According to a publication in the Economic Times, Microsoft purchased computers from Asia between May and June, with the aim of determining how many of them had malware and counterfeit Windows licenses.
The results of the surveys were particularly alarming, as all PCs purchased in South Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand contained pirated software. This was followed by India, where 91% of computers were found to contain malware.
Furthermore, the publication highlights that 83% of all Microsoft computers sold in Asia did not have valid Windows licenses.
Mary Jo Schrade, assistant general counsel and director of the Asia Digital Crimes Association, said at Microsoft's headquarters in Singapore that cybercriminals are constantly evolving their techniques to evade security measures. One of their tactics is to embed malware in pirated software on other computers, thereby gaining access to users' personal data and violating their rights.
Clearly, pirated software is not only a threat to users using their personal devices. At the same time, their customers and, more generally, all people who come into contact with them are also threatened, as their personal information and data are put at risk.
Microsoft has not made any official statement on whether it plans any legal action against merchants selling pirated copies of Windows, but it is quite likely that it will take drastic measures, given the corresponding actions that have been disclosed in the past.
