Using pirated software is not only illegal but it can be very dangerous especially for a business.

Despite the threat of malware potentially lurking in ill-gotten software, a recent survey by BSA | The Software Alliance reveals that the lure of free software is too strong for some South African companies.

The survey found that 32 percent of software installed on computers in South Africa is unlicensed. Worldwide that figure is 37 percent which is down just two percentage points from 2016.

In addition to that, the organisation says that when downloading or installing unlicensed software there is a 33 percent chance you will encounter malware.

It’s estimated that the commercial value of unlicensed software is around R2.9 billion.

“Organisations around the world are missing out on the economic and security benefits that well-managed software provides,” says chief executive officer of BSA | The Software Alliance, Victoria Espinel.

“Businesses should establish software asset management (SAM) programmes to evaluate and manage the software on their networks. This, in turn, helps organisations reduce the risk of debilitating cyberattacks and helps grow their revenues,” she adds.

There is an upside to using licensed software. BSA | The Software Alliance reports that companies can see profits rise by as much as 11 percent with better software management.

Of course, the best benefit is peace of mind that the software you’re installing isn’t loaded with malware ready to siphon your data.

[Image – CC BY 2.0 Darkhorse Winterwolf]