriously with this position and my disagreement can be seen in this post
But that exchange got wayyyyy off topic there, so that's why I'm starting a new thread dedicated to the topic of "pirated software".
First, let me respond a bit to that post.
Exchange:
Me: "Are you saying that pirated software is OK because it saves you money?"
demonluo: "yes, as long as it does not try to cause any harm to me or my pc..."
I've got to be missing something here. You mean, demonluo, that even if it IS ILLEGAL and even if it harms somebody else, "as long as it does not try to cause any harm to me or my pc" it's OK? That's how I read that exchange, and it's pretty simple and straightforward language.
So you can do something ILLEGAL, like using pirated software that violates copyright laws and EULA's, "as long as it does not try to cause any harm to me or my pc"?
Granted, the "pirated software" issue is controversial, but that doesn't mean doing something ILLEGAL can be justified just because the issue itself is controversial.
There are many other issues that are "controversial" (like DRM), but until the law changes on them they will remain ILLEGAL.
Exchange:
Me: "Secondly, piracy is just flat out dishonest AND ILLEGAL. I don't think WOT would condone software piracy or ILLEGALITY, nor should a WOT rater. Do you disagree with that?"
demonluo: "i won't disagree w that but there r many b/millionares out there who r even more dishonest than the poor & cause the economy downfall & then the poor have to pay tax to cover their ass..."
Do you mean the fact that "there r many b/millionares out there who r even more dishonest than the poor" justifies copyright infringement?
If the fact that others engage in dishonest behavior justifies YOUR behavior, then I guess that since Wall Street scammed Mainstreet with CDO's and brought on a market meltdown with dishonest behavior (e.g. granting mortgages to people who obviously couldn't pay), then I can cheat on my taxes without consequence? That's the logical conclusion of your statement.
Exchange:
Me: "Thirdly, pirated software is frequently a haven for malware and most honest people would not consider pirated software safe ("saved" as I think you put it, or were you referring to "saved" money?) . . . in fact, pirates themselves do not consider pirated software safe. Do you disagree with that?"
demonluo: "i agree w u but some pirated software site/shop does not contain malware or steal ur personal info or take ur money & run..."
So how would a noob determine that pirated software doesn't do these things? Not everybody uses WOT or is wise in the ways of determining these things. And if it doesn't contain those things, I take it you're saying ILLEGAL copyright infringement is OK?
demonluo: "good pirate (like peterpan) who doesn't "screw" an individual unless ur a bad guy of course, in short, u can't blame the good pirates for what the bad pirates did..."
This is the one that really had me baffled. If there's no copyright infringement, then it's NOT pirated software. So what is a "good pirate"? And what is a "bad pirate"?
And how would the peterpan site "screw . . . a bad guy . . ." if it's a "good pirate" (whatever that is)?
demonluo: "u can't blame the good pirated shop/site/user for that..."
Same question again . . . what is a "good pirate". And same comment to go with it: If there's no copyright infringement, then it's NOT pirated software.
I think this issue distills to: What's the definition of "pirated software"?
To me, pirated software is software that's an unauthorized copy of software that has a copyright and EULA that prohibits unauthorized copies, and sells for less than the copyrighted version. "Pirated" conjures up images of pillage, murder, and rape. Software pirates certainly don't do that, so perhaps a less dramatic description would be "makers of prohibited copies".
Whatever you want to call them, the practice is against the law in all countries (except in Iran, which encourages pirating of US software).
To put it another way from what I said in that other thread, I can't believe somebody, especially a WOT rater, would consider pirated AND ILLEGAL software OK to use.