It's common for us to report on malware scams on our blog. However, don't be mistaken in thinking this only happens to large companies. Ordinary users have become targets of hackers due to the ease of infiltration.
One of the most common ways is through pirated software; after all, it's tempting to see software that can help with company processes and is available "for free.".
However, they bring with them several data security problems, since they are modified versions of the original, where security features and authenticity verification have been removed.
Next, you will see the reasons why you should be careful about using pirated software in your company.
Dubious sources
The famous "cracked" software is not distributed on official websites, as you might have guessed. To download it, users must search for alternative sites, which typically involve torrent platforms or tool download sites full of this type of software.
In some cases, there are open portals for publication by any user, where the file can carry any type of content, including harmful content.
These pages typically contain a huge number of sequential pop-up advertisements. In some cases, clicking is mandatory to download.
Furthermore, many of these open pages can automatically initiate downloads, again delivering potentially malicious solutions directly to the user's computer. These executable files can be of various types, with systems under the control of hackers such as cryptocurrency miners, logging of typed data, or theft of company information, such as banking data.
Antivirus software turned off
Another major risk arises during the download process. Pirated software typically includes a tool to bypass the product's original activation system. This makes your operating system believe it is installing an official version.
However, there are significant dangers hidden within this. The vast majority of these are detected as malicious by security software even before execution, as soon as the download is complete. For this reason, they end up requiring antivirus and other protection systems to be disabled for the software "cracking" process to occur, exposing the user to additional risks that may also be part of the pirated download.
As mentioned earlier, pirated software may include malware that uses the user's machine to mine cryptocurrencies or install data-stealing applications, known as ransomware . Since software is freely distributed and passes through many hands before reaching you, there is no guarantee that there is nothing else embedded within it besides the pirated software.
Updates
Software updates released by companies are not just ways to introduce new features or fix bugs, but also to correct security flaws.
Pirated software does not receive these types of updates, remaining with old and outdated security systems, putting users at risk.
The vast majority of original software connects to the internet to receive updates, which are released based on the validation of legitimate subscriber credentials. Pirated versions, however, do not make this type of connection, as it would reveal the cracked state of the software and block its execution.
Malfunction
Tools that bypass software legitimacy verification work by deceiving the operating system. Windows updates, for example, can "break" some features or make others unusable.
Imagine using pirated software in your company, and a few months after starting to use it, with a lot of information and some of the company's production processes depending on that software, it completely stops working after an operating system update. It will be a headache.
You don't pay, but it's not like this software is truly free. Somehow you end up "paying" for it.
Legal issues
In addition to the security and reliability risks I just described, in corporate environments there are issues of customer data privacy and the integrity of confidential data. The use of these programs can lead to legal issues due to the failure to acquire licenses for professional use.
The idea of obtaining the necessary applications for daily work for free may seem tempting and capable of reducing costs. In practice, the losses can be much greater, with fines that, in Brazil, can be up to three thousand times the value of the software acquisition. The amount is calculated according to the size of the company and the number of irregular versions used.
This also applies to installations made by employees themselves without the consent of their superiors. We will discuss this topic further below.
"Freedom" of employees
In many companies, employees install pirated software without the consent of their superiors. In many cases, this is due to a lack of concern from managers, or to the employee's own need and desire for speed in performing this task.
However, as mentioned above, even if installed by an employee without authorization from their superiors, it can still generate legal problems regarding the unauthorized use of the software within the company.
Furthermore, careless and uninformed users may download harmful sources containing all the malware we mentioned earlier.
awareness about the problems associated with installing pirated software, as well as about company data security, is something to be considered, regardless of company size. However, training alone does not guarantee correct employee behavior.
A good way to solve problems like this is to use internet access control , blocking access to websites considered harmful, with a low reputation, and installations of this type of software.
Is original software expensive?
It depends on the company's point of view and needs. If the software is used sporadically, the cost might indeed be high. However, if your company needs the software daily, acquiring an original license can become financially relevant. Furthermore, the performance of original programs is usually far superior to pirated versions, and it also avoids all the security and productivity issues mentioned in this article.
I hope I have helped you and your company understand the dangers of pirated software and keep your data and processes secure and productive.
To the next!
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