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Most Pirated Software?

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Bamse:
Perceive? I have always had the experience that absolute worst offenders in this area are people working within IT. With practically no exception, safe assumption to make though unfair if not offensive to a few of course. And here on DC with programmers and all? Perceive away but what do you pirate? would be a better question I think ;)

Paul Keith:
My pick:

MS Office - This is not only the original most pirated software but both professionals, casuals and most importantly Windows users expecting it to be bundled with the OS acquire.

Counter claims against these:

Photoshop - You have got to be kidding me if this is the most pirated software because hell I couldn't find a latest Photoshop software without encountering lots of fakes. Older versions, cool. Latest versions - I have a better chance of finding a legit non-malware copy of Windows than try and testing all the Photoshop versions that are out there. It is mostly notable for being the most handed down warez among friends besides MS Office but ease of acquisition? Forget about it. You can't even be sure you're getting the complete package. It's like the Sims. Even if you have a torrent of all the expansion packs, there's no guarantee you're getting the latest patched game, the latest items in the shops nor of the latest mods out there.

Windows - As much as people are pirating Windows, they are not massive updates. People pirate either XP or 7 and rare is it for someone to pirate both still. Not only that but - the chances of someone with a legit Windows pirating the OS is pretty low except for backup purposes.

AV Software - This used to be the case but nowadays which paid AV software is really that good? Not only that - they are separated per brands. Nod32 is/was obviously the most sought after but you will always have newbies going for Norton.

Nero Burning - Same thing as AV software

I cannot see why anyone would use pirated antivirus software.  If they can hack it to let people steal it, what else have they done to it? Just pay for what you own, sheesh.
--- End quote ---

It's actually the reverse. Often times people are so wary of a false hacked software that everyone is all eyeballs on the software looking for something that's off and this counts for casual users too obviously. The result being that it's almost rare for any false antivirus software to be seeded much.

On the flip side though, I doubt anyone is buying pirated AV cds. This is often more like a download and keep and don't look again until it's no longer working deal. I also think part of why cracked av software is popular is because people want to test run tons of things on that piece of software. Because of that, it's nearly impossible to get away with a hacked AV for long because a third of the acquirers of these softwares are probably security testers with virus files on hand and they test run the AV detection to the point of paranoia that something like malware would probably be detected by another set of their security programs/habits and methods.

Bamse:
Yes, I did manage to get latest Photoshop + Elements. All in all it took may be 10 hours but then it was tested and "secure". Update proof? I doubt it. Uninstalled shortly after, worst crap I have ever seen. Most are more than happy with older and more proven to work versions.

My impression is that 9 out of 10 who post in public warez forum, p2p threads etc. are dumb as a door and understand very little of security and malware. They go by names only, like nod32 or kaspersky. I would be careful to suggest they do much thinking :) Also like with movies, music much activity is simply because it is possible. People get Photoshop just because they can, an extra Windows the same. What is actually being used, what can be used, could be another matter. Perhaps half of those with Photoshop really mainly use Paint.net? I would not be surprised. When I did this I downloaded tons more than I installed.

I don't know about pirating outside popular sources, where the dumb people go, but f0dder is probably correct. There are many ways to get what you desire. Knowing IT people is usually an advantage ;)

"When I did this" means software programs, I am not clean when it comes to a few pdf files, few movies and some music. Besides a Windows or 2 for VM I don't do programs though.

f0dder:
40hz: I'm not saying all the 0day crackers are Robin Hood style saints, and I don't doubt the least that some of them are also doing nefarious deeds. All I'm saying is that if you get a 0day release from one of the reputable groups, and it hasn't been tampered with because you got it from a REALLY lousy place, it's almost guaranteed to be malware-free.

Why? Those people don't want to lose their prestige. And those that don't care that much about prestige don't want to lose access to their 0-second gigabit-pipe several-hundred-terabyte warez sites - simple as that :)

Also, I can guarantee that several of you people are using software or commodity hardware where people which now includes code by people who used to remove software protection in their youth - and that people who've had their asses saved from malware have some of those people to thank as well.

Paul Keith: I haven't had an interest in Photoshop for ages, since it's a piece of bloat, and my needs are fulfilled perfectly by Paint.NET... but www.nfoogle.com suggests that it shouldn't really be hard getting hold of a copy of the latest & greatest Photoshop.

I agree fully with Bamse that a lot of people pirate stuff just because they can - a lot will just leech&forget, and of those that use stuff like Photoshop, a lot would've been satisfied with Paint.NET, except they want PS because it's zomgleet.

40hz:
Yes, I did manage to get latest Photoshop + Elements. All in all it took may be 10 hours but then it was tested and "secure". Update proof? I doubt it. Uninstalled shortly after, worst crap I have ever seen. Most are more than happy with older and more proven to work versions.
-Bamse (February 24, 2011, 09:55 AM)
--- End quote ---

Umm...even if it was just a quick load/try/remove deal... do you think that's a wise or considerate thing to come right out and admit doing on the public forum of a highly visible site where a number of its members and visitors write licensed software for a living?

Just thinking out loud here. ;) :)

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