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Microsoft Links Malware Rates To Pirated Windows
CWmike writes "Microsoft said today that computers in countries with high rates of software piracy are more likely to be infected because users are leery of applying security patches. 'There is a direct correlation between piracy and the malware infection rate,' said Jeff Williams, head manager of the Microsoft Malware Protection Center. Highlighting research that showed worms to be the most prevalent computer security problem today, Williams said the link between PC infection rates and piracy is due to the hesitancy of users of pirated software to use Windows Update. China's piracy rate is more than four times that of the US, but the use of Windows Update in China is significantly below that in this country. Same for Brazil and France. But Microsoft's own data doesn't always support William's contention that piracy, and the hesitancy to use Windows Update, leads to more infected PCs. China, for example, boasted a malware infection rate — as defined by the number of computers cleaned for each 1,000 executions of the MSRT — of just 6.7 per thousand, significantly below the global average of 8.7 or the US's rate of 8.2. France's infection rate of 7.9 in the first half of 2009 was also below the worldwide average."
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Bill: We make it so complex and insecure that we'll constantly have to patch, leaving anyone who doesn't have a legitimate copy in the cold!
Steve: Great idea, boss!)
It would explain a lot which otherwise makes almost no sense. ~Hal
People who pirate Windows are... wait for it... more likely to pirate other software, too.
Actually, the only other product I pirate is MS Office. Why do I only pirate MS products? Because they charge absurd prices for them. If they charged reasonable prices (say $100 for a FULL version of Windows 7, not some feature restricted upgrade version), I'd be fine with paying it. If they want to charge $400, well fuck them, I'm pirating it.
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." ~Thomas Jefferson
I do use Linux, on my laptop. I use Windows on my desktop for one reason - games. Also, copying a series of 0's and 1's is not stealing. If I take a copy of Windows from the store, that is stealing. No one loses anything by making a copy of a file.
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." ~Thomas Jefferson
MS not burning bandwidth supporting good for nothing freeloaders?
No it is not different, you are violating a license and violating the law, if everybody is free to choose which law to follow and which to not follow, so find somebody can say "I don't think rape is a crime, so I will rape whenever I like". PERIOD It doesn't matter how much you repeat it to yourself that pirating software is different than stealing, it will still be stealing and violating a license.