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Pirated software Software piracy is a term that is frequently used to describe the illegal copying, distribution, or use of software.The definition of software piracy is the unauthorized copying or distribution of copyrighted software. While this definition may sound simple, but its influence and effect is enormous. In 2008, worldwide software piracy rates rose to 41 percent, with losses estimated at $50.2 billion, according to a study by the Business Software Alliance. Software piracy applies mainly to full-function commercial software. The time-limited or function-restricted versions of commercial software called shareware are less likely to be pirated because they are freely available. Software piracy can take many forms, but one of the most common includes counterfeiting, or a licensed user making duplicate copies of the software to sell or give away, with or without providing codes to unlicensed users as a work-around to anti-piracy features. Other piracy methods include violating a license by installing software on multiple computers, software overuse on a network and students who purchase education versions of software for family members or friends.Some common types of software piracy include counterfeit software, OEM unbundling, hard disk loading, corporate software piracy, and Internet software piracy. Pirated software can cause your computer to crash. This can, in turn, cost you a lot of time and theres even the possibility that you could lose files or data that cannot be replaced. In the worst case scenario, counterfeit software could cause irreparable damage to your PC and all other software installed.Counterfeit software can contain spyware which loads onto your computer and reports personal information without your knowledge. This data includes credit card and bank account numbers, passwords and address books, all of which can be immediately exploited by identity thieves.Cyber thieves occasionally find vulnerabilities in software. Software vendors pr