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Microsoft Links Malware Rates To Pirated Windows

Posted by kdawson on from the wishful-self-interest dept.

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."

8 of 348 comments (clear)

  1. So.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So malware is Microsoft's fault for not patching pirated machines? Or did I miss something...

    1. Re:So.... by dgatwood · · Score: 5, Insightful

      So malware is Microsoft's fault for not patching pirated machines? Or did I miss something...

      Yes and no. It is true that by limiting patches to "legitimate" copies, they are making the odds of malware infection worse, and in doing so, are contributing to the botnet problem that creates truckloads of spam, wasted bandwidth, DOS attacks, and other nightmares that hurt everyone including their legitimate users. So I think they're utter morons for acting the way they do.

      That said, this is not the whole story. A large percentage of malware comes from people installing pirated software. People who pirate Windows are... wait for it... more likely to pirate other software, too. Therefore, you'd expect a strong correlation between malware rate and pirated copies of Windows even if Microsoft did everything they could to keep pirated copies of Windows patched. Their "Genuine Advantage" crap is merely compounding the problem.

      --

      Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.

    2. Re:So.... by P0ltergeist333 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      You're not applying the proper spin. They are trying to spin it so the pirates look like the problem, when in reality they are holding everyone's security hostage in hopes of scaring a few users into buying a legit copy of Windows.

      --
      One of these days I'm going to cut you into little pieces. - PF
    3. Re:So.... by pyrbrand · · Score: 5, Informative

      Security patches are not subject to the Genuine Advantage check. People running pirated software are just less likely to run windows update because they are scared that it will somehow invalidate their pirated install. Also, as you note, installing pirated software, including Windows, is a risk in itself as much pirated software has been prepackaged with malware.

  2. Stands to reason. by dangitman · · Score: 5, Funny

    They're pirates. Of course they're going to run malicious software.

    What the hell else would pirates do with a computer, donate to charity and solve world hunger? No, they're going to use it to look up www.saucywenches.com or download illegal treasure maps, or perform DDoS attacks on Royal Navy ships. They'd use a pirate version of Quicken to count their doubloons and inventory their treasure chest. They'd be looking up suspicious sites for syphilis treatments. They'd manually edit the Windows Registry with nothing but a cutlass and a corkscrew.

    --
    ... and then they built the supercollider.
  3. Re:WGA could be at fault by Renraku · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The very same program that's well-known for marking valid copies as pirated and then holding people's data/work environment hostage until they cough up another $200+. Yeah, I'm leery of that kind of thing too. Why should I let them install a program that takes up a good 20MB of RAM when it's running to make me prove that I'm not a pirate?

    --
    Job? I don't have time to get a job! Who will sit around and bitch about being broke and unemployed then?
  4. Liscensed but uneducated users really at fault by elvis15 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Obviously Microsoft doesn't want to acknowledge the large portion of their licensed users who set Windows to do their updates automatically but have never touched an antivirus or security software. I've worked in IT and with the Joe Public users and that was by far the biggest problem out there.

    People would often call in with viruses/malware they've just been living with on a 2 year old computer, and when you asked them about what they use for antivirus, they wouldn't have a clue. "I used that link that was on my desktop when I bought it," they would say. Well, that 30 day trial will get you into more trouble than not applying your windows updates, especially when they're opening up all those emails from disposed Nigerian dictators.

  5. I wonder... by amoeba1911 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Do people on car forums provide computer analogies to their car issues?