14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft continues the struggle to reduce piracy across the world, and as part of its global efforts the company collaborated with the Indian authorities to arrest an individual who reportedly hacked its servers and stole several product keys for its software.
Redmond worked together with the Central Bureau of Investigation to find and arrest an Indian youth who managed to break into some of its websites to access product keys which were then sold online, according to a press statement.
The Central Bureau of Investigation confirmed the report in an official press release and added that it seized several hard disks and routers that were used to commit the fraud and which could serve as evidence during the trial.
“The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested a private person at Chennai (Tamil Nadu) in a case relating to offences of alleged cyber crime offences for the purpose of stealing Microsoft’s product keys as well as cheating unsuspecting consumers,” Indian authorities said.
“During investigation, CBI has found the perpetrator (a private person) of the said crime at Chennai. Searches have been conducted at his premises & in Chennai which led to recovery of Hard disks of Computer System; Router used for committing the crime along with numbers of Microsoft Product Kits and other documents. Account of the accused which he has used to collect the amount of sale of Microsoft Product Keys was also freezed.”
It’s no secret that Microsoft as a software company is one of the most affected entities when it comes to piracy, so its fight against individuals who are selling counterfeited software is clearly a priority in order to improve its business.
Of course, the company has launched several campaigns not only to make consumers aware that genuine software is the best choice for their computers, but also to encourage retailers and partners to purchase legitimate applications in order to avoid losing customers’ trust.
“While counterfeit software is offered at a lower price, there can be hidden costs, such as poor user experience, damage to devices, and the loss of personal data. Genuine software is the best deal and the right choice to avoid potential financial, professional, and social setbacks,” the company explains in the description of one of its anti-piracy campaigns.
China is said to be one of the leading countries as far as piracy is concerned, with former CEO Steve Ballmer himself saying that 9 out of 10 copies of Windows in the country are pirated.