Microsoft: "Pirated Windows XP Involves Security Risks"

Users of counterfeit copies of Windows XP may have enjoyed a substantial discount, but only because the product is faulty and has a security liability. Microsoft has warned in a press release that pirated copies of Windows XP are prone to exploits due mainly to the code tampering which is inherent to the counterfeiting process. The Redmond Company made public the results of a forensic analysis of counterfeit Microsoft software media carried out in July 2006. The US software giant stressed in the press release that large scale "manufacturers" of pirated software are not its only targets as its attention has slowly shifted onto home users with its Genuine Software Initiative.

The Redmond Company revealed that the GSI forensic analysis involved Windows XP versions from 17 countries. "Counterfeit software is big business worldwide," commented Microsoft senior attorney Mary Jo Schrade. "As this research highlights, consumers and businesses need to make informed choices when purchasing software or risk the possible consequences of using counterfeit software."

Microsoft's research was carried out on 348 disks containing pirated software. The Redmond Company found that 34% of the illicit XP copies could not even be installed on the machines. Additionally, 43% of the pirated products were tampered with, to the point where Microsoft identified additional programs and binary code embedded in the operating system that were not supposed to be a pat of genuine Microsoft Windows.